{"source":"Free Chord Book","source_url":"https://www.free-chords.com","license_note":"Free for personal use. Lyrics and compositions © their respective songwriters and publishers.","tab_id":1740986,"song":"The Cremation Of Sam Mcgee","artist":"Misc Traditional","content_type":"chord","tab_type":"Chords","url":"https://www.free-chords.com/song/11373816-the-cremation-of-sam-mcgee-chords-by-misc-traditional/","api_url":"https://www.free-chords.com/api/v1/songs/1740986?type=chord","rating":4.75122,"votes":5,"content":"The cremation of Sam McGee is something of a beloved traditional ballad in my family \r\nand is recited by various family members at get-togethers. I struggled remembering\r\nsuch a long ballad and wished it was set to music, which I find easier to put to memory.\r\nRecently I stumbled across a You-Tube video (sorry, lost the source!)\r\nof someone singing it to the tune of the \"County Down.\" I was absolutely tickled\r\nabout it and figured I'd better share. Rhythm-wise I use a more up-beat count\r\nbut don't usually go quite so fast as the Irish Rovers in their County down.\r\n\r\nThe Cremation of Sam McGee\r\nBy Robert William Service (with slight adjustments for flow)\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]                         [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThere are strange things done in the midnight sun[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]C[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBy the men who moil for gold;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]                       [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThe Arctic trails have their secret tales[/tab]\r\n[tab]           [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]         [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nThat would make your blood run cold;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]G[/ch]                    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThe Northern Lights have seen queer sights,[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]C[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBut the queerest they ever did see[/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWas that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge[/tab]\r\n[tab]  [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nI cremated Sam McGee.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]                 [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nNow Sam McGee was from Tennessee, [/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]     [ch]C[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nwhere the cotton blooms and blows.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                   [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWhy he left his home in the South to roam [/tab]\r\n[tab]           [ch]Em[/ch]    [ch]D[/ch]        [ch]Em[/ch]\r\n'round the Pole, God only knows.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]G[/ch]                    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nHe was always cold, but the land of gold [/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nseemed to hold him like a spell;[/tab]\r\n[tab]            [ch]Em[/ch]               [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThough he'd often say in his homely way [/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]       [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nthat he'd \"sooner live in hell\".[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]           [ch]D[/ch]\r\nOn a Christmas Day we were mushing our way [/tab]\r\n[tab][ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]      \r\nover the Dawson trail.[/tab]\r\n[tab][ch]Em[/ch]                             [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nTalk of your cold! through the parka's fold[/tab]\r\n[tab]   [ch]Em[/ch]             [ch]D[/ch]      [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nit stabbed like a driven nail.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]G[/ch]                         [ch]D[/ch]   \r\nIf our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze [/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]           [ch]C[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\ntill sometimes we couldn't see;[/tab]\r\n[tab]   [ch]Em[/ch]                       [ch]G[/ch]    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nIt wasn't much fun, but the only one [/tab]\r\n[tab]   [ch]Em[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]   [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nto whimper was Sam McGee.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]                [ch]G[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd that very night, as we lay packed tight [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]         [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nin our robes beneath the snow,[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd the dogs were fed, and the stars over head [/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]        [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nwere dancing heel and toe,[/tab]\r\n[tab]   [ch]G[/ch]                 [ch]D[/ch]      \r\nHe turned to me, and \"Cap,\" says he, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]           [ch]C[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\n\"I'll cash in this trip, I guess;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]           [ch]G[/ch]           [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd if I do, I'm asking that you [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]    [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nwon't refuse my last request.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]                   [ch]G[/ch]            [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWell, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; [/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]          [ch]C[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nthen he says with a sort of moan:[/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\n\"It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold [/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]D[/ch]              [ch]Em[/ch]\r\ntill I'm chilled clean through to the bone.[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]G[/ch]                            [ch]D[/ch]  \r\nYet 'tain't being dead -- it's my awful dread [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]  [ch]C[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nof the icy grave that pains;[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]                      [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nSo I want you to swear that, foul or fair, [/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]       [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nyou'll cremate my last remains.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]  [ch]Em[/ch]                   [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nA pal's last need is a thing to heed,[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]C[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\nso I swore I would not fail;[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                [ch]G[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd we started on at the streak of dawn; [/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]              [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nbut God! he looked ghastly pale.[/tab]\r\n[tab]   [ch]G[/ch]                              [ch]D[/ch]\r\nHe crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]C[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]\r\nof his home in Tennessee;[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]             [ch]G[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd before nightfall a corpse was all [/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nthat was left of Sam McGee.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]                      [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThere wasn't a breath in that land of death, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nand I hurried, horror-driven,[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]            [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWith a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, [/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]       [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nbecause of a promise given;[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]G[/ch]                            [ch]D[/ch]    \r\nIt was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say:[/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\n\"You may tax your brawn and brains,[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                      [ch]G[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBut you promised true, and it's up to you [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]      [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nto cremate those last remains.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]                [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nNow a promise made is a debt unpaid, [/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]C[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\nand the trail has its own stern code.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                      [ch]G[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\nIn the days to come, though my lips were dumb, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]           [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nin my heart how I cursed that load.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]G[/ch]                        [ch]D[/ch] \r\nIn the long, long night, by the lone firelight, [/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]\r\nwhile the huskies, round in a ring,[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nHowled out their woes to the homeless snows [/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]           [ch]Em[/ch]\r\n-- O God! how I loathed the thing.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]             [ch]G[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd every day that quiet clay [/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]C[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nseemed to heavy and heavier grow;[/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]               [ch]G[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd on I went, though the dogs were spent [/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]       [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nand the grub was getting low;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]G[/ch]                    [ch]D[/ch]    \r\nThe trail was bad, and I felt half mad, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]C[/ch]              [ch]D[/ch]\r\nbut I swore I would not give in;[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd I'd often sing to the hateful thing, [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]      [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nand it hearkened with a grin.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                   [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nTill I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]\r\nand a derelict there lay;[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                       [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nIt was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]          [ch]D[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nit was called the \"Alice May\".[/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]G[/ch]                   [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd I looked at it, and I thought a bit, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]           [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nand I looked at my frozen chum;[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThen \"Here,\" said I, with a sudden cry, [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]    [ch]Em[/ch]\r\n\"is my cre-ma-tor-eum.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch] \r\nSome planks I tore from the cabin floor, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nand I lit the boiler fire;[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nSome coal I found that was lying around, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]    [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nand I heaped the fuel higher;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]G[/ch]                           [ch]D[/ch]  \r\nThe flames just soared, and the furnace roared [/tab]\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\n-- such a blaze you seldom see;[/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, [/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]Em[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nand I stuffed in Sam McGee.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                 [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThen I made a hike, for I didn't like [/tab]\r\n[tab]   [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nto hear him sizzle so;[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                       [ch]G[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, [/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nand the wind began to blow.[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]G[/ch]                 [ch]D[/ch]                \r\nIt was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled [/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]C[/ch]          [ch]Em[/ch]\r\ndown my cheeks, and I don't know why;[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                 [ch]G[/ch]    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd the greasy smoke in an inky cloak [/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]        [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nwent streaking down the sky.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]  [ch]Em[/ch]              [ch]G[/ch]           [ch]D[/ch]\r\nI do not know how long in the snow [/tab]\r\n[tab]  [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]C[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nI wrestled with grisly fear;[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                      [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBut the stars came out and they danced about [/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]        [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nere again I ventured near;[/tab]\r\n[tab]      [ch]G[/ch]                      [ch]D[/ch] \r\nI was sick with dread, but I bravely said: [/tab]\r\n[tab]           [ch]Em[/ch]     [ch]C[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\n\"I'll just take a peep inside.[/tab]\r\n[tab]  [ch]Em[/ch]                          [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch] \r\nI guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked\"; . . . [/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]      [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nthen the door I opened wide.[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]           [ch]C[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]\r\nin the heart of the furnace roar;[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd he wore a smile you could see a mile, [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]D[/ch]          [ch]Em[/ch] \r\nand he said: \"Please close that door.[/tab]\r\n[tab]     [ch]G[/ch]                   [ch]D[/ch]            \r\nIt's fine in here, but I greatly fear [/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]        [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nyou'll let in the cold and storm --[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]                     [ch]G[/ch]     [ch]D[/ch]    \r\nSince I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, [/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]         [ch]D[/ch]         [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nit's the first time I've been warm.\"[/tab]\r\n\r\n\r\n[tab]          [ch]Em[/ch]                         [ch]G[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThere are strange things done in the midnight sun[/tab]\r\n[tab]       [ch]Em[/ch]      [ch]C[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBy the men who moil for gold;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]Em[/ch]                       [ch]G[/ch]      [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThe Arctic trails have their secret tales[/tab]\r\n[tab]           [ch]Em[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]         [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nThat would make your blood run cold;[/tab]\r\n[tab]    [ch]G[/ch]                    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThe Northern Lights have seen queer sights,[/tab]\r\n[tab]        [ch]Em[/ch]            [ch]C[/ch]        [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBut the queerest they ever did see[/tab]\r\n[tab]         [ch]Em[/ch]                    [ch]G[/ch]    [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWas that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge[/tab]\r\n[tab]  [ch]Em[/ch]       [ch]D[/ch]     [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nI cremated Sam McGee.[/tab]","plain_text":"The cremation of Sam McGee is something of a beloved traditional ballad in my family \nand is recited by various family members at get-togethers. I struggled remembering\nsuch a long ballad and wished it was set to music, which I find easier to put to memory.\nRecently I stumbled across a You-Tube video (sorry, lost the source!)\nof someone singing it to the tune of the \"County Down.\" I was absolutely tickled\nabout it and figured I'd better share. Rhythm-wise I use a more up-beat count\nbut don't usually go quite so fast as the Irish Rovers in their County down.\n\nThe Cremation of Sam McGee\nBy Robert William Service (with slight adjustments for flow)","chords":["Em","G","D","C","A"],"chord_diagrams":{"C":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,3,2,0,1,0],"frets":[0,3,2,0,1,0]},"D":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,0,0,1,3,2],"frets":[-1,-1,0,2,3,2]},"Em":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[0,2,3,0,0,0],"frets":[0,2,2,0,0,0]},"G":{"barres":[],"baseFret":1,"fingers":[2,1,0,0,0,3],"frets":[3,2,0,0,0,3]}}}