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The Portree Kid

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Eminor

90BPM

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THE PORTREE KID
PERSONAL..Am
[Verse]
A man Emcame riding oot the west one wild aBmnd stormy day
He was Emtall and quiet and hungry his eyes Bmwere smoky grey
He was Emlean across the hurdies but Bmhis shoulders theEmy were big
The teAmrror of the hielan' Emglens that Bmwas the PorEmtree kid
[Chorus]
He drBmum ho, he Emdrum hey, The teAmuchter that cam fEmrae Skye.
[Verse]
His siEmdekick was an orra’man, and oh but Bmhe was mean
He was Emca’ed the midnight plough boy, and Bmhe came frae Aberdeen
He had Emtwenty seven notches on his Bmcromak so tEmhey say
And he Amkilled a million InEmdians, way Bmup in StoEmrnoway
[Verse]
PortreEme booted in the door he sauntered tBmae the bar
He pouEmred a shot o crabbies he shouted SlBmàinte Mhat
While Emmidnight was being chatted up Bmby a bar room giEmrl called Pam
Who saAmid well howdy – straEmnger, wad yBme buy's a Embabycham
[Verse]
Now ovEmer in the corner sat three men frae BmAuchertool
They wEmere playing games for money in a snBmakes and ladder school
The foEmurth man was a southerner whoBm’d come up from MEmacmerry
He'd bAmeen a river gambler Emon the BallBmachulish EmFerry
[Chorus]
He drBmum ho, he Emdrum hey, The teAmuchter that cam fEmrae Skye.
[Verse]
PortreEme walked up to the table and he shoBmuted 'Shake me in'
He shoEmogled on the egg cup, he ]gave the Bmdice a spin
He thrEmew seven sixes in a row and tBmhe game was neEmarly done
But he Amlanded on a snake, Emand finisheBmd on squaEmre one
[Verse]
The gaEmme was nearly over and Portree was Bmdoing fine
He’d lEmanded on a ladder, he was up to forBmty-nine
He onlEmy had but one to go and the oBmther man Emwas beat
But thAme gambler couped the Emboard up, Bmand shouted "Emyou're a cheat"
[Verse]
Men diEmved behind the rubber plants to try Bmand save their skins
The acEmcordionist stopped playing, his sidBmekick dropped the spoons
He sayEms "I think its funny, you’ve Bmbeen up the laddeEmr twice,
And ye Amalways dunt the tabEmle, when I’Bmm going to thEmrow the dice"
[Chorus]
He drBmum ho, he Emdrum hey, The teAmuchter that cam fEmrae Skye.
[Verse]
The gaEmmbler drew his Skian Dubh as fast aBms lightening speed
PortreEme grabbed a screwtop and cracked hiBmm O the heid
Then hEme gave him laldy wi’ a salmon Bmoff the Emwall
And he Amfinished off the buEmsiness, wi’ Bmhis lucky grEmousefoot's claw
[Verse]
PortreEme walked up to the bar, he says "I’Bmll hae a half"
And d’Emye like the way I stuck it on that Bmwee Macmerry nyaff
But thEme Southerner crept up behind Bmhis features wracEmked wi’ pain
And guAmbbed him wi' an ashtEmray made ooBmt o' a curlinEmg stane
[Verse]
The fiEmght went raging on all night till oBmpening time next day
Wi’ a Embreak for soup and stovies aff a coBmronation tray
It was Emgetting kind o' obvious, thaBmt neither man Emwould win
When cAmame the shout that sEmtopped it aBmll "there’s a Embus trip comin in"
[Chorus]
He drBmum ho, he Emdrum hey, The teAmuchter that cam fEmrae Skye.
[Verse]
They sEming this song in Galashiels and up Bmto Peterheid
Way dowEmn o’er the borders across the BmRio Tweed
About Emwhat became O’Portree, MidnigBmht and the gambliEmn' man,
They opAmened up a gift shop Emselling freBmsh air in Ema can
[Chorus]
He drBmum ho, he Emdrum hey, The teAmuchter that cam fEmrae Skye.

