Now playing

The Old Ways

Chords

4.921 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/32

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 32Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuning: Standard EADGBE
Intro chords:
Em
Em/Bm/C/Am  
  EmThe thundering Bmsea is calling me Chome, home to Amyou.
  EmThe pounding Bmsea is calling me Chome, home to Amyou.
  EmOn a dark new year's Bmnight on the west coast of CClare
  I heard your Amvoice singing.
  EmYour eyes danced the Bmsong, your hands played the Ctune.
  T'was a vision Ambefore me.
  EmWe left the music beBmhind and the dance carried Con
  as we stole Amaway to the seashore
  Emand smelt the Bmbrine, felt the wind in our Chair
  and with sadness you Ampaused.
  Suddenly, I Emknew that you'd have to Bmgo.
  Your world was not Cmine, your eyes told me Amso.
  Yet it was Emthere I felt the crossroads of Bmtime
  and I wondered Cwhy.Am  
  EmAs we cast our Bmgaze on the tumbling Csea,
  a vision came Amo'er me,
  Emof thundering Bmhooves and beating Cwings
  in the clouds Amabove.
  Turning to Emgo, heard you call out my Bmname.
  like a bird in a Ccage, spreading its wings to Amfly.
  "The old ways are Emlost", you sang as you Bmflew
  and I wondered Cwhy.Am  
  EmThe thundering Bmwaves are calling me Chome, home to Amyou.
  EmThe pounding Bmsea is calling me Chome, home to Amyou.
  (x3)
rather than strummed - you can play them as below. They're not exactly the same, (these 
variations. The fill can be anything you like within the chord pattern. I've just used 
 |              Em|   fill (e.g.)  |              Bm|   fill (e.g.)  |
e|------0-----0---|------------0---|------2-----2---|---------2------|
B|---------0------|---------0------|---------3------|------------3---|
G|------0-----0---|------0---------|---4--4-----4---|------4---------|
D|---2-----2------|---2------------|---------4------|---4------------|
A|----------------|----------------|---2------------|----------------|
E|---0------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
 |               C|   fill (e.g.)  |              Am|   fill (e.g.)  |
e|------0-----0---|----------------|------0-----0---|---------0------|
B|---------1------|---------1------|---------1------|------1-----1---|
G|---0--0-----0---|------0-----0---|---2--2-----2---|---2------------|
D|---------2------|----------------|---------2------|----------------|
A|---3------------|---3------------|---0------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

All chords in this song (4)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

The Old Ways

by Loreena McKennitt

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuning: Standard EADGBE

Intro chords:

Em Bm C Am

///

Em Bm C Am

The thundering sea is calling me home, home to you.

Em Bm C Am

The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.

Em Bm C

On a dark new year's night on the west coast of Clare

I heard your voice singing.

Em Bm C

Your eyes danced the song, your hands played the tune.

T'was a vision before me.

Em Bm C

We left the music behind and the dance carried on

as we stole away to the seashore

Em Bm C

and smelt the brine, felt the wind in our hair

and with sadness you paused.

Em Bm

Suddenly, I knew that you'd have to go.

C Am

Your world was not mine, your eyes told me so.

Em Bm

Yet it was there I felt the crossroads of time

C Am

and I wondered why.

Em Bm C

As we cast our gaze on the tumbling sea,

a vision came o'er me,

Em Bm C

of thundering hooves and beating wings

in the clouds above.

Em Bm

Turning to go, heard you call out my name.

C Am

like a bird in a cage, spreading its wings to fly.

Em Bm

"The old ways are lost", you sang as you flew

C Am

and I wondered why.

Em Bm C Am

The thundering waves are calling me home, home to you.

Em Bm C Am

The pounding sea is calling me home, home to you.

(x3)

rather than strummed - you can play them as below. They're not exactly the same, (these

variations. The fill can be anything you like within the chord pattern. I've just used

Em Bm

e|------0-----0---|------------0---|------2-----2---|---------2------|

B|---------0------|---------0------|---------3------|------------3---|

G|------0-----0---|------0---------|---4--4-----4---|------4---------|

D|---2-----2------|---2------------|---------4------|---4------------|

A|----------------|----------------|---2------------|----------------|

E|---0------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

C Am

e|------0-----0---|----------------|------0-----0---|---------0------|

B|---------1------|---------1------|---------1------|------1-----1---|

G|---0--0-----0---|------0-----0---|---2--2-----2---|---2------------|

D|---------2------|----------------|---------2------|----------------|

A|---3------------|---3------------|---0------------|----------------|

E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

About The Old Ways Chords by Loreena McKennitt

Learn how to play The Old Ways by Loreena McKennitt with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Old Ways chords”, “The Old Ways guitar chords”, or “Loreena McKennitt The Old Ways chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy The Old Ways chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Old Ways lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, Bm, C, Am, B, G.

FAQ — The Old Ways by Loreena McKennitt

How do I play "The Old Ways" by Loreena McKennitt on guitar?

Open the free chords for "The Old Ways" by Loreena McKennitt on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "The Old Ways" by Loreena McKennitt free?

Yes. The chords for "The Old Ways" by Loreena McKennitt are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "The Old Ways" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "The Old Ways" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "The Old Ways"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "The Old Ways" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "The Old Ways" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Old Ways" by Loreena McKennitt with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Loreena McKennitt below.

What key is "The Old Ways" in?

The chords for "The Old Ways" show the original chord names (including Em, Bm, C, Am, B, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.