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The Highwayman
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[Intro]
Am Am C G Am
AmThe wind was a torrent of darkness aCmong the G/Bgusty Amtrees
AmThe moon was a ghostly galleon tossed Cupon the G/Bcloudy Amseas
DmThe road was a Gribbon of CmoonG/Blight Amover the purple Gmoor
And the DmhighwayGman came CridinG/Bg,
AmRiding, Griding,
The AmhighwayG/Bman came Dmriding, Amup to the old inn-door.
He'd a AmFrench cocked hat on his forehead, a Cbunch of G/Blace at his Amchin,
A cAmoat of claret velvet, and Cbreeches of G/Bbrown doe-sAmkin;
They Dmfitted with Gnary a CwrinG/Bkle; his Amboots were up to the G/Bthigh
And he Dmrode with a Gjeweled tCwinkG/Ble,
His Ampistol butts Ga-twinkle,
His Amrapier G/Bhilt a-Dmtwinkle, unAmder the jeweled sky.
AmOver the cobbles he clattered and Cclashed in the G/Bdark Aminn yard,
AmAnd he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but Call was G/Blocked and Ambarred;
He wDmhistled a Gtune to the CwinG/Bdow, and Amwho should be waiting G/Bthere?
But the Dmlandlord's Gblack-eyed CdaughG/Bter,
AmBess, the landlord's Gdaughter,
AmPlaiting a G/Bdark red Dmlove-knot Aminto her long black hair.
"One Amkiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm Cafter a G/Bprize toAmnight,
But AmI shall be back with the yellow gold befCore the Gmorning Amlight;
Yet Dmif they Gpress me CsharG/Bply, and Amharry me through the Gday,
Then lDmook for Gme by the CmoonG/Blight,
AmWatch for me by the Gmoonlight,
I'll cAmome to Gthee by the Dmmoonlight, though Amhell should bar the way.
He Amrose upright in the stirrups; he Cscarce could Greach her Amhand
But she lAmoosened her hair i' the casement! His Cface burnt G/Blike a Ambrand
As the Dmblack cascGade of CperG/Bfume came Amtumbling over his G/Bbreast;
And he kDmissed its wGaves in the CmoonG/Blight,
Am(Oh, sweet waves in the Gmoonlight!)
Then he tAmugged at his G/Brein in the Dmmoonlight, and Amgalloped away to the west.
He Amdid not come at the dawning; he Cdid not G/Bcome at Amnoon,
And Amout of the tawny sunset, beCfore the G/Brise o' the Ammoon,
When the Dmroad was a Ggypsy's CriG/Bbbon, Amlooping the purple G/Bmoor,
A Dmred-coat Gtroop came CmarG/Bching,
AmMarching, Gmarching
King AmGeorge's G/Bmen came Dmmarching, up Amto the old inn-door.
They Amsaid no word to the landlord, they Cdrank his Gale instead,
But they Amgagged his daughter and bound her to the Cfoot of her G/Bnarrow Ambed
Two of Dmthem Gknelt at the CcaseG/Bment, with Ammuskets at their G/Bside!
There was Dmdeath at Gevery CwinG/Bdow
And Amhell at one dark Gwindow;
For AmBess could G/Bsee, through the Dmcasement,
The Amroad that he would ride.
They had Amtied her up to attention, with Cmany a Gsniggering Amjest;
They had Ambound a musket beside her, with the Cbarrel beG/Bneath her Ambreast!
"now Dmkeep good Gwatch!" And they Ckissed G/Bher.
AmShe heard the dead man G/Bsay
"Look Dmfor me Gby the CmoonG/Blight
AmWatch for me by the Gmoonlight
I'll cAmome to G/Bthee by the Dmmoonlight, though Amhell should bar the way!"
She Amtwisted her hands behind her, but aCll the Gknots held Amgood!
She Amwrithed her hands till her fingers were Cwet with G/Bsweat or Amblood!
They Dmstretched and Gstrained in the CdarkG/Bness and the Amhours crawled by like G/Byears!
Till, Dmnow, on the Gstroke of CmidG/Bnight,
Cold, Amon the stroke of Gmidnight,
The Amtip of one G/Bfinger Dmtouched it!
The Amtrigger at least was hers!
ToteAmlot-totelot! Had they heard it? The Chorse's G/Bhooves rang Amclear
ToteAmlot-totelot, in the distance! Were they Cdeaf that they G/Bdid not Amhear?
DmDown the Gribbon of CmoonlG/Bight, Amover the brow of the G/Bhill,
The DmhighwaymGan came CridGing,
AmRiding, Griding!
The Amred-coats G/Blooked to their Dmpriming!
She Amstood up straight and still!
ToteAmlot in the frosty silence! ToteClot, in the Gechoing Amnight!
AmNearer he came and nearer! Her Cface was G/Blike a lAmight!
Her eDmyes grew Gwide for a CmoG/Bment! She Amdrew one last deep G/Bbreath,
Then her Dmfinger Gmoved in the CmoonG/Blight,
Her Ammusket shattered the Gmoonlight,
AmShattered her G/Bbreast in the Dmmoonlight and Amwarned him with her death.
He Amturned; he spurred to the west; he Cdid not Gknow she Amstood
AmBowed, with her head o'er the musket, Cdrenched with her Gown red Amblood!
