Tramps And Hawkers Guitar Chords And Lyrics
Tramps and hawkers sheet music and tin whistle notes included. A traditional song from Scotland made famous by Ewan McColl, also recorded by Luke Kelly, Alex Campbell and many more. The song dates back before 1850. Several other songs have the same tune, here's a list of a few. - The Durham Lockout- Manchester Martyrs- England's Motorway The River Roe -Peggy of Greenlaw -The Homes of Donegal [ lyrics ],- 'Caroline of Edinburgh -Town'Huck's [Bob Dylan] Young man from Canada,- Tall men riding, -Paddy West - Song With No Name [Shane McGowan] The youtube video is by Luke Kelly from The Dubliners. The standard piano sheet music is included and the guitar chords are in C as well as G Major in chordpro.Tramps and hawkers violin sheet music for beginners now added which shows where to place your fingers on each string for every note. Now included is the tenor guitar / mandola tab in CGDA
The piano sheet music with chords and bass is in the ebook here .
The piano sheet music with chords and bass is in the ebook here .
[C]O come a' ye [G7]tramps and hawker-[F]lads an' [C]gaithe[F]rers o' [C]bla'
That [C]tramp the country [F]roun' and [C]roun', come [F]listen [G7]one and [Am]a'
I'll [C]tell tae ye a[F] rovin' [C]tale, an' [F]places[G7] I hae [Am]been
Far [C]up in[G7]to the snowy [F]north, or [C]sooth by [F]Gretna [C]Green.
I've seen the high Ben Nevis that gangs towerin' tae the moon
I've been roun' by Crieff an' Callander an' by Bonny Doon
I've been by Nethy's silvery tide an' places ill tae ken
Far up into the stormy north lies Urquart's fairy glen
Sometimes noo I laugh tae mysel' when dodgin' alang the road
Wi' a bag o' meal slung upon my back, my face as broun's a toad
Wi' lumps o'cheese and tattie-scones or breid an' braxie ham
Nae thinking whar' I'm comin' frae nor thinkin' whar I'm gang.
I'm happy in the summer-time beneath the dark blue sky
Nae thinkin' in the mornin' at nicht where i'm gang to lie
Bothies or byres or barns, or oot amangst the hay
And if the weather does permit, I'm happy a' the day.
Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond [ music notes ], they've oft been seen by me
The Dee, the Don, the Devron, that a' flows tae the sea
Dunrobin Castle, by the way, I nearly had forgot
And the reckless stanes o'cairn that mairks the hoose o' John
o' Groat.
I've been by bonny Gallowa', an' often roun' Stranraer
My business leads me anywhere, I travel near an' far
I've got that rovin' notion I wouldna like tae loss
For It's my daily fare an' as much'll pay my doss.
I think I'll gang tae Paddy's Lan', I'm makin' up my mind
For Scotland's greatly altered noo, I canna raise the wind
But if I can trust in Providence, if Providence should prove true
I'll sing ye's a' of Erin's Isle when I come back to you.
That [C]tramp the country [F]roun' and [C]roun', come [F]listen [G7]one and [Am]a'
I'll [C]tell tae ye a[F] rovin' [C]tale, an' [F]places[G7] I hae [Am]been
Far [C]up in[G7]to the snowy [F]north, or [C]sooth by [F]Gretna [C]Green.
I've seen the high Ben Nevis that gangs towerin' tae the moon
I've been roun' by Crieff an' Callander an' by Bonny Doon
I've been by Nethy's silvery tide an' places ill tae ken
Far up into the stormy north lies Urquart's fairy glen
Sometimes noo I laugh tae mysel' when dodgin' alang the road
Wi' a bag o' meal slung upon my back, my face as broun's a toad
Wi' lumps o'cheese and tattie-scones or breid an' braxie ham
Nae thinking whar' I'm comin' frae nor thinkin' whar I'm gang.
I'm happy in the summer-time beneath the dark blue sky
Nae thinkin' in the mornin' at nicht where i'm gang to lie
Bothies or byres or barns, or oot amangst the hay
And if the weather does permit, I'm happy a' the day.
Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond [ music notes ], they've oft been seen by me
The Dee, the Don, the Devron, that a' flows tae the sea
Dunrobin Castle, by the way, I nearly had forgot
And the reckless stanes o'cairn that mairks the hoose o' John
o' Groat.
I've been by bonny Gallowa', an' often roun' Stranraer
My business leads me anywhere, I travel near an' far
I've got that rovin' notion I wouldna like tae loss
For It's my daily fare an' as much'll pay my doss.
I think I'll gang tae Paddy's Lan', I'm makin' up my mind
For Scotland's greatly altered noo, I canna raise the wind
But if I can trust in Providence, if Providence should prove true
I'll sing ye's a' of Erin's Isle when I come back to you.
Below you’ll find:
1️⃣ Full song with chords (in G major)
2️⃣ A folk-style strumming pattern
3️⃣ A fingerstyle tab for the first verse + chorus verse
🎵 1. Full Song (Chords in G Major)
[Verse 1]
[G]O come a’ ye [D7]tramps and hawker-[C]lads an’ [G]gather[C]ers o’ [G]bla’,
That [G]tramp the country [C]roun’ and [G]roun’, come [C]listen [D7]one and [Em]a’.
I’ll [G]tell tae ye a [C]rovin’ [G]tale, o’ [C]places [D7]I hae [Em]been,
Far [G]up in[D7]to the snowy [C]north, or [G]sooth by [C]Gretna [G]Green.
[Verse 2]
[G]I’ve seen the high Ben [D7]Nevis that gangs [C]towerin’ tae the [G]moon,
I’ve been roun’ by [C]Crieff an’ Callander an’ [G]by bonny [D7]Doon.
I’ve been by Nethy’s [C]silvery tide an’ [G]places ill tae [D7]ken,
Far [G]up into the [D7]stormy north lies [C]Urquhart’s [G]fairy [C]glen.
[Verse 3]
[G]Sometimes noo I [D7]laugh tae mysel’ when [C]dodgin’ alang the [G]road,
Wi’ a bag o’ meal [C]slung upon my back, my [G]face as broun’s a [D7]toad.
Wi’ lumps o’ cheese and [C]tattie-scones or [G]breid an’ braxie [D7]ham,
Nae [G]thinkin’ whar’ I’m [D7]comin’ frae nor [C]thinkin’ [G]whar I’m [C]gang.
[Verse 4]
[G]I’m happy in the [D7]summer-time beneath the [C]dark blue [G]sky,
Nae thinkin’ in the [C]mornin’ at nicht where [G]I’m gang tae [D7]lie.
Bothies or byres or [C]barns, or oot a[G]mangst the new-mown [D7]hay,
And [G]if the weather [D7]does permit, I’m [C]happy [G]a’ the [C]day.
[Verse 5]
[G]Loch Katrine and Loch [D7]Lomond too, they’ve [C]aft been seen by [G]me,
The Dee, the Don, the [C]Deveron that [G]a’ flow tae the [D7]sea.
Dunrobin Castle, [C]by the way, I [G]nearly had for[D7]got,
And [G]reckless stanes o’ [D7]Cairn mark [C]the hoose o’ [G]John o’ [C]Groat.
[Verse 6]
[G]I’ve been by bonny [D7]Gallowa’, an’ [C]often roun’ Stran[G]raer,
My business leads me [C]onywhere, I [G]travel near an’ [D7]far.
I’ve got that rovin’ [C]notion that I [G]wouldna like tae [D7]loss,
For [G]it’s my daily [D7]fare an’ it [C]pays my [G]simple [C]doss.
[Verse 7]
[G]I think I’ll gang tae [D7]Paddy’s Lan’, I’m [C]makin’ up my [G]mind,
For Scotland’s greatly [C]altered noo, I [G]canna raise the [D7]wind.
But if I can trust in [C]Providence, if [G]Providence proves [D7]true,
I’ll [G]sing ye’s a’ o’ [D7]Erin’s Isle when [C]I come [G]back tae [C]you.
