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The Bonny Swans

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Loreena McKennitt - The Bonny Swans
Capo 2
[Intro]
Am  G   Am  G   Am  G   Am  G
Am  G   Am  G   Am  G   Am  G
Am  G   Am  G   Am  G   Am  G
[Verse 1]
AmA farmer there Flived in the CNorth GCountry
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
AmHe had Gdaughters Fone, two, Cthree
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 2]
These Amdaughters, they Fwalked by the Criver's Gbrim
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
The Ameldest Gpushed the Fyoungest Cin
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Instrumental]
Am   G   Am   G
[Verse 3]
"Oh Amsister, oh Fsister, pray Clend me your Ghand"
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
"And AmI will Ggive you Fhouse and Cland"
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 4]
"I'll Amgive you Fneither Chand nor Gglove"
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
"UnAmless you Ggive me your Fown true Clove"
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Instrumental]
Am   G   Am   G   Am   G   Am   G
[Verse 5]
SomeAmtimes she Fsank, someCtimes she Gswam
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
UnAmtil she Gcame to a Fmiller's Cdam
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 6]
The Ammiller's Fdaughter, Cdressed in Gred
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
She Amwent for some Gwater to Fmake her Cbread
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Instrumental]
Am   G   Am   G
[Verse 7]
"Oh Amfather, oh Fdaddy, here Cswims a Gswan"
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
"It's Amvery Glike a FgentleCwoman"
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 8]
They Amlaid her Fon the Cbank to Gdry
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
There Amcame a Gharper Fpassing Cby
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Instrumental]
Am   G   Am   G   Am   G   Am   G
[Verse 9]
He Ammade harp Fpins of her Cfingers Gfair
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
He Ammade harp Gstrings of her Fgolden Chair
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 10]
He Ammade a Fharp of Cher breast Gbone
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
And Amstraight it beGgan to Fplay aClone
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Instrumental]
Am   G   Am   G
[Verse 11]
He Ambrought it Fto her Cfather's Ghall
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
And Amthere was the Gcourt, asFsembled Call
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 12]
He Amlaid the Fharp uCpon a Gstone
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
And Amstraight it beGgan to Fplay aClone
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Instrumental]
Am   G   Am   G   Am   G   Am   G
[Verse 13]
And Amthere does Fsit my Cfather the Gking
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
And Amyonder Gsits my Fmother the Cqueen
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 14]
And Amthere does Fsit my Cbrother GHugh
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
And Amby him GWilliam, Fsweet and Ctrue
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Verse 15]
And Amthere does Fsit my Cfalse sister GAnne
AmHey he Fho, lay me CBonny Gdown
Who Amdrowned me Gfor the Fsake of a Cman
The Fswans swim so bonny Go
[Outro]
Am   G   Am   G   Am   G   Am   G

All chords in this song (4)

Open

XO221O

Minor chord - Sad, melancholic sound

✕ Mute Open Press

Skill · find home

A minor

This shape is home. Capo 2 makes it sound in B minor. End the line on this chord.

The Bonny Swans

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The Bonny Swans

by Loreena McKennitt

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Loreena McKennitt - The Bonny Swans

Capo 2

[Intro]

Am G Am G Am G Am G

[Verse 1]

Am F C G

A farmer there lived in the North Country

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

He had daughters one, two, three

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 2]

Am F C G

These daughters, they walked by the river's brim

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

The eldest pushed the youngest in

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Instrumental]

Am G Am G

[Verse 3]

Am F C G

"Oh sister, oh sister, pray lend me your hand"

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

"And I will give you house and land"

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 4]

Am F C G

"I'll give you neither hand nor glove"

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

"Unless you give me your own true love"

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Instrumental]

Am G Am G Am G Am G

[Verse 5]

Am F C G

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

Until she came to a miller's dam

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 6]

Am F C G

The miller's daughter, dressed in red

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

She went for some water to make her bread

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Instrumental]

Am G Am G

[Verse 7]

Am F C G

"Oh father, oh daddy, here swims a swan"

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

"It's very like a gentlewoman"

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 8]

Am F C G

They laid her on the bank to dry

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

There came a harper passing by

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Instrumental]

Am G Am G Am G Am G

[Verse 9]

Am F C G

He made harp pins of her fingers fair

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

He made harp strings of her golden hair

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 10]

Am F C G

He made a harp of her breast bone

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

And straight it began to play alone

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Instrumental]

Am G Am G

[Verse 11]

Am F C G

He brought it to her father's hall

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

And there was the court, assembled all

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 12]

Am F C G

He laid the harp upon a stone

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

And straight it began to play alone

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Instrumental]

Am G Am G Am G Am G

[Verse 13]

Am F C G

And there does sit my father the king

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

And yonder sits my mother the queen

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 14]

Am F C G

And there does sit my brother Hugh

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

And by him William, sweet and true

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Verse 15]

Am F C G

And there does sit my false sister Anne

Am F C G

Hey he ho, lay me Bonny down

Am G F C

Who drowned me for the sake of a man

F G

The swans swim so bonny o

[Outro]

Am G Am G Am G Am G

About The Bonny Swans Chords by Loreena McKennitt

Learn how to play The Bonny Swans by Loreena McKennitt with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Bonny Swans chords”, “The Bonny Swans guitar chords”, or “Loreena McKennitt The Bonny Swans 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 Bonny Swans chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Bonny Swans lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, G, F, C, A.

FAQ — The Bonny Swans by Loreena McKennitt

How do I play "The Bonny Swans" by Loreena McKennitt on guitar?

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Can I transpose "The Bonny Swans" to a different key?

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Can I see chord diagrams for "The Bonny Swans"?

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

Is "The Bonny Swans" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "The Bonny Swans" 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 Bonny Swans" in?

The chords for "The Bonny Swans" show the original chord names (including Am, G, F, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.