The Battle Of Harlaw by Old Blind Dogs, tabs and chords at PlayUkuleleNET

The Battle Of Harlaw

Biography:

Old Blind Dogs is a musical group which plays Celtic folk and traditional Scottish folk music, with influences from rock, reggae and Middle Eastern music rhythms. The three founding members of the band (Ian F. Benzie, Buzzby McMillan and Jonny Hardie) first met during a so-called "buskers' holiday" in the Scottish Highlands in 1990, and after playing together for the summer decided to call themselves "Old Blind Dogs". Dave Francis and Carmen Higgins joined the band soon afterwards

Read more on Last.fm

Other songs:

Share this tab

Four years of hard work!

This month of May we celebrated four years on the air. We continue working on the dissemination of this wonderful instrument, thank you for participating in our story!

[Verse]
N.C.
As I cam' in by Dunideer and doon by Nether Ha'
N.C.
There were fifty thoosand' heilan' men a-marchin' tae Harlaw
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
N.C.
As I gaed on an' farther on and doon an' by Balquhain
N.C.
Oh, it's there I saw Sir James the Rose and wi' him John the Graeme
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
N.C.
"It's cam' ye fae the Heilan's man, cam' ye a' the wey?
N.C.
Saw ye MacDonald and his men as they cam' in fae Skye?"
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
N.C.
"It's I was near and near eneuch that I their numbers saw
N.C.
There was fifty thoosan' heilan' men a-marchin' tae Harlaw"
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
N.C.
"Gin that be true," says James the Rose, "We'll no cam' muckle speed
N.C.
We'll cry upon wir merry men and turn wir horse's heid"
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
N.C.
"Oh na, o' na," says John the Graeme, "This thing will nivver be
N.C.
The gallant Graemes wis nivver beat, we'll try fit we can dae"
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Instrumental]
D G D G D G A Bm D G A D

[Verse]
G D G
Well, as I gaed on an' further on an' doon an' by Harlaw
D G A Bm
There fell fu' close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
D G A D
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
G D G
There fell fu' close on ilka side sic straiks ye nivver saw
D G A Bm
An' ilka sword gaed clash for clash at the Battle of Harlaw
D G A D
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
G D G
The Heilan' men wi' their lang swords, they laid on us fu' sair
D G A Bm
And they drave back wir merry men, three acres breadth and mair
D G A D
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
G D G
An' Forbes tae his brither did say, "Noo brither, can't ye see
D G A Bm
They've beaten us back on ilka side and we'll be forced tae flee"
D G A D
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
G D G
"Oh na, na, my brither bold, this thing will nivver be
D G A Bm
Ye'll tak yer guid sword in yer haun', ye'll gang in wi' me"
D G A D
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Instrumental]
G C G C G C D Em G C D G
G C G C G C D Em G C D G

[Verse]
C G C
Well, it's back tae back the brithers bold gaed in amangst the thrang
G C D Em
And they drave back the heilan' men wi' their swords baith sharp and lang
G C D G
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
C G C
An' the firstan stroke that Forbes struck, he gart MacDonald reel
G C D Em
An' the neistan straik that Forbes struck, the brave MacDonald fell
G C D G
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
C G C
An siccan a ptlairchie o' the likes ye nivver saw
G C D Em
As wis amangst the Heilan' men an' they saw MacDonald fa'
G C D G
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
C G C
Some rade, some ran and some did gang, they were o' sma' record
G C D Em
For Forbes and his merry men, they slew them on the road
G C D G
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
C G C
O' fifty thoosan' Heilan' men, but fifty-three gaed hame
G C D Em
And oot o' a' the Lawlan' men, fifty marched wi' Graeme
G C D G
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Verse]
N.C.
Gin onybody spier at ye for them that marched awa'
N.C.
Ye can tell them plain and very plain they're sleepin' at Harlaw
N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay

[Outro]
A D A D A D E F#m A D E A x2
A N.C.
Wi' a diddy aye o' an' a fal an' doe and a diddy aye o' aye yay