TWA RECRUITIN’ SERGEANTS Lyrics And Guitar Chords
4/4 (Traditional Scottish Song) For the McCalman’s version from their album ‘Songs From Scotland’ use capo on 3rd fret, guitar work by Marc Fahrbach. Twa Recruiting Sergeants sheet music with piano chords included.
There was (D)twa recruiting (Bm)sergeants came (Em)frae the Black Watch
Tae (G)markets and (D)fairs, some re(Em)cruits for tae (A)catch.
But (G)a' that they (D)'listed was (Em)forty and (Bm)twa:
En(D)list my bonnie (Bm)laddie an' (G)come a(D)wa.
Chorus
And it's (D)over the (Bm)mountains and (Em)over the Main,
(G)Through Gi(D)bralter, to (Em)France and (A)Spain.
Pit a (G)feather tae your (D)bonnet, and a (Em)kilt aboon your (Bm)knee,
En(D)list my bonnie (Bm)laddie and (G)come awa with (D)me.
Its (D)out o’ the (Bm)barn and (Em)into the byre,
Well (G)this ole (D)farmer, he (Em)thinks ye never (A)tire.
It's a (G)slavery (D)job, of (Em)low de(Bm)gree.
Sae (D)list my bonnie (Bm)laddie and (G)come awa with (D)me
Chorus
Oh (D)laddie ye (Bm)dinna ken the (Em)danger that yer in.
If yer (G)horses was to (D)fleg, and yer (Em)owsen was to (A)rin,
This (G)greedy ole (D)farmer, he (Em)wouldna pay yer (Bm)fee.
Sae (D)list my bonnie (Bm)laddie and (G)come awa wi' (D)me
Chorus + Intro
Optional verse (not used by the McCalmans)
With (D)your tattie (Bm)porin's and yer (Em)meal and kale,
Yer (G)soor sowan' (D)soorin's and yer (Em)ill-brewed (A)ale,
Yer (G)buttermilk, yer (D)whey, and yer (Em)breid fired (Bm)raw.
Sae (D)list my bonnie (Bm)laddie and (G)come a(D)wa.
Chorus
O (D)laddie (Bm)if ye had a (Em)sweetheart an' a bairn,
Ye'll (G)easily get (D)rid o' that (Em)ill-spun (A)yarn.
Twa (G)rattles o' the (D)drum, aye and (Em)that'll pay it (Bm)a'.
Sae (D)list my bonnie (Bm)laddie and (G)come a(D)wa.
Chorus twice
Meaning of unusual words:
twa=two
awa=away
aboon=above
bonnie=handsome
fleg=take fright
owsen=oxen
rin=run
Tattie pourin's=water in which pototoes have been boiled.
kale=a kind of crinkly cabbage
Soor sooin' sourin's sowans = a dish made by steeping and fermenting the husks or siftings
of oats in water, then boiling.
whey=liquid left when milk forms into lumps.
aye=yes
🎸 2. Strumming Pattern (Scottish March Feel)
This song calls for a strong, marching rhythm — think of soldiers stepping in time.
We want emphasis on beats 1 and 3, light strums on 2 and 4.
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3 4&
✅ Tips:
Play the first downstroke (beat 1) heavier — bass strings.
Use a lighter brush for the upstrokes.
For a marching “snap,” mute the strings slightly with the side of your palm on beat 3.
Alternative (simpler):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
You can also add a bass + strum feel:
BASS (↓) – STRUM (↓↑) – BASS (↓) – STRUM (↓↑)
🎵 This gives that “dum–chicka–dum–chicka” Highland swing.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (4/4 Rolling March)
For storytelling verses, try this steady alternating bass arpeggio:
Pattern (per bar):
T – I – M – A – T – I – M – A
(Thumb = bass; Index = G; Middle = B; Ring = E)
Alternate the thumb between two bass notes each bar.
🎶 Tabs for Each Chord
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
A Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
D Bm
e|--------2-----------2--------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------3---3-------3---3------|------3---3-------3---3------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2----|----4-------4---4-------4----|
D|--0-----------0--------------|--4-----------4--------------|
A|-----------------------------|--2--------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
There was twa recruiting sergeants came frae the Black Watch
Em G D
e|--------0-----------0----|--------3-----------3---------|
B|------0---0-------0---0--|------0---0-------3---3-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0|----0-------0---2-------2-----|
D|--2-----------2----------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|--2-----------------------|--2---------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------|--3---------------------------|
Tae markets and fairs, some recruits for tae catch
💡 Example Chorus (Fingerpicked)
D Bm Em
e|--------2-----------2---|--------2-----------2---------|
B|------3---3-------3---3-|------3---3-------0---0-------|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----4-------4---0-------0-----|
D|--0-----------0---------|--4-----------4---------------|
A|-------------------------|--2--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--0--------------------------|
And it's over the mountains and over the Main
G D A
e|--------3-----------3---|--------2-----------2---------|
B|------0---0-------3---3-|------2---2-------2---2-------|
G|----0-------0---2-------|----2-------2---2-------2-----|
D|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|--2----------------------|------------------------------|
E|--3----------------------|------------------------------|
Pit a feather tae your bonnet and a kilt aboon your knee
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep it stately and proud, not rushed.
