The Naked Highwayman Chords

KeyC CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays473

The Naked Highwayman by Fairport Convention is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of C. It uses the chords C, G, F, Am and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
C
Text
16
Speed
  			
Intro 
C G C G 

Verse 
   C 
As I rode out one summer's day, for profit and for pleasure 
                                                    G 
I planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure 
  C 
A brace of pistols duly primed, a sabre fit to shave on 
                                                      G 
I waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon 

Verse 
  C 
I didn't hear her dainty step, as she appeared before me 
                                                      G 
A face to charm a singing bird, with words that did implore me 
 C 
"Can you help me sir?" she said, "I fear the time is near run 
                                                    G 
For me to cross before the tide swells the banks of Avon" 

C                                        F 
All you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 
     C                                        F 
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 

Verse 
   C 
So gallantly I did dismount and walked into the water 
                                                 G 
As she told me that she was a wealthy merchant's daughter 
C 
So I thought I'd try my luck and do my best to charm her 
                                     G 
Said I was the only son of a country farmer 

Verse 
      C 
"Your hands they are as smooth as silk, they never touched a plough, sir 
                                                 G 
I suppose those pistols help you milking of your cows" 
    C 
She looked at me with mocking eyes, as coal-black as a raven 
                                                   G 
And then she fell into my arms beside the banks of Avon 

C                                        F 
All you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 
     C                                        F 
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 

Instrumental 
F    Am    D    Am    G 

Verse 
    C 
Her honeyed lips, I was beguiled, a lamb led to the slaughter 
                                                       G 
Eventually I fell asleep in the arms of the merchant's daughter 
     C 
When I awoke I was alone, my clothes and pistols taken 
                                                          G 
With just the leaves to hide my shame beside the banks of Avon 

Verse 
   C 
In vain I tried to catch a glimpse of the city spires 
                                                 G 
Running like a rabbit through the bushes and the briars 
C 
Then I heard the London coach and I was all a-shiver 
                                                G 
A lady's voice was calling out, "Stand-to and deliver!" 

C                                        F 
All you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 
     C                                        F 
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 

Verse 
      C 
"Your money or your life I'll have, it's all the same to me 
                                                 G 
It's hanged for a sheep or murder in the first degree" 
    C 
She stood there in my overcoat, brandishing my pistol 
                                             G 
And relieved the London coach of the gold of Bristol 

Verse 
          C 
And she's up and mounted on my horse and rode into the distance 
                                            G 
And I went naked to the coach begging for assistance 
   C 
No more I'll play the highwaymen, nor more I'll put the mask on 
                                                             G 
I'll leave it to the bright-eyed girl who roams the banks of Avon 

C                                        F 
All you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 
     C                                        F 
Come all you roving fellows, listen while you can 
C                                        F 
Of the time that I became a naked highwayman 

Instrumental 
F    Am    D    Am    G 

Verse 
   C 
As I rode out one summer's day, for profit and for pleasure 
                                                    G 
I planned to rob the London coach and take it at my leisure 
  C 
A brace of pistols duly primed, a sabre fit to shave on 
                                                      G 
I waited underneath the trees that lined the banks of Avon 

Outro 
G 
    	

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