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Chinatown Bumboat

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Chinatown Bumboat
[Verse 1]
I Amwas strolling down DmSand Street oEne fine summer Amnight
AnAmd I spied a faDmir damsel as Eshe hove in sigAmht.
I Amran up my numCber, to which G7she repliAmed,
"IAm'm a Chinatown Dmbumboat goinEg out with the Amtide,
"IAm'm a Chinatown Dmbumboat goinEg out with the Amtide."
[Verse 2]
I Ampassed her Dma hawser and Etook her in towAm,
We Amcrossed down Dmthe way like Ea couple should Amgo.
WAme turned in an aClley not toG7o clean or Amneat,
AnAmd we dropped oDmut mudhooks aEt the end of thAme street.
AnAmd we dropped oDmut mudhooks aEt the end of thAme street.
[Verse 3]
ShAme then leDmd me up to a Ethird-story floAmor,
AnAmd in her finDme stateroom EI soon laAmid her o'er.
SAmhe cleaned up Cher courses aG7nd her red Amflag downhaul,
LaAmid her liDmly-white hand Eon me reeftackAmle-fall.
LaAmid her liDmly-white hand Eon me reeftackAmle-fall.
[Verse 4]
I Amgazed in Dmher sternsheeEts, saw plenty Amof room,
AmAnd into Dmher hullpipe EI shoved my jibAmboom.
WAmith her fenderCs o'erhanging G7like a beAmnt scupper's lip,
AmPretty PoDmlly's a piratEe who scuttled Ammy ship.
AmPretty PoDmlly's a piratEe who scuttled Ammy ship.
[Verse 5]
AmShe rolleDmd and she pitEched like a shiAmp in a storm,
AmAnd cried Dmout, "Oh, saEilor, you're doAming me harm!
YAmou're in the wCrong port!" sG7he cried oAmut in alarm.
AmWell, the Dmwrong port bEe damned, any pAmort in a storm.
AmWell, the Dmwrong port bEe damned, any pAmort in a storm.
[Verse 6]
AmShe burnt Dmdown me riggEing clean down Amto the hull,
AmAnd back Dmto the sickbaEy me punt I did Amscull.
WAmith me foregapCs all bent anG7d me mainmAmast unstrung,
AmThe doctoDmr said, "SailEor, yer jibboom Amis sprung."
AmThe doctoDmr said, "SailEor, yer jibboom Amis sprung."
[Verse 7]
AmNow I'm lDmying in sickbEay, me stern to Amthe wall,
AmThe ChinaDmtown bumboat Ethe cause of it Amall.
IAmt's ashes to aCshes and dust G7unto dustAm,
AmTell me, Dmwhere is the Ewoman a sailor Amcan trust?
AmTell me, Dmwhere is the Ewoman a sailor Amcan trust?

All chords in this song (5)

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Chinatown Bumboat

by Salty Dick

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Chinatown Bumboat

[Verse 1]

Am Dm E Am

I was strolling down Sand Street one fine summer night

Am Dm E Am

And I spied a fair damsel as she hove in sight.

Am C G7 Am

I ran up my number, to which she replied,

Am Dm E Am

"I'm a Chinatown bumboat going out with the tide,

Am Dm E Am

"I'm a Chinatown bumboat going out with the tide."

[Verse 2]

Am Dm E Am

I passed her a hawser and took her in tow,

Am Dm E Am

We crossed down the way like a couple should go.

Am C G7 Am

We turned in an alley not too clean or neat,

Am Dm E Am

And we dropped out mudhooks at the end of the street.

Am Dm E Am

And we dropped out mudhooks at the end of the street.

[Verse 3]

Am Dm E Am

She then led me up to a third-story floor,

Am Dm E Am

And in her fine stateroom I soon laid her o'er.

Am C G7 Am

She cleaned up her courses and her red flag downhaul,

Am Dm E Am

Laid her lily-white hand on me reeftackle-fall.

Am Dm E Am

Laid her lily-white hand on me reeftackle-fall.

[Verse 4]

Am Dm E Am

I gazed in her sternsheets, saw plenty of room,

Am Dm E Am

And into her hullpipe I shoved my jibboom.

Am C G7 Am

With her fenders o'erhanging like a bent scupper's lip,

Am Dm E Am

Pretty Polly's a pirate who scuttled my ship.

Am Dm E Am

Pretty Polly's a pirate who scuttled my ship.

[Verse 5]

Am Dm E Am

She rolled and she pitched like a ship in a storm,

Am Dm E Am

And cried out, "Oh, sailor, you're doing me harm!

Am C G7 Am

You're in the wrong port!" she cried out in alarm.

Am Dm E Am

Well, the wrong port be damned, any port in a storm.

Am Dm E Am

Well, the wrong port be damned, any port in a storm.

[Verse 6]

Am Dm E Am

She burnt down me rigging clean down to the hull,

Am Dm E Am

And back to the sickbay me punt I did scull.

Am C G7 Am

With me foregaps all bent and me mainmast unstrung,

Am Dm E Am

The doctor said, "Sailor, yer jibboom is sprung."

Am Dm E Am

The doctor said, "Sailor, yer jibboom is sprung."

[Verse 7]

Am Dm E Am

Now I'm lying in sickbay, me stern to the wall,

Am Dm E Am

The Chinatown bumboat the cause of it all.

Am C G7 Am

It's ashes to ashes and dust unto dust,

Am Dm E Am

Tell me, where is the woman a sailor can trust?

Am Dm E Am

Tell me, where is the woman a sailor can trust?

About Chinatown Bumboat Chords by Salty Dick

Learn how to play Chinatown Bumboat by Salty Dick with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Chinatown Bumboat chords”, “Chinatown Bumboat guitar chords”, or “Salty Dick Chinatown Bumboat 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 Chinatown Bumboat chords and for experienced players who want accurate Chinatown Bumboat lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, Dm, E, C, G7.

FAQ — Chinatown Bumboat by Salty Dick

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The chords for "Chinatown Bumboat" show the original chord names (including Am, Dm, E, C, G7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.