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 6/8 (folk waltz / jig feel)
Tempo: ~90–100 BPM
Pattern (per bar):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2–3 4–5–6
or play with bass alternation:
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
For verses — steady, gentle;
For refrains or emotional lines — open up with stronger triplet swing.
🎶 3. FINGERSTYLE GUITAR TAB
(First verse in G major)
Right-hand pattern (per bar):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
(Thumb = E/A/D; fingers on G/B/E)
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
[G]O come a’ ye [D7]tramps and hawker-[C]lads an’ [G]gather[C]ers o’ [G]bla’
That [G]tramp the country [C]roun’ and [G]roun’, come [C]listen [D7]one and [Em]a’
I’ll [G]tell tae ye a [C]rovin’ [G]tale, o’ [C]places [D7]I hae [Em]been
Far [G]up in[D7]to the snowy [C]north, or [G]sooth by [C]Gretna [G]Green.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
D7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Feel the swing — accent the first beat of each triplet group (1 & 4).
Use thumb for bass; fingers glide softly for a harp-like flow.
For storytelling sections, drop to half volume — let the voice carry.
On “Far up into the snowy north,” let the final G ring out fully.
1️⃣ Full song with chords (in G major)
2️⃣ A folk-style strumming pattern
3️⃣ A fingerstyle tab for the first verse + chorus verse
🎵 1. Full Song (Chords in G Major)
[Verse 1]
[G]O come a’ ye [D7]tramps and hawker-[C]lads an’ [G]gather[C]ers o’ [G]bla’,
That [G]tramp the country [C]roun’ and [G]roun’, come [C]listen [D7]one and [Em]a’.
I’ll [G]tell tae ye a [C]rovin’ [G]tale, o’ [C]places [D7]I hae [Em]been,
Far [G]up in[D7]to the snowy [C]north, or [G]sooth by [C]Gretna [G]Green.
[Verse 2]
[G]I’ve seen the high Ben [D7]Nevis that gangs [C]towerin’ tae the [G]moon,
I’ve been roun’ by [C]Crieff an’ Callander an’ [G]by bonny [D7]Doon.
I’ve been by Nethy’s [C]silvery tide an’ [G]places ill tae [D7]ken,
Far [G]up into the [D7]stormy north lies [C]Urquhart’s [G]fairy [C]glen.
[Verse 3]
[G]Sometimes noo I [D7]laugh tae mysel’ when [C]dodgin’ alang the [G]road,
Wi’ a bag o’ meal [C]slung upon my back, my [G]face as broun’s a [D7]toad.
Wi’ lumps o’ cheese and [C]tattie-scones or [G]breid an’ braxie [D7]ham,
Nae [G]thinkin’ whar’ I’m [D7]comin’ frae nor [C]thinkin’ [G]whar I’m [C]gang.
[Verse 4]
[G]I’m happy in the [D7]summer-time beneath the [C]dark blue [G]sky,
Nae thinkin’ in the [C]mornin’ at nicht where [G]I’m gang tae [D7]lie.
Bothies or byres or [C]barns, or oot a[G]mangst the new-mown [D7]hay,
And [G]if the weather [D7]does permit, I’m [C]happy [G]a’ the [C]day.
[Verse 5]
[G]Loch Katrine and Loch [D7]Lomond too, they’ve [C]aft been seen by [G]me,
The Dee, the Don, the [C]Deveron that [G]a’ flow tae the [D7]sea.
Dunrobin Castle, [C]by the way, I [G]nearly had for[D7]got,
And [G]reckless stanes o’ [D7]Cairn mark [C]the hoose o’ [G]John o’ [C]Groat.
[Verse 6]
[G]I’ve been by bonny [D7]Gallowa’, an’ [C]often roun’ Stran[G]raer,
My business leads me [C]onywhere, I [G]travel near an’ [D7]far.
I’ve got that rovin’ [C]notion that I [G]wouldna like tae [D7]loss,
For [G]it’s my daily [D7]fare an’ it [C]pays my [G]simple [C]doss.
[Verse 7]
[G]I think I’ll gang tae [D7]Paddy’s Lan’, I’m [C]makin’ up my [G]mind,
For Scotland’s greatly [C]altered noo, I [G]canna raise the [D7]wind.
