The witch O’ fife lyrics and chords
The chords fit the McCalmans’ version from their album ‚The Ettrick Shepherd’ with capo on 2nd fret
Hur(G)ray, hurray the (C)jade’s a(D7)way,
Like a (G)rocket of air with her (C)banda(D7)let!
I’m (C)up in the (Am)air on my (G)bonny grey (Em)mare,
But I (G)see her yet, I see her yet.
I’ll ring the skirts o’ the gowden wain
Wi’ (C)curb an’ (Am)bit, wi’ (G)curb an’ (Em)bit;
An’ (G)catch the Bear by the frozen (G7)mane,-
An’ I (G)see her yet, I see her yet.
A(G)way, away, o’er (C)mountain an’ (D7)main,
To (G)sing at the morning’s (C)rosy (D7)yett;
An’ (C)water my (Am)mare at its (G)fountain (Em)clear,-
But I (G)see her yet, I see her yet.
Away, thou bonny witch o’ Fife,
On (C)foam of the (Am)air to (G)heave an’ (Em)flit,
An’ (G)little reck thou of a poet’s (G7)life,
For he (G)sees thee yet, he sees thee yet.
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (6/8 Jig Rhythm)
In 6/8, you feel two main beats per bar (each subdivided into three):
1-2-3 4-5-6
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
That gives the lively “galloping” feel.
On beat 1, hit the bass note (thumb or pick).
On beats 2–3 and 5–6, brush lightly upward or across top strings.
Keep a smooth, rolling wrist motion.
🎵 Variation for verses (softer):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Accent beats 1 and 4 slightly — feels like a horse’s canter.
🎵 For the “Hurrah!” lines or chorus:
Add more full strums for energy:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ (x2) per chord
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Rolling 6/8 Arpeggio)
This is a gentle, harp-like roll perfect for verses.
Pattern per bar:
T – I – M – A – M – I
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string, Ring = E string)
🎶 Example Tabs for Each Chord
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
D7
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G7
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
G C D7
e|--------3-----------3--------|--------0-----------2--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0------|------1---1-------1---1------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0----|----0-------0---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0--------------|--2-----------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------------|--3--------------------------|
E|--3---------------------------|-----------------------------|
Hur-ray, hur-ray the jade’s a-way...
G Am G Em
e|--------3-----------3--------------|--------0-----------0--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0------------|------1---1-------0---0------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0----------|----2-------2---0-------0----|
D|--0-----------0--------------------|--2-----------2--------------|
A|--2--------------------------------|--0--------------------------|
E|--3--------------------------------|--0--------------------------|
But I see her yet, I see her yet.
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel & Tempo:
Think of a cantering horse — one-two-three, one-two-three — let your rhythm roll naturally.
Don’t rush: this should feel airy, as if floating “up in the air on my bonny grey mare.”
🎵 Dynamics:
Start softly on verses.
Bring the strumming up on the “Hurrah!” lines and “I see her yet” refrains.
Fade the final “I see her yet” with a slow arpeggiated G chord.
🎵 Bass alternation (for energy):
On G: alternate 6th → 4th
On C: 5th → 4th
On Am: 5th → 4th
On D7: 4th → 3rd
🎵 Optional ending:
Slow down and let the final chord shimmer:
In 6/8, you feel two main beats per bar (each subdivided into three):
1-2-3 4-5-6
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Count: 1 2 3 4 5 6
That gives the lively “galloping” feel.
On beat 1, hit the bass note (thumb or pick).
On beats 2–3 and 5–6, brush lightly upward or across top strings.
Keep a smooth, rolling wrist motion.
🎵 Variation for verses (softer):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
Accent beats 1 and 4 slightly — feels like a horse’s canter.
🎵 For the “Hurrah!” lines or chorus:
Add more full strums for energy:
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑ (x2) per chord
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (Rolling 6/8 Arpeggio)
This is a gentle, harp-like roll perfect for verses.
Pattern per bar:
T – I – M – A – M – I
(Thumb = bass, Index = G string, Middle = B string, Ring = E string)
🎶 Example Tabs for Each Chord
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
C Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--3-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Am
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
D7
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------1---1-------1---1---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G7
e|--------1-----------1-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
G C D7
e|--------3-----------3--------|--------0-----------2--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0------|------1---1-------1---1------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0----|----0-------0---2-------2----|
D|--0-----------0--------------|--2-----------0--------------|
A|--2---------------------------|--3--------------------------|
E|--3---------------------------|-----------------------------|
Hur-ray, hur-ray the jade’s a-way...
G Am G Em
e|--------3-----------3--------------|--------0-----------0--------|
B|------0---0-------0---0------------|------1---1-------0---0------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0----------|----2-------2---0-------0----|
D|--0-----------0--------------------|--2-----------2--------------|
A|--2--------------------------------|--0--------------------------|
E|--3--------------------------------|--0--------------------------|
But I see her yet, I see her yet.
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel & Tempo:
Think of a cantering horse — one-two-three, one-two-three — let your rhythm roll naturally.
Don’t rush: this should feel airy, as if floating “up in the air on my bonny grey mare.”
🎵 Dynamics:
Start softly on verses.
Bring the strumming up on the “Hurrah!” lines and “I see her yet” refrains.
Fade the final “I see her yet” with a slow arpeggiated G chord.
🎵 Bass alternation (for energy):
On G: alternate 6th → 4th
On C: 5th → 4th
On Am: 5th → 4th
On D7: 4th → 3rd
🎵 Optional ending:
Slow down and let the final chord shimmer:
