Chords: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)

Subject: Caledonia :Dougie MacLean
From: Benjamin Bodhránaí
Date: 09 Aug 98 - 07:10 PM

Hi all,

Does anyone have chords worked out for this song. We have the verse done but can't tell from the recording exactly what they are doing in the chorus.

Sla/n

Benjamin

Subject: RE: Caledonia :Dougie MacLean
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Aug 98 - 07:25 PM

In fact, I would appreciate it if verse and chorus were put on the thread.

Subject: Chords Add: CALEDONIA (Dougie MacLean)
From: BAZ
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 06:45 PM

Big Mick
This is from Dougie's song book

(F) I don't know if (C7sus4) you can see the (F) changes that have come (Bb) over me.
In these (F) last few days, I've (C7sus4) been afraid that I (F) might drift away.
(Bbmaj7) So I've been (F) telling old stories, (C7) singing songs that (F) make me think 'bout (Bb) where I came from
And (F) that's the reason (C7) why I seem so far away to- (Bb) day.
Oh, and (F) let me tell you that I (C) love you
And I (F) think about you all the (Bb) time.
Caledonia, you're (F) calling me and now I'm (C) going (F) home.
For if I should become a (C) stranger you know that (F) it would make me more than (Bb) sad
Caledonia's been (C) ev'ry thing I've ever (F) had.

Hope this helps. He (Dougie) does have a habit of continually changing his songs so what was right yesterday may not be today, he did a version of Ready for the Storm at Sidmouth Festival that was so slow and lyrical it could have been a different song.

Regards Baz.

Subject: RE: Caledonia :Dougie MacLean
From: Benjamin Bodhra/nai/
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 01:33 AM

Baz,

I was just about to write thanks when I was booted out by a psychotic program this end.

Anyway thanks!!!

Benjamin

Subject: RE: Caledonia :Dougie MacLean
From: Big Mick
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 12:46 PM

BAZ

Thanks very much for the chords. There is a duo out of Chicago, Moore and Broaders, that do a lovely version of this song. I live about 15 minutes from Caledonia, Michigan. This is one of those songs that I have always wanted to sit down and work out and haven't had the time. I appreciate your effort.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Caledonia :Dougie MacLean
From: Zorro
Date: 18 Aug 98 - 12:06 AM

There is another song, I'm not sure by whom, but it's called Caledonia; some of the words:

I was born to wander because that I was poor,
but to leave the hills of Caldedonia was more than I could endure.

---

See Ferry Me Over in the Digital Tradition.

---

Messages combined from related threads. The messages below are from a new thread. I closed off all the threads that were just requests and did not have substantial information.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Looking for Guitar cords Caledonia Dmcle
From: GUEST,Brian:
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 02:30 PM

Anyone help me find guitar cords to D.Mclean's Caledonia

Subject: Looking for Guitar cords Caledonia Dmcle
From: GUEST,Brian:
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 02:35 PM

Anyone help me find guitar cords to D.Mclean's Caledonia

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Looking for Guitar cords Cale
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 16 Mar 00 - 05:32 PM

I do it in D... So it's...

(D) I don't know it (em) you can see
(F#m)the changes that have (G) come over me
Ect for the rest of the verse...
So (D) Let me tell you that (A) I love you
And I (D) thing about you all the (G) time
Caledonia You're (D) calling me
Now I'm (A) going (D)home
And (D) if I should become a )A)stranger
(D) It would make me more than (G)sad
Caledonia's been (A) everything I've ever (D)had

Hope that helps...

{~`

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Add: Looking for Guitar cords Cale
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 17 Mar 00 - 05:51 AM

Dougie uses an open C tuning for this song, and the Chords are mostly subtle Major7ths..

You can try a simpler G Am7 then (I don't know what this is called) slide up the Am7 chord shape 2 frets , and play around with those shapes...

I'll see if I can find more for you...

Some people (myself included) have been known to make a mess of this song.. :-)

StevenC

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Caledonia [Dougie MacLean]
From: Strupag
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 11:46 AM

Have a look at Dougie's website there is a section specially related to guitar playing tips for Dougie's songs. Click here http://www.weeguitar.com/

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Caledonia [Dougie MacLean]
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:44 PM

Now you tell me! I just sort of thrashed the chords out on my own, but they sound all right; getting that syncopated rythm down is a bit of a trick which I'm still working on.

I'll have to check out those links to see how close my chord progressions come to the authorized version. Our CD "Celtic Tides" which has the track sounds like he does it in "C", whereas I do it in "G" capoed up to the second fret.

At a small "Bobby Burns Night" celebration last Suday at the home of Freinds I played & sang "Caledonia" (I hope I'm not going to get sued for admitting that!) and such feedback as we got was positive. Even my Wife liked it!

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Caledonia [Dougie MacLean]
From: Cluin
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 12:53 PM

I found out that Dougie was doing Caledonia in open C years after I had been doing it in DADGAD capoed 2nd. I still do it (when I do it) that way.

Actually, when I first started playing it, I did it in standard tuning in E back in the mid-80s

Subject: RE: Chords: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
From: Strupag
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 03:21 PM

There was a publication in Scotland called "Sandy Bells Broadsheet" with the editors, Ian Green of Greentrax and John Barrows of Stoneyport agency. A reviewer from Melrose in 1979. , called Hector Christy absolutely slated the new album by Dougie and singled out "Caledonia" for his venom calling it tartan crap. He even said that the "bad song" had ,nevertheless, got some reasonable fiddle playing by some un-named musician.
The un-named musician was of course Dougie himself.
Strangely enough the "SBB" is no longer in print.

Subject: RE: Chords: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
From: Cluin
Date: 29 Jan 03 - 05:04 PM

Tartan crap? What the hell is that anyway?

"Caledonia" is obviously about Scotland. But I always felt the song to be an almost generic sort of homesick song. It's that universality that connects with most listeners, I think. It did with me, though admittedly, I've been around ex-pat Scots my whole life and been listening to Scottish homesick songs and sentiments a long time.

Nobody sings a homesick song like a Scot. Especially one still living at home (see Billy Connolly for elaboration of same).

Subject: RE: Chords: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
From: GUEST,frankie miller
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 03:32 PM

excuse me if im treading on toes here...but can someone direct me to the piano notes for this please if theyre here???

Subject: RE: Chords: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 01:55 PM

Can't help with that Frankie. (Are you THE Frankie Miller??) If you know the tune, and have the chords, shouldn't be too difficult to work out.
I do wish they'd put the WORDS right! I have brought attention to the "coat-tails flying" several times over the last few years, even given links to Youtube video of Dougie singing the song himself but still the laughable error persists. (And I'm not the only one.)
Should be CONSCIENCE flying!
Joe Offer, are you reading this?

Subject: RE: Chords: Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
From: GUEST,Johnmc
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 03:59 PM

I find the simplest way to do it (on Gtr )is to play an open E then at fret 2 you play 5th str fret four, 4th string fret 4 and third string fret 2 with first two open. Next slide up 2 frets and play same at fret 4; followed by E shape at 6th fret and at 8th, open first two again.

Capo at 1 for F key