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Sir Patrick Spens

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Gmajor

90BPM

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(Sandy Denny Vocal Version from 'Liege & Lief')
[Intro]
G   D
G   D
G   D
G   D
D  C  G  D
D  C  G  D
[Verse 1]
A GKing sat Din DunGfermline Dtown
GDrinking Dof the Gblood-red Dwine
"EmWhere can I Bmget a Emgood sea-Bmcaptain
To Amsail this Emmighty Bmship of Ammine?"
[Instrumental]
D  C  G  D
D  C  G  D
[Verse 2]
Then Gup there Dspoke a Gbonny DboyG  
Sitting Dat the GKing's right Dknee
"Sir EmPatrick BmSpens is the Emvery best Bmseaman
That Amever saiEmled uBmpon the Amsea"
[Verse 3]
The Dking has written Ca broad letter
And Gsealed it up with his Down right hand
Sending word unCto Sir Patrick
To Gcome to him at Dhis command
[Instrumental]
C  G  D
[Verse 4]
"An GeneDmy then Gthis must Dbe
Who Gtold a Dlie conGcerning Dme
For EmI was Bmnever a Emvery good Bmseaman
Nor Amever Emdo inBmtend to Ambe"
[Instrumental]
D  C  G  D
D  C  G  D
[Verse 5]
Last Gnight I Dsaw the Gnew DmoonG  
With the Dold moon Gin her Darm
A Emsign, a Bmsign since Emwe were Bmborn
That Ammeans there'll Embe a Bmdeadly Amstorm
[Verse 6]
DThey had not sailed uCpon the sea
A Gday, a day, but Dbarely three
When loud and boisterous Cgrew the wind
And Gloud and stormy Dgrew the sea
[Instrumental]
G   D
G   D
G   D
G   D
D  C  G  D
D  C  G  D
[Verse 7]
Then Gup there Dcame a GmermaiDden
A Gcomb and Dglass, all Gin her Dhand
"Here's a Emhealth to Bmyou, my Emmerry young Bmmen
For Amyou'll not Emsee dry Bmland aAmgain"
[Instrumental]
C  G  D
[Verse 8]
"Oh, Glong Dmay my Glady DlookG  
With a Dlantern Gin her Dhand
BeEmfore she Bmsees my Embonny Bmship
Come Amsailing Emhomewards Bmto dry Amland"D  
[Verse 9]
Forty miles off CAberdeen
The Gwater's fifty Dfathoms deep
There lies good Sir CPatrick SpensG  
With the Scots lords Dat his feet
[Outro]
G   D
G   D
G   D
G   D
D  C  G  D
D  C  G  D

All chords in this song (6)

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Sir Patrick Spens

by Fairport Convention

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

(Sandy Denny Vocal Version from 'Liege & Lief')

[Intro]

G D

D C G D

[Verse 1]

G D G D

A King sat in Dunfermline town

G D G D

Drinking of the blood-red wine

Em Bm Em Bm

"Where can I get a good sea-captain

Am Em Bm Am

To sail this mighty ship of mine?"

[Instrumental]

D C G D

[Verse 2]

G D G D G

Then up there spoke a bonny boy

D G D

Sitting at the King's right knee

Em Bm Em Bm

"Sir Patrick Spens is the very best seaman

Am Em Bm Am

That ever sailed upon the sea"

[Verse 3]

D C

The king has written a broad letter

G D

And sealed it up with his own right hand

Sending word unto Sir Patrick

G D

To come to him at his command

[Instrumental]

C G D

[Verse 4]

G D G D

"An enemy then this must be

G D G D

Who told a lie concerning me

Em Bm Em Bm

For I was never a very good seaman

Am Em Bm Am

Nor ever do intend to be"

[Instrumental]

D C G D

[Verse 5]

G D G D G

Last night I saw the new moon

D G D

With the old moon in her arm

Em Bm Em Bm

A sign, a sign since we were born

Am Em Bm Am

That means there'll be a deadly storm

[Verse 6]

D C

They had not sailed upon the sea

G D

A day, a day, but barely three

When loud and boisterous grew the wind

G D

And loud and stormy grew the sea

[Instrumental]

G D

D C G D

[Verse 7]

G D G D

Then up there came a mermaiden

G D G D

A comb and glass, all in her hand

Em Bm Em Bm

"Here's a health to you, my merry young men

Am Em Bm Am

For you'll not see dry land again"

[Instrumental]

C G D

[Verse 8]

G D G D G

"Oh, long may my lady look

D G D

With a lantern in her hand

Em Bm Em Bm

Before she sees my bonny ship

Am Em Bm Am D

Come sailing homewards to dry land"

[Verse 9]

Forty miles off Aberdeen

G D

The water's fifty fathoms deep

C G

There lies good Sir Patrick Spens

With the Scots lords at his feet

[Outro]

G D

D C G D

About Sir Patrick Spens Chords by Fairport Convention

Learn how to play Sir Patrick Spens by Fairport Convention with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sir Patrick Spens chords”, “Sir Patrick Spens guitar chords”, or “Fairport Convention 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 G, D, C, A, Em, Bm.

FAQ — Sir Patrick Spens by Fairport Convention

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What key is "Sir Patrick Spens" in?

The chords for "Sir Patrick Spens" show the original chord names (including G, D, C, A, Em, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.