All chords in this song (3)

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The Portree Kid

by The Corries

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

THE PORTREE KID

PERSONAL..Am

[Verse]

Em Bm

A man came riding oot the west one wild and stormy day

Em Bm

He was tall and quiet and hungry his eyes were smoky grey

Em Bm Em

He was lean across the hurdies but his shoulders they were big

Am Em Bm Em

The terror of the hielan' glens that was the Portree kid

[Chorus]

Bm Em Am Em

He drum ho, he drum hey, The teuchter that cam frae Skye.

[Verse]

Em Bm

His sidekick was an orra’man, and oh but he was mean

Em Bm

He was ca’ed the midnight plough boy, and he came frae Aberdeen

Em Bm Em

He had twenty seven notches on his cromak so they say

Am Em Bm Em

And he killed a million Indians, way up in Stornoway

[Verse]

Em Bm

Portree booted in the door he sauntered tae the bar

Em Bm

He poured a shot o crabbies he shouted Slàinte Mhat

Em Bm Em

While midnight was being chatted up by a bar room girl called Pam

Am Em Bm Em

Who said well howdy – stranger, wad ye buy's a babycham

[Verse]

Em Bm

Now over in the corner sat three men frae Auchertool

Em Bm

They were playing games for money in a snakes and ladder school

Em Bm Em

The fourth man was a southerner who’d come up from Macmerry

Am Em Bm Em

He'd been a river gambler on the Ballachulish Ferry

[Chorus]

Bm Em Am Em

He drum ho, he drum hey, The teuchter that cam frae Skye.

[Verse]

Em Bm

Portree walked up to the table and he shouted 'Shake me in'

Em Bm

He shoogled on the egg cup, he ]gave the dice a spin

Em Bm Em

He threw seven sixes in a row and the game was nearly done

Am Em Bm Em

But he landed on a snake, and finished on square one

[Verse]

Em Bm

The game was nearly over and Portree was doing fine

Em Bm

He’d landed on a ladder, he was up to forty-nine

Em Bm Em

He only had but one to go and the other man was beat

Am Em Bm Em

But the gambler couped the board up, and shouted "you're a cheat"

[Verse]

Em Bm

Men dived behind the rubber plants to try and save their skins

Em Bm

The accordionist stopped playing, his sidekick dropped the spoons

Em Bm Em

He says "I think its funny, you’ve been up the ladder twice,

Am Em Bm Em

And ye always dunt the table, when I’m going to throw the dice"

[Chorus]

Bm Em Am Em

He drum ho, he drum hey, The teuchter that cam frae Skye.

[Verse]

Em Bm

The gambler drew his Skian Dubh as fast as lightening speed

Em Bm

Portree grabbed a screwtop and cracked him O the heid

Em Bm Em

Then he gave him laldy wi’ a salmon off the wall

Am Em Bm Em

And he finished off the business, wi’ his lucky grousefoot's claw

[Verse]

Em Bm

Portree walked up to the bar, he says "I’ll hae a half"

Em Bm

And d’ye like the way I stuck it on that wee Macmerry nyaff

Em Bm Em

But the Southerner crept up behind his features wracked wi’ pain

Am Em Bm Em

And gubbed him wi' an ashtray made oot o' a curling stane

[Verse]

Em Bm

The fight went raging on all night till opening time next day

Em Bm

Wi’ a break for soup and stovies aff a coronation tray

Em Bm Em

It was getting kind o' obvious, that neither man would win

Am Em Bm Em

When came the shout that stopped it all "there’s a bus trip comin in"

[Chorus]

Bm Em Am Em

He drum ho, he drum hey, The teuchter that cam frae Skye.

[Verse]

Em Bm

They sing this song in Galashiels and up to Peterheid

Em Bm

Way down o’er the borders across the Rio Tweed

Em Bm Em

About what became O’Portree, Midnight and the gamblin' man,

Am Em Bm Em

They opened up a gift shop selling fresh air in a can

[Chorus]

Bm Em Am Em

He drum ho, he drum hey, The teuchter that cam frae Skye.

About The Portree Kid Chords by The Corries

Learn how to play The Portree Kid by The Corries with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Portree Kid chords”, “The Portree Kid guitar chords”, or “The Corries The Portree Kid 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 Portree Kid chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Portree Kid lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, Em, Bm, A.

FAQ — The Portree Kid by The Corries

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The chords for "The Portree Kid" show the original chord names (including Am, Em, Bm, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.