The Witch of the Westmorland Chords

KeyG CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays461

The Witch of the Westmorland by Archie Fisher is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of G. It uses the chords G, C, Em7, D7, Em and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
G
Text
16
Speed
  			G                   C            G               Em7 
Pale was the wounded knight that bore the rowan shield 
 
G                      D7       Em          C                  D 
Loud and cruel were the raven's cries that feasted on the field 
 
        G                  C          G                 Em7 
Saying beck water cold and clear will never clean your wound 
 
        G                         D7      Em     C                   D 
There's none but the witch of the Westmorland can make thee hale and sound 
 
   G                          C             G                     Em7 
So turn, turn your stallion's head til his red mane flies in the wind 
 
        G            D7        Em          C                  D 
And the rider of the moon goes by and the bright star falls behind 
         
     G                  C              G                 Em7 
And clear was the paley moon when his shadow passed him by 
 
   G                       D7      Em             C               D 
Below the hills were the brightest stars when he heard the owlet cry 
 
        G                    C        G                     Em7 
Saying "Why do you ride this way, and wherefore came you here?" 
 
    G                    D7       Em     C                     D 
"I seek the Witch of the Westmorland who dwells by the winding mere" 
 
         G                  C           G                 Em7 
And it's weary by the Ullswater and the misty brake fern way 
 
    G                        D7        Em       C              D 
Til through the cleft of the Kirkstone Pass the winding water lay 
 
         G                     C          G                     Em7 
He said "Lie down, my brindled hound, and rest ye, my good grey hawk" 
 
    G                    D7       Em         C                 D 
And thee, my steed, may graze thy fill for I must dismount and walk 
 
    G                     C        G                 Em7 
But come when you hear my horn and answer swift the call 
 
      G                     D7        Em           C                D 
For I fear ere the sun will rise this morn ye will serve me best of all." 
 
         G                   C         G              Em7 
And it's down to the water's brim he's born the rowan shield 
 
        G            D7       Em    C                       D 
And the goldenrod he has cast in to see what the lake might yield 
 
    G                     C         G                   Em7 
And wet rose she from the lake, and fast and fleet went she 
 
      G                D7     Em           C                  D 
One half the form of a maiden fair with a jet black mare's body 
 
    G                        C            G                Em7 
And loud, long and shrill he blew til his steed was by his side 
 
     G            D7        Em       C              D 
High overhead the grey hawk flew and swiftly he did ride 
 
    G                         C          G                      Em7 
Say "Course well, my brindled hound, and fetch me the jet black mare 
 
G                    D7        Em        C                   D 
Stoop and strike, my good grey hawk, and bring me the maiden fair." 
 
          G                         C            G                Em7 
She said "Pray, sheathe thy silvery sword.  Lay down thy rowan shield 
      
      G                D7         Em                C              D 
For I see by the briny blood that flows you've been wounded in the field" 
     
        G                         C           G                   Em7 
And she stood in a gown of velvet blue, bound round with a silver chain 
       
          G                    D7      Em        C                 D 
and she's kissed his pale lips one and twice and three times round again 
  
          G                               C         G                   Em7 
And she's bound his wounds with the goldenrod, full fast in her arms he lay 
       
    G            D7       Em             C               D 
and he has risen hale and sound with the sun high in the day 
         
          G                                C             G                 Em7 
She said "Ride with your brindled hound at heel and your good grey hawk in hand 
           
        G                 D7           Em            C                   D 
There's none can harm the knight who's lain with the Witch of the Westmorland" 

    	

Chord diagrams

Guitar tuner

--
Start the tuner and play a string

Reference tones

Standard tuning, lowest to highest. Click a string to play it; the string the mic hears is highlighted.

Click Start tuner and allow microphone access. The needle centers and turns green when a string is in tune (within 5 cents).
No microphone? You can still tap any string above to hear its exact reference pitch.

Metronome

100 BPM Andante