G                       F       G                    F
Murray bowed to Charlie, yokin' Atholl tae the plou'
       G                      F          G                        F
O' the settin sons of Stewart, kings and princes since the Bruce
G                      F        G                      F
Rode to Perth to muster all who hailed the Rover King
        G                      F         G                  F
And wi' weary work and bluster, hewed an army frae his kin

[Chorus]
                   C
If only the wisest fool
    F                          G
Had bade where he first should rule
   F               C
If only the wisest fool
    F                          G
Had bade where he first should rule
F                    C
Henry's for England, Charles for Spain
F         F/E    G
Seamus is Alba's name

[Instrumental]
G  F  G  F  G  F  G  F

[Verse]
G                     F       G                        F
Johnny held a tinchel, as the crystal turned to steel
        G                     F           G                      F
And the heroes o' the Heilans, filled Braemar wi' a' their zeal
G                       F        G                     F
Johnny hummed and hawed, let the loyal Lowlands spile
        G                      F          G               F
Back to France the Rover sailed afore the army of Argyll

[Chorus]
                   C
If only the wisest fool
    F                          G
Had bade where he first should rule
   F               C
If only the wisest fool
    F                          G
Had bade where he first should rule
F                    C
Henry's for England, Charles for Spain
F         F/E    G
Seamus is Alba's name

[Instrumental]
G  F  G  F  G  F  G  F

[Verse]
G                          F        G                       F
Clavers slipped the council as they offered Will the crown
            G                   F           G                       F
Climbed the law to find an army, turned and pulled the Orange down
G                        F      G                   F
Though the Heilan' targes were enough to cow McKay
       G                      F      G                 F
To the death of Bonnie Dundee, loyal men had no reply

[Chorus]
                   C
If only the wisest fool
    F                          G
Had bade where he first should rule
   F               C
If only the wisest fool
    F                          G
Had bade where he first should rule
F                    C
Henry's for England, Charles for Spain
F         F/E    G
Seamus is Alba's name