A breathtaking song. In my interpretation I follow The Corries ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v15wEsHg3gY ),
though they play it in D#m (capo in 6th fret, respectively); I prefer it with capo in 3rd fret.
The lyrics are taken from here: http://www.kinglaoghaire.com/lyrics/658-jock-o-braidislee
comments to the text there:
"The place names mentioned in this version of the ballad, Monymusk and Esslemont, suggest that it comes from
Aberdeenshire although the two locations are about 30 miles apart. There is a ruined castle at Esslemont,
presumably this is where the "silly auld man" went to fetch the foresters. Another similar version places the
story in Durisdeer in Dumfriesshire.
dool = grief, worry
scruggs = scrub, bushes"
Am Am Am Am
Johnny got up on a May mornin'
G G G G
Called for water to wash his hands
Am Am G Am
Says "Gie loose tae me my twa grey dugs
Am G C Am
That lie in iron bands - bands
Am G Em Am Am
That lie in iron bands"
Am Am Am Am
Johnny's mother she heard o' this
G G G G
Her hands for dool she wrang
Am Am G Am
Sayin' "Johnny for your venison
Am G C Am
Tae the greenwood dinnae gang - gang
Am G Em Am Am
Tae the greenwood dinnae gang"
Am Am Am Am
But Johnny has ta'en his guid bend bow
G G G G
His arrows one by one
Am Am G Am
And he's awa' tae the greenwood gane
Am G C Am
Tae ding the dun deer doon - doon
Am G Em Am Am
Tae ding the dun deer doon
Am Am Am Am
Noo Johnny shot and the dun deer leapt
G G G G
And he wounded her in the side
Am Am G Am
And there between the water and the woods
Am G C Am
The grey hounds laid her pride - her pride
Am G Em Am Am
The grey hounds laid her pride
Am Am Am Am
They ate so much o' the venison
G G G G
They drank so much o' the blood
Am Am G Am
That Johnny and his twa grey dugs
Am G C Am
Fell asleep as though were deid - were deid
Am G Em Am Am
Fell asleep as though were deid
Am Am Am Am
Then by there cam' a silly auld man
G G G G
An ill death may he dee
Am Am G Am
For he's awa' tae Esslemont
Am G C Am
The seven foresters for tae see - tae see
Am G Em Am Am
The foresters for tae see
Am Am Am Am
As I cam' in by Monymusk
G G G G
Doon among yon scruggs
Am Am G Am
Well there I spied the bonniest youth
Am G C Am
Lyin' sleepin' atween twa dugs - twa dugs
Am G Em Am Am
Lyin' sleepin' atween twa dugs
Am Am Am Am
The buttons that were upon his sleeve
G G G G
Were o' the gowd sae guid
Am Am G Am
And the twa grey hounds that he lay between
Am G C Am
Their mouths were dyed wi' blood - wi' blood
Am G Em Am Am
Their mouths were dyed wi' blood
Am Am Am Am
Then up and jumps the first forester
G G G G
He was captain o' them a'
Am Am G Am
Sayin "If that be Jock o' Braidislee
Am G C Am
Unto him we'll draw - we'll draw
Am G Em Am Am
Unto him we'll draw"
Am Am Am Am
The first shot that the foresters fired
G G G G
It hit Johnny on the knee
Am Am G Am
And the second shot that the foresters fired
Am G C Am
His heart's blood blint his e'e - his e'e
Am G Em Am Am
His heart's blood blint his e'e
Am Am Am Am
Then up jumps Johnny fae oot o' his sleep
G G G G
And an angry man was he
Am Am G Am
Sayin "Ye micht have woken me fae my sleep
Am G C Am
Ere my heart's blood blint my e'e - my e'e
Am G Em Am Am
Ere my heart's blood blint my e'e"
Am Am Am Am
But he's rested his back against an oak
G G G G
His fit upon a stane
Am Am G Am
And he has fired at the seven o' them
Am G C Am
He's killed them a' but ane - but ane
Am G Em Am Am
He's killed them a' but ane
Am Am Am Am
He's broken four o' that one's ribs
G G G G
His airm and his collar bane
Am Am G Am
And he has set him upon his horse
Am G C Am
Wi' the tidings sent him hame - hame
Am G Em Am Am
Wi' the tidings sent him hame
Am Am Am Am
But Johnny's guid bend bow is broke
G G G G
His twa grey dugs are slain
Am Am G Am
And his body lies in Monymusk
Am G C Am
His huntin' days are dane - are dane
Am G Em Am Am
His huntin' days are dane
