Mrs Macdonalds Lament
View chords used in this chart
Intro: F Bb
Verse
F
When the wind's away and the wave away
Bb Eb F
That crazy old fool will go down on the bay
Bb Eb
Dodging the ledges and setting his gear
Bb F Bb
And come back when the wind drives him in
[Refrão]
Eb Bb
But he knows full well the fishing is done
Eb Bb F
His credit's all gone and the winter is come
Bb Cm Eb
But as sure as the tide will rise and run
Bb F Bb F Bb
He'll go back on the bay again
Verse
F
When the snow is down on the Western Bay
Bb Eb F
That fool will go running the Fiddler's Ground
Bb Eb
Hauling his gear in the trough of the sea
Bb F Bb Bb7
As if he'd no mind of his own
[Refrão]
Eb Bb
Yet he knows full well the fishing is done
Eb Bb F
His credit's all gone and the winter is come
Bb Cm Eb
But as sure as the tide will rise and run
Bb F Bb F Bb
He'll go back on the bay again
Verse
F
Well, his father's gone, and his brothers are gone
Bb Eb F
And still he goes down on the dark of the moon
Bb Eb
Rowing the dory and setting the twine
Bb F Bb Bb7
And it won't even pay for his time
Instrumental:
Eb Bb Eb Bb
Bb Cm Eb Bb F Bb
Verse
F
When the wind's away and the wave away
Bb Eb F
Our children go down on the morning sun
Bb Eb
They go rowing their little boats out on the tide
Bb F Bb Bb7
And they'll follow their foolish old man
Verse
Eb Bb
Well, you blind old fool, your children are gone
Eb Bb F
And you never would tell 'gm the fishing was done
Bb Cm Eb
Their days were numbered the day they were born
Bb F Bb
The same as their foolish old man
How to play Mrs Macdonalds Lament
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is F. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.