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Sir Patrick Spens

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Amixolydian

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
A G F
A G A
[Verse 1]
AThe king sits in Dumferling town
GDrinking the blood-red Awine
A"Where can I get a good captain
GTo sail this ship of Amine?"
AThen up and spoke a sailor boy
GSitting at the king's right Gknee
A"Sir Patrick Spens is the Gbest Captain
That Fever sailed to Asea"
[Verse 2]
AThe king he wrote a broad letter
GAnd he sealed it with his Ahand
AAnd sent it to Sir Patrick Spens
GWalking out on the stArand
ATo Norway, to Norway, to Norway
GTo Norway or the foamG  
AWith all my lords and fGinery
To brFing my new bride hAome
[Verse 3]
AThe first line that Sir Patrick read
GHe gave a weary sAigh
AThe next line that Sir Patrick read
GA salt tear blinds his Aeye
A"Oh, who is it, oh, who is it
GWho told the king of meG  
ATo set us out this tGime of year
To saFil across the sAea?
[Verse 4]
ABut rest you well, my good men all
GOur ship must sail the mAorn
AWith four and twenty noble lords
GDressed up in silk so Afine
AAnd four and twenty feather beds
GTo lay their heads upoGn
AAway, away, we'll aGll away
To brFing the king's bride hAome"
[Verse 5]
A"I fear, I fear, my captain dear
GI fear we'll come to haArm
ALast night I saw the new moon clear
GThe old moon in her aArm."
A"Oh, be it fair, or be it foul
GOr be it deadly stormG  
AOh, blow the wind whereG'er it will
Our sFhip must sail the Amorn"
[Verse 6]
AThey hadn't sailed a day, a day
GA day but only oAne
AWhen loud and boisterous blew the wind
GAnd made the good shiAp moan
AThey hadn't sailed a day, a day
GA day but only threeG  
AWhen oh, the waves came oG'er the side
And rFolled around their Aknees
[Verse 7]
AThey hadn't sailed a league, a league
GA league but only fAive
AWhen the anchor broke and the sails were torn
GAnd the ship began to rAive
AThey hadn't sailed a league, a league
A Gleague but only nineG  
When Aoh, the waves came oG'er the side
FDriving to their cAhins
[Verse 8]
A"Who will climb the top mast high
GWhile I take helm in haAnd?
AWho will climb the top mast high
GTo see if there be dry lAand?"
A"No shore, no shore, my captain dear
GI haven't seen dry landG  
ABut I have seen a lGady fair
With a Fcomb and a glass in her haAnd"
[Verse 9]
A"Come down, come down, you sailor boy
GI think you tarry lAong
AThe salt sea's in at my coat neck
GAnd out at my left arAm
ACome down, come down, you sailor boy
G'Tis here that we must dieG  
AOur ship is torn at eGvery side
And nFow the sea comes iAn"
[Verse 10]
ALoathe, loathe were those noble lords
GTo wet their high-heeled sAhoes
ABut long before the day was o'er
GTheir hats, they swam aAbove
AAnd many were the feathered beds
GThat fluttered on the foamG  
AAnd many were those nobGle lords
Who nFever did come hAome
[Verse 11]
AIt's fifty miles shore to shore
GAnd fifty fathoms dAeep
AAnd there lies good Sir Patrick Spens
GThe lords all at his fAeet
ALong, long, may his lady look
GWith a lantern in her handG  
ABefore she sees Sir PatGrick Spens
Come Fsailing home agAain

All chords in this song (3)

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Sir Patrick Spens

by Anaïs Mitchell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

A G F

A G A

[Verse 1]

The king sits in Dumferling town

G A

Drinking the blood-red wine

"Where can I get a good captain

G A

To sail this ship of mine?"

Then up and spoke a sailor boy

G G

Sitting at the king's right knee

A G

"Sir Patrick Spens is the best Captain

F A

That ever sailed to sea"

[Verse 2]

The king he wrote a broad letter

G A

And he sealed it with his hand

And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens

G A

Walking out on the strand

To Norway, to Norway, to Norway

G G

To Norway or the foam

A G

With all my lords and finery

F A

To bring my new bride home

[Verse 3]

The first line that Sir Patrick read

G A

He gave a weary sigh

The next line that Sir Patrick read

G A

A salt tear blinds his eye

"Oh, who is it, oh, who is it

G G

Who told the king of me

A G

To set us out this time of year

F A

To sail across the sea?

[Verse 4]

But rest you well, my good men all

G A

Our ship must sail the morn

With four and twenty noble lords

G A

Dressed up in silk so fine

And four and twenty feather beds

G G

To lay their heads upon

A G

Away, away, we'll all away

F A

To bring the king's bride home"

[Verse 5]

"I fear, I fear, my captain dear

G A

I fear we'll come to harm

Last night I saw the new moon clear

G A

The old moon in her arm."

"Oh, be it fair, or be it foul

G G

Or be it deadly storm

A G

Oh, blow the wind where'er it will

F A

Our ship must sail the morn"

[Verse 6]

They hadn't sailed a day, a day

G A

A day but only one

When loud and boisterous blew the wind

G A

And made the good ship moan

They hadn't sailed a day, a day

G G

A day but only three

A G

When oh, the waves came o'er the side

F A

And rolled around their knees

[Verse 7]

They hadn't sailed a league, a league

G A

A league but only five

When the anchor broke and the sails were torn

G A

And the ship began to rive

They hadn't sailed a league, a league

G G

A league but only nine

A G

When oh, the waves came o'er the side

F A

Driving to their chins

[Verse 8]

"Who will climb the top mast high

G A

While I take helm in hand?

Who will climb the top mast high

G A

To see if there be dry land?"

"No shore, no shore, my captain dear

G G

I haven't seen dry land

A G

But I have seen a lady fair

F A

With a comb and a glass in her hand"

[Verse 9]

"Come down, come down, you sailor boy

G A

I think you tarry long

The salt sea's in at my coat neck

G A

And out at my left arm

Come down, come down, you sailor boy

G G

'Tis here that we must die

A G

Our ship is torn at every side

F A

And now the sea comes in"

[Verse 10]

Loathe, loathe were those noble lords

G A

To wet their high-heeled shoes

But long before the day was o'er

G A

Their hats, they swam above

And many were the feathered beds

G G

That fluttered on the foam

A G

And many were those noble lords

F A

Who never did come home

[Verse 11]

It's fifty miles shore to shore

G A

And fifty fathoms deep

And there lies good Sir Patrick Spens

G A

The lords all at his feet

Long, long, may his lady look

G G

With a lantern in her hand

A G

Before she sees Sir Patrick Spens

F A

Come sailing home again

About Sir Patrick Spens Tab by Anaïs Mitchell

Learn how to play Sir Patrick Spens by Anaïs Mitchell with free guitar tab, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sir Patrick Spens chords”, “Sir Patrick Spens guitar chords”, or “Anaïs Mitchell Sir Patrick Spens chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Sir Patrick Spens chords and for experienced players who want accurate Sir Patrick Spens lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, G, F.

FAQ — Sir Patrick Spens by Anaïs Mitchell

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