Key: A
Introduction:
G Em
Come listen all you sailors bold,
A
come listen unto me.
D
I'll sing you of a cruel deed.
C A Em
a bloody tragedy.
A G Em
Come listen landsmen one and all,
A
come listen unto me,
D
I'll make you bless your lucky stars
C Em A
you've never gone to sea.
A G Em
It was the Somers, graceful. swift.
A
as trim a little brig.
D
as e' er was modeled by shipwright
C A Em
or sailor helped to rig.
A G Em
The grating's rigged, the hangman's whip
A
dangles from main yardarm.
D
The wondering crew gaze on the sight
C Em A
with terror and alarm.
F G A F
For the Captain called their names
G A
and three good men were slain
F G A
No trial, no questions here,
F G A
only the horror, the grief and the fear.
Verse
G Em
Alas, the meaning's soon too clear,
A
the noose is round the neck
D
of three poor men, but men as brave
C A Em
as walked the Somers deck.
A G Em
On one side Small and Cromwell stand.
A
bold men and sailors true.
D
They quail not though the boldest might
C Em A
with such a death in view.
G Em
Starboard young foolish Spencer stands.
A
the tears are in his eye.
D
What feelings of deep agony
C A Em
must through his bosom fly.
A G Em
Look, look your last, for hark, a gun
A
sends forth its smoky breath.
D
When instantly upon the word,
C Em A
their eyes are sealed in death.
F G A F
For the Captain called their names
G A
and three good men were slain
F G A
No trial, no questions here,
F G A
only the horror, the grief and the fear.
Bridge
F GA
Verse
G Em
And sad and slow our mess mates dead,
A
we launched into the waves,
D
and watched them sink 'mid ocean's moans.
C A Em
deep in their watery graves.
A G Em
Strange sounds will float upon the air
A
and in the blast will speak.
D
and round the main yardarm three ghosts
C Em A
will play and dance and shriek.
G Em
And ill luck and misfortune dire
A
will follow in thy wake
D
'til the ghastly three. where lie their bones.
C A Em
thy last dark haven make.
A G Em
Sheet home on every cursed spar.
A
set every rag asail.
D
and leave here to the ocean ghouls
C Em A
the demons of the gale.
F G A F
For the Captain called their names
G A
and three good men were slain
F G A
No trial, no questions here,
F G A
only the horror, the grief and the fear.
F G A
only the horror, the grief and the fear.
F GA