Not Dmtill the Gdawn he Cheard G/Bit; his Amface grew grey to G/Bhear
How DmBess, the Glandlord's CdaughG/Bter,
The Amlandlord's black-eyed Gdaughter,
Had Amwatched for her G/Blove in the Dmmoonlight, and Amdied in the darkness there.
AmBack, he spurred like a madman, Cshrieking a G/Bcurse to the Amsky
With the Amwhite road smoking behind him and his Crapier G/Bbrandished Amhigh!
Blood-Dmred were the Gspurs in the Cgolden Gnoon; wine-Amred was his velvet Gcoat,
When they sDmhot him Gdown on the ChighGway,
AmDown like a dog on the Ghighway,
And he Amlay in his G/Bblood on the Dmhighway, with the Ambunch of lace at his throat.
AmStill of a winter's night, they say, wheCn the G/Bwind is in the Amtrees,
When the Ammoon is a ghostly galleon, tossed uCpon the G/Bcloudy Amseas,
When the Dmroad is a Gribbon of CmoonGlight Amover the purple G/Bmoor,
A DmhighwaymGan comes CridGing,
AmRiding, Griding,
A AmhighwayG/Bman comes Dmriding, up Amto the old inn-door.
All chords in this song (5)
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The Highwayman
by Loreena McKennitt
Chords in this song · guitar
Am
C
G
G/B
Dm
[Intro]
Am Am C G Am
Am C G/B Am
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees
Am C G/B Am
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon the cloudy seas
Dm G C G/B Am G
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor
Dm G C G/B
And the highwayman came riding,
Am G
Riding, riding,
Am G/B Dm Am
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
Am C G/B Am
He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
Am C G/B Am
A coat of claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
They fitted with nary a wrinkle; his boots were up to the thigh
Dm G C G/B
And he rode with a jeweled twinkle,
Am G
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
Am G/B Dm Am
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky.
Am C G/B Am
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn yard,
Am C G/B Am
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there?
Dm G C G/B
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Am G
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Am G/B Dm Am
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
Am C G/B Am
"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize tonight,
Am C G Am
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Dm G C G/B Am G
Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Dm G C G/B
Then look for me by the moonlight,
Am G
Watch for me by the moonlight,
Am G Dm Am
I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way.
Am C G Am
He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand
Am C G/B Am
But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
Dm G C G/B
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
Am G
(Oh, sweet waves in the moonlight!)
Am G/B Dm Am
Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.
Am C G/B Am
He did not come at the dawning; he did not come at noon,
Am C G/B Am
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
Dm G C G/B
A red-coat troop came marching,
Am G
Marching, marching
Am G/B Dm Am
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.
Am C G
They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
Am C G/B Am
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
Two of them knelt at the casement, with muskets at their side!
Dm G C G/B
There was death at every window
Am G
And hell at one dark window;
Am G/B Dm
For Bess could see, through the casement,
Am
The road that he would ride.
Am C G Am
They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
Am C G/B Am
They had bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
Dm G C G/B
"now keep good watch!" And they kissed her.
Am G/B
She heard the dead man say
Dm G C G/B
"Look for me by the moonlight
Am G
Watch for me by the moonlight
Am G/B Dm Am
I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way!"
Am C G Am
She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good!
Am C G/B Am
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
They stretched and strained in the darkness and the hours crawled by like years!
Dm G C G/B
Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,
Am G
Cold, on the stroke of midnight,
Am G/B Dm
The tip of one finger touched it!
Am
The trigger at least was hers!
Am C G/B Am
Totelot-totelot! Had they heard it? The horse's hooves rang clear
Am C G/B Am
Totelot-totelot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
Dm G C G
The highwayman came riding,
Am G
Riding, riding!
Am G/B Dm
The red-coats looked to their priming!
Am
She stood up straight and still!
Am C G Am
Totelot in the frosty silence! Totelot, in the echoing night!
Am C G/B Am
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
Her eyes grew wide for a moment! She drew one last deep breath,
Dm G C G/B
Then her finger moved in the moonlight,
Am G
Her musket shattered the moonlight,
Am G/B Dm Am
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him with her death.
Am C G Am
He turned; he spurred to the west; he did not know she stood
Am C G Am
Bowed, with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!
Dm G C G/B Am G/B
Not till the dawn he heard it; his face grew grey to hear
Dm G C G/B
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Am G
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Am G/B Dm Am
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.
Am C G/B Am
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky
Am C G/B Am
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Dm G C G Am G
Blood-red were the spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
Dm G C G
When they shot him down on the highway,
Am G
Down like a dog on the highway,
Am G/B Dm Am
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.
Am C G/B Am
Still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
Am C G/B Am
When the moon is a ghostly galleon, tossed upon the cloudy seas,
Dm G C G Am G/B
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
Dm G C G
A highwayman comes riding,
Am G
Riding, riding,
Am G/B Dm Am
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
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About The Highwayman Chords by Loreena McKennitt
Learn how to play The Highwayman by Loreena McKennitt with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Highwayman chords”, “The Highwayman guitar chords”, or “Loreena McKennitt The Highwayman 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 Highwayman chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Highwayman lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, G, G/B, Dm, A.
FAQ — The Highwayman by Loreena McKennitt
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The chords for "The Highwayman" show the original chord names (including Am, C, G, G/B, Dm, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.