Think of a march or pipe band rhythm — strong beat 1 and 3, rolling melody in between.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses → fingerpicked, gentle.
Chorus → full strum, more drive and energy.
Last line “Come awa with me” → hold the final D and let it ring.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
D → 4th / 5th string
G → 6th / 4th
Em → 6th / 4th
Bm → 5th / 4th
A → 5th / 4th
🎵 Optional embellishment:
Add hammer-ons for character (especially from D → G transitions):
e|--------2h3--2--------|
B|------3--------3------|
G|----2-------------2---|
D|--0-------------------|
🎵 Ending suggestion:
Finish with a slow arpeggio on D:
e|--2-----------|
B|----3---------|
G|------2-------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|
✅ Summary:
Time: 4/4 march
Strum: ↓ ↓↑ ↑ ↓↑ (accent 1 & 3)
Fingerpick: steady 8-note arpeggio (T–I–M–A pattern)
Mood: proud, traditional, rolling march
This song calls for a strong, marching rhythm — think of soldiers stepping in time.
We want emphasis on beats 1 and 3, light strums on 2 and 4.
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Count: 1 2& 3 4&
✅ Tips:
Play the first downstroke (beat 1) heavier — bass strings.
Use a lighter brush for the upstrokes.
For a marching “snap,” mute the strings slightly with the side of your palm on beat 3.
Alternative (simpler):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↓↑
You can also add a bass + strum feel:
BASS (↓) – STRUM (↓↑) – BASS (↓) – STRUM (↓↑)
🎵 This gives that “dum–chicka–dum–chicka” Highland swing.
🎸 3. Fingerpicking Pattern (4/4 Rolling March)
For storytelling verses, try this steady alternating bass arpeggio:
Pattern (per bar):
T – I – M – A – T – I – M – A
(Thumb = bass; Index = G; Middle = B; Ring = E)
Alternate the thumb between two bass notes each bar.
🎶 Tabs for Each Chord
D Major
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Bm
e|--------2-----------2-----------|
B|------3---3-------3---3---------|
G|----4-------4---4-------4-------|
D|--4-----------4-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
Em
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------------|
G Major
e|--------3-----------3-----------|
B|------0---0-------0---0---------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0-------|
D|--0-----------0-----------------|
A|--2-----------------------------|
E|--3-----------------------------|
A Major
e|--------0-----------0-----------|
B|------2---2-------2---2---------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2-------|
D|--2-----------2-----------------|
A|--0-----------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
💡 Example Verse (Fingerpicked)
D Bm
e|--------2-----------2--------|--------2-----------2--------|
B|------3---3-------3---3------|------3---3-------3---3------|
G|----2-------2---2-------2----|----4-------4---4-------4----|
D|--0-----------0--------------|--4-----------4--------------|
A|-----------------------------|--2--------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
There was twa recruiting sergeants came frae the Black Watch
Em G D
e|--------0-----------0----|--------3-----------3---------|
B|------0---0-------0---0--|------0---0-------3---3-------|
G|----0-------0---0-------0|----0-------0---2-------2-----|
D|--2-----------2----------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|--2-----------------------|--2---------------------------|
E|--0-----------------------|--3---------------------------|
Tae markets and fairs, some recruits for tae catch
💡 Example Chorus (Fingerpicked)
D Bm Em
e|--------2-----------2---|--------2-----------2---------|
B|------3---3-------3---3-|------3---3-------0---0-------|
G|----2-------2---2-------|----4-------4---0-------0-----|
D|--0-----------0---------|--4-----------4---------------|
A|-------------------------|--2--------------------------|
E|-------------------------|--0--------------------------|
And it's over the mountains and over the Main
G D A
e|--------3-----------3---|--------2-----------2---------|
B|------0---0-------3---3-|------2---2-------2---2-------|
G|----0-------0---2-------|----2-------2---2-------2-----|
D|--0-----------0---------|--0-----------0---------------|
A|--2----------------------|------------------------------|
E|--3----------------------|------------------------------|
Pit a feather tae your bonnet and a kilt aboon your knee
⚙️ Performance Tips
🎵 Feel:
Keep it stately and proud, not rushed.
Think of a march or pipe band rhythm — strong beat 1 and 3, rolling melody in between.
🎵 Dynamics:
Verses → fingerpicked, gentle.
Chorus → full strum, more drive and energy.
Last line “Come awa with me” → hold the final D and let it ring.
🎵 Bass Alternation:
D → 4th / 5th string
G → 6th / 4th
Em → 6th / 4th
Bm → 5th / 4th
A → 5th / 4th
🎵 Optional embellishment:
Add hammer-ons for character (especially from D → G transitions):
e|--------2h3--2--------|
B|------3--------3------|
G|----2-------------2---|
D|--0-------------------|
🎵 Ending suggestion:
Finish with a slow arpeggio on D:
e|--2-----------|
B|----3---------|
G|------2-------|
D|--0-----------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|
✅ Summary:
Time: 4/4 march
Strum: ↓ ↓↑ ↑ ↓↑ (accent 1 & 3)
Fingerpick: steady 8-note arpeggio (T–I–M–A pattern)
Mood: proud, traditional, rolling march
guitar tab and chords in standard tuning
Twa Recruiting Sergeants sheet music with piano chords
Twa recruiting sergeants Tin Whistle Sheet Music
