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The Old Figurehead Carver

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90BPM

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[Intro]
E    A
[Verse]
AI have done my bit of carving
FigureBmheads of quaint design
For the Olives and the ERuddocks
And the Dfamous Black Ball ALine
Brigantines and Gbarques and Aclippers
Brigs and Dschooners, lithe and Bmtall
But the bounding Marco EPolo
Was the Dproudest of them Aall
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the AwoodE  
[Verse]
I can Asee that white-winged clipper
Reeling Bmunder scudding clouds
Tramping down a hazy Eskyline
With a DNorther in her Ashrouds
I can Gfeel her lines of Abeauty
See her Dflecked with spume and Bmbrine
As she drives her scuppers Eunder
And that Dfigurehead of Amine
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the AwoodE  
[Verse]
'Twas of Aseasoned pine I made it
Clear from Bmouter bark to core
And the finest piece of Etimber
From the Dmast-pond on Straight AShore
Every Gbite of axe or Achisel
Every Dringing mallet Bmwelt
Brought from out that piece of Etimber
All the Dspirit that I Afelt
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the AwoodE  
[Verse]
I had Aread of Marco Polo
Till his Bmdaring deeds were mine
And I saw them all a-Eglowing
In that Dbalsam-scented Apine
Saw his eyes aGlight with Apurpose
Facing Devery vagrant Bmbreeze
Saw him lifting, free and Ecareless
Over Dall the Seven ASeas
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the AwoodE  
[Verse]
That was Ahow I did my carving
Beat of Bmheart and stroke of hand
Blended into life and Eaction
All the Dpurpose that I Aplanned
Flowing robes and Gwind-tossed Atresses
Forms of Dbeauty, strength, deBmsign
Saw them all, and strove to Ecarve them
In those Dfigureheads of Amine
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the AwoodE  D  A  
[Verse]
AI am old, my hands are feeble
And my Bmoutward eyes are dim
But I see again those Eclippers
Lifting Do'er the ocean's Arim
Great white fleet of Greeling Arovers
Wind aDbove, the surf beBmneath
And the Marco Polo Eleading
With my Dcarving in her Ateeth
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the Awood
[Chorus]
And while my Ghand is Asteady
DWhile my eyes are Bmgood
I will carve the Emusic
Of the Dwind into the AwoodE  A  

All chords in this song (5)

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The Old Figurehead Carver

by Gordon Bok

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

E A

[Verse]

I have done my bit of carving

Figureheads of quaint design

For the Olives and the Ruddocks

D A

And the famous Black Ball Line

G A

Brigantines and barques and clippers

D Bm

Brigs and schooners, lithe and tall

But the bounding Marco Polo

D A

Was the proudest of them all

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A E

Of the wind into the wood

[Verse]

I can see that white-winged clipper

Reeling under scudding clouds

Tramping down a hazy skyline

D A

With a Norther in her shrouds

G A

I can feel her lines of beauty

D Bm

See her flecked with spume and brine

As she drives her scuppers under

D A

And that figurehead of mine

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A E

Of the wind into the wood

[Verse]

'Twas of seasoned pine I made it

Clear from outer bark to core

And the finest piece of timber

D A

From the mast-pond on Straight Shore

G A

Every bite of axe or chisel

D Bm

Every ringing mallet welt

Brought from out that piece of timber

D A

All the spirit that I felt

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A E

Of the wind into the wood

[Verse]

I had read of Marco Polo

Till his daring deeds were mine

And I saw them all a-glowing

D A

In that balsam-scented pine

G A

Saw his eyes alight with purpose

D Bm

Facing every vagrant breeze

Saw him lifting, free and careless

D A

Over all the Seven Seas

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A E

Of the wind into the wood

[Verse]

That was how I did my carving

Beat of heart and stroke of hand

Blended into life and action

D A

All the purpose that I planned

G A

Flowing robes and wind-tossed tresses

D Bm

Forms of beauty, strength, design

Saw them all, and strove to carve them

D A

In those figureheads of mine

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A E D A

Of the wind into the wood

[Verse]

I am old, my hands are feeble

And my outward eyes are dim

But I see again those clippers

D A

Lifting o'er the ocean's rim

G A

Great white fleet of reeling rovers

D Bm

Wind above, the surf beneath

And the Marco Polo leading

D A

With my carving in her teeth

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A

Of the wind into the wood

[Chorus]

G A

And while my hand is steady

D Bm

While my eyes are good

I will carve the music

D A E A

Of the wind into the wood

About The Old Figurehead Carver Chords by Gordon Bok

Learn how to play The Old Figurehead Carver by Gordon Bok with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Old Figurehead Carver chords”, “The Old Figurehead Carver guitar chords”, or “Gordon Bok The Old Figurehead Carver 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 The Old Figurehead Carver chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Old Figurehead Carver lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, A, Bm, D, G.

FAQ — The Old Figurehead Carver by Gordon Bok

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