But if I can trust in [C]Providence, if [G]Providence proves [D7]true,
I’ll [G]sing ye’s a’ o’ [D7]Erin’s Isle when [C]I come [G]back tae [C]you.
🎸 2. STRUMMING PATTERN
Time Signature: 6/8 (folk waltz / jig feel)
Tempo: ~90–100 BPM
Pattern (per bar):
↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
Count: 1 2–3 4–5–6
or play with bass alternation:
Bass ↓ – Strum ↓↑ – Bass ↓ – Strum ↑↓↑
For verses — steady, gentle;
For refrains or emotional lines — open up with stronger triplet swing.
🎶 3. FINGERSTYLE GUITAR TAB
(First verse in G major)
Right-hand pattern (per bar):
Bass → G → B → high E → B → G
(Thumb = E/A/D; fingers on G/B/E)
FIRST VERSE TAB
Lyrics:
[G]O come a’ ye [D7]tramps and hawker-[C]lads an’ [G]gather[C]ers o’ [G]bla’
That [G]tramp the country [C]roun’ and [G]roun’, come [C]listen [D7]one and [Em]a’
I’ll [G]tell tae ye a [C]rovin’ [G]tale, o’ [C]places [D7]I hae [Em]been
Far [G]up in[D7]to the snowy [C]north, or [G]sooth by [C]Gretna [G]Green.
G
e|--------3-------------3-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|3-----------------3-----------------|
D7
e|--------2-------------2-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----2-------2-----2-------2---------|
D|--0-----------0---------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
C
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------1---1---------1---1-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|3-----------------3-----------------|
E|------------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-------------0-------------|
B|------0---0---------0---0-----------|
G|----0-------0-----0-------0---------|
D|--2-----------2---------------------|
A|2-----------------2-----------------|
E|0-----------------------------------|
💡 Playing Tips
Feel the swing — accent the first beat of each triplet group (1 & 4).
Use thumb for bass; fingers glide softly for a harp-like flow.
For storytelling sections, drop to half volume — let the voice carry.
On “Far up into the snowy north,” let the final G ring out fully.
A Tribute To Luke Kelly From Jim McCann
My mother first got me Interested In performing, by way of making
costumes for us kids to wear at parades in Donegal town many years ago.
Eddie Cochran first got me interested In rock'n'roll by dint of his
his exuberance and his use of the guitar as a percussion instrument.
And then Luke Kelly got me into folk music for the rest of my life by the
sheer power and purity of his singing and his personality.
The first song in the folk Idiom I ever heard that made me want to find
out more about the singer was "Tramps and Hawkers". I actually called
Radio Eireann, as it was then, to find out the name of the singer and was
surprised to hear it was The Dubliners. It was about 1964 and of course
like everyone else! knew of The Dubliners, but I hadn't associated them
with such powerful and emotional singing. I was hooked from that day to this,
and In later years - too few of them I was happy to be a friend as well
as an admirer, and to share a stage with the man who was, In his day,
the greatest interpreter of a narrative ballad
My mother first got me Interested In performing, by way of making
costumes for us kids to wear at parades in Donegal town many years ago.
Eddie Cochran first got me interested In rock'n'roll by dint of his
his exuberance and his use of the guitar as a percussion instrument.
And then Luke Kelly got me into folk music for the rest of my life by the
sheer power and purity of his singing and his personality.
The first song in the folk Idiom I ever heard that made me want to find
out more about the singer was "Tramps and Hawkers". I actually called
Radio Eireann, as it was then, to find out the name of the singer and was
surprised to hear it was The Dubliners. It was about 1964 and of course
like everyone else! knew of The Dubliners, but I hadn't associated them
with such powerful and emotional singing. I was hooked from that day to this,
and In later years - too few of them I was happy to be a friend as well
as an admirer, and to share a stage with the man who was, In his day,
the greatest interpreter of a narrative ballad
Tramps and hawkers tenor guitar tab in CGDA
Tramps and hawkers sheet music and tin whistle notes
Tramps and hawkers violin sheet music for beginners
