The Yew Tree
View chords used in this chart
Dm
A mile frae Pentcaitland, on the road to the sea
Stands a yew tree a thousand years old
And the old women swear by the grey o' their hair
That it knows what the future will hold
G C Dm
For the shadows of Scotland stand round it
C G
'Mid the kail and the corn and the kye
F C
All the hopes and the fears of a thousand long years
Dm C Bb
Under the Lothian sky
C
My bonnie yew tree
Dm
Tell me what did you see
Guitar
Em D C Em
Did you look through the haze o' the lang summer days
C D Em
Tae the South and the far English border
Em D C Em
A' the bonnets o' steel on Flodden's far field
C D Em
Did they march by your side in good order
A D Em
Did you ask them the price o' their glory
D A
When you heard the great slaughter begin
G D Bm
For the dust o' their bones would rise up from the stones
Em D Em
To bring tears to the eyes o' the wind
D
My bonnie yew tree
Em C Em
Tell me what did you see
Em D C Em
Not once did you speak for the poor and the weak
C D Em
When the moss-troopers lay in your shade
Em D C Em
To count out the plunder and hide frae the thunder
C D Em
And share out the spoils o' their raid
A D Em
But you saw the smiles o' the gentry
D A
And the laughter of lords at their gains
G D
When the poor hunt the poor across mountain and moor
Em D Em
The rich man can keep them in chains
D
My bonnie yew tree
Em C Em
Tell me what did you see
Em D C Em
Did you no' think tae tell when John Knox himsel'
C D Em
Preached under your branches sae black
Em D C Em
To the poor common folk who would lift up the yoke
C D Em
O' the bishops and priests frae their backs
A D Em
But you knew the bargain he sold them
D A
And freedom was only one part
G D Bm
For the price o' their souls was a gospel sae cold
N.C.
It would freeze up the joy in their hearts
D
My bonnie yew tree
Em C Em
Tell me what did you see
Solo
Am D G Em
Am D G Em
F Em F Em
F G A
Em
And I thought as I stood and laid hands on your wood
That it might be a kindness to fell you
One kiss o' the axe and you're freed frae the racks
C D Em
O' the sad bloody tales that men tell you
Slowed down
A D Em
But a wee bird flew out from your branches
D A
And sang out as never before
G D Bm
And the words o' the song were a thousand years long
Em D Em
And to learn them's a long thousand more
D
My bonnie yew tree
Em
Tell me what CAN you see
How to play The Yew Tree
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 Dm. 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.