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Old Admirals

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Dmajor

90BPM

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Intro
D
Verse 1
I can Gwell recall the Dfirst time I Cever put to sea
Was Gon the old CalDcutta in Feighteen fifty-Athree
I was Gjust a lad of Dfourteen years a Cmidshipman to Abe
To Dmake my way in Amsailing ships
Of the Groyal navyD  A  Bm  A  G  D  
Verse 2
By the Gtime that I was Dtwenty-one I had Csailed the world around
GWeathered storms in the DChina seas with the Fhatches battened Adown
And Gmade my way by Dstarlight off the Ccoast of NewfoundAland
And Ddined on beer and Amherrings 
While the Gwaves blew all aDroAunBmdA  G  D  
Bridge 1
BmI live in retirement now
And Ethrough my window comes the sound of Emseagulls
And sets my mind reBmmembering
The evening stars like memories sail Efar beyond the distant trees
Way Emout across the open seas I Bmhear them sing
Verse 3
Oh the Gwooden ships they Dturned to iron and the Ciron ships to steel
And Gshed their sails like Dautumn leaves with the Fturning of the Awheel
And GI was given Dcaptain's rank and Csoon took under Ame
The Dproudest ship that Amever sailed
For Gqueen and countryD  A  Bm  A  G  D  
Verse 4
Ah the Gold queen she Dpassed away with the Cnew born century
And GI received my Dcalling Fup to the admiralAty
The Gsands ran through the Dhourglass each Cday more rapidAly
As we Dwatched the growing Amof the fleets
Of GHigh GermanDyA  Bm  A  G  D  
Bridge 2
BmSo at last the Great War blazed 
I waited with the passing days
The Ecall to arms that never came Emwriting letters
I Bmmay be old now in your eyes but Eall my years have made me wise
You Emdon't see where the danger lies so Acall me back
ACall me back
Verse 5
GBut the war it Dran it's course they could Cfind no use for me
And GI live in the Dcountry now grandCchildren on my Aknee
And Gsometimes think in Dall this world the Csaddest thing to Abe
Old Dadmirals who Amfeel the wind
And Gnever put to sDeaA  Bm  A  G  D  
Verse 6
Now Gjust like you I've Dsailed my dreams like Cships across the sea
And Gsome of them have Dcome on rocks and Csome faced mutiAny
And Gwhen they're sunken Done by one I'll Cjoin that compaAny
Old Dadmirals who Amfeel the wind
And Gnever put to sDeaA  Bm  A  G  Bm  A  A  D  

All chords in this song (9)

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Old Admirals

by Al Stewart

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Intro

Verse 1

G D C

I can well recall the first time I ever put to sea

G D F A

Was on the old Calcutta in eighteen fifty-three

G D C A

I was just a lad of fourteen years a midshipman to be

D Am

To make my way in sailing ships

G D A Bm A G D

Of the royal navy

Verse 2

G D C

By the time that I was twenty-one I had sailed the world around

G D F A

Weathered storms in the China seas with the hatches battened down

G D C A

And made my way by starlight off the coast of Newfoundland

D Am

And dined on beer and herrings

G D A Bm A G D

While the waves blew all around

Bridge 1

I live in retirement now

E Em

And through my window comes the sound of seagulls

And sets my mind remembering

The evening stars like memories sail far beyond the distant trees

Em Bm

Way out across the open seas I hear them sing

Verse 3

G D C

Oh the wooden ships they turned to iron and the iron ships to steel

G D F A

And shed their sails like autumn leaves with the turning of the wheel

G D C A

And I was given captain's rank and soon took under me

D Am

The proudest ship that ever sailed

G D A Bm A G D

For queen and country

Verse 4

G D C

Ah the old queen she passed away with the new born century

G D F A

And I received my calling up to the admiralty

G D C A

The sands ran through the hourglass each day more rapidly

D Am

As we watched the growing of the fleets

G D A Bm A G D

Of High Germany

Bridge 2

So at last the Great War blazed

I waited with the passing days

E Em

The call to arms that never came writing letters

Bm E

I may be old now in your eyes but all my years have made me wise

Em A

You don't see where the danger lies so call me back

Call me back

Verse 5

G D C

But the war it ran it's course they could find no use for me

G D C A

And I live in the country now grandchildren on my knee

G D C A

And sometimes think in all this world the saddest thing to be

D Am

Old admirals who feel the wind

G D A Bm A G D

And never put to sea

Verse 6

G D C

Now just like you I've sailed my dreams like ships across the sea

G D C A

And some of them have come on rocks and some faced mutiny

G D C A

And when they're sunken one by one I'll join that company

D Am

Old admirals who feel the wind

G D A Bm A G Bm A A D

And never put to sea

About Old Admirals Chords by Al Stewart

Learn how to play Old Admirals by Al Stewart with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Old Admirals chords”, “Old Admirals guitar chords”, or “Al Stewart Old Admirals 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 Old Admirals chords and for experienced players who want accurate Old Admirals lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, C, F, A, Am.

FAQ — Old Admirals by Al Stewart

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What key is "Old Admirals" in?

The chords for "Old Admirals" show the original chord names (including D, G, C, F, A, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.