Jun112022

James Yorkston feat. Kalyna Rakel – The Shearings Not For You Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsG D C Em

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
G   D   C   G

[Verse 1]
G                         D
O the shearing's not for you,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O,
G                         D
O the shearing's not for you,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O,
      C
O the shearing's not for you,
           G              Em
for your back it wouldna' bow,
G                      D
And your belly's o'er full,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O.

[Verse 2]
G                       D
It was in the month of May,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O,
G                       D
It was in the month of May,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O,
       C
It was in the month of May,
         G                 Em
when the flowers they were gay,
G                            D
And the lambs did sport and play,
          C       G
my bonnie lassie O'

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[Verse 3]
G                      D
Do you mind on yonder hill,
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O,
G                      D
Do you mind on yonder hill,
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O,
      C
D'you mind on yonder hill where
     G                 Em
you swore you would me kill,
G                        D
If you did'na have your will?
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O.

[Verse 4]
G                        D
Do you mind the banks of Ayr,
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O,
G                        D
Do you mind the banks of Ayr,
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O,
       C
Do you mind the banks of Ayr,
          G                 Em
where you drew me in your snare,
G                     D
And you left me in despair,
           C     G
my bonnie laddie O?

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Verse 5]
G                       D
O it's you may kill me dead,
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O,
G                       D
O it's you may kill me dead,
          C     G
my bonnie laddie O,
       C
O I'll not kill you dead
               G    Em
nor make your body bleed,
G                    D
Nor marry you with speed
          C     G
my bonnie lassie O.

[Verse 6]
G                         D
For the pipes do sweetly play,
          C     G
my bonnie lassie O,
G                         D
For the pipes do sweetly play,
          C     G
my bonnie lassie O,
       C
O the pipes do sweetly play and
    G               Em
the troops do march away,
G                         D
And it's here I will not stay,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O.

[Verse 7]
G                         D
O the shearing's not for you,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O,
G                         D
O the shearing's not for you,
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O,
       C
O the shearing's not for you,
         G               Em
for your back it wouldna' bow,
G                     D
And your belly's o'er full
          C      G
my bonnie lassie O.

[Outro]
G   D   C   G  X2
C       G   Em
G   D   C   G

How to play The Shearings Not For You: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for The Shearings Not For You by James Yorkston feat. Kalyna Rakel on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

The Shearings Not For You by James Yorkston feat. Kalyna Rakel is written in G major (one sharp: F♯) and moves through 4 chords: G, D, C and Em.

Most of the song cycles through G – D – C – G (I – V – IV – I in G major). In solfa, that is doh – soh – fah – doh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Beginner-friendly: on guitar every chord is an open shape, which makes this a good song to learn early on.