Now playing

Boats

Chords

4.642 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

The basic chord pattern and strumming in the song is:
  [G]       [Am7]      [B/D]        [C]
[d-u-d]    [u-u-d]    [u-u-d]    [u-u-d-u]
(Verse 1)
[G]    [Am7]     [B/D]    [C]
Ol' Joe's got a Boston whaler
[G]    [Am7]   [B/D]    [C]
he bought in Key Biscane
[G]    [Am7]       [B/D]     [C]
He swears since the day he's got her
[G]     [Am7]    [B/D]   [C]
she's been nothing but a pain
         [Am]
when the sun's at his back
        [Am]
and the winds in his face
[D]
it's just him and the wheel
[Am]
he wouldn't take a million for the
[D]
way it makes him feel
(Chorus)
[G][C]
boats
[G][C]
vessels of freedom
[G]             [D]
harbors of heal-ing
[C]
boats
(Verse 2 - same chords and strumming as beginning here)
Newport is where John hung his hat
til he lost his wife Jo
now forty feet of sail antique
is where Ol' John calls home
[Am]
he watched his life pass before his eyes
       [D]
in the middle of a hurricane
[Am]
came out alive on the other side
                  [D]
that's where "the other side" got its name
(Repeat Chorus)
(solo)
(Verse 3 - same chords and strumming as beginning here)
Twenty years of a landlocked job
was all that tom could take
sitting at his desk
all alone and depressed
says this just cant be my fate
[Am]
went home that night and told his wife
[D]
you can tell all your friends
[Am]
it's been real but it ain't been fun
[D]
gonna get us one of them
(Repeat Chorus)
(Ending)
[G]              [D]
vessels of freed-om
[C]
boats
This is my first tab. Sounds close to me. Enjoy

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

Kenny Chesney is a country singer known for his energetic live shows and numerous awards, including multiple Entertainer of the Year honors. While the source material doesn't detail this specific song, "Boats" paints a picture of simple joys and the freedom found on the water. It evokes the feeling of watching an old friend on his Boston Whaler, dreaming of owning one of those "vessels of freedom" yourself. It's a song about the quiet aspiration for a life where the sun is at your back and the open water calls.

AI-written from these sources:Kenny Chesney — Wikipedia ↗

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Boats

by Kenny Chesney

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am7

The basic chord pattern and strumming in the song is:

G Am7 B D C

[] [] [/] []

[d-u-d] [u-u-d] [u-u-d] [u-u-d-u]

(Verse 1)

G Am7 B D C

[] [] [/] []

Ol' Joe's got a Boston whaler

G Am7 B D C

[] [] [/] []

he bought in Key Biscane

G Am7 B D C

[] [] [/] []

He swears since the day he's got her

G Am7 B D C

[] [] [/] []

she's been nothing but a pain

[]

when the sun's at his back

[]

and the winds in his face

[]

it's just him and the wheel

[]

he wouldn't take a million for the

[]

way it makes him feel

(Chorus)

G C

[][]

boats

G C

[][]

vessels of freedom

G D

[] []

harbors of heal-ing

[]

boats

(Verse 2 - same chords and strumming as beginning here)

Newport is where John hung his hat

til he lost his wife Jo

now forty feet of sail antique

is where Ol' John calls home

[]

he watched his life pass before his eyes

[]

in the middle of a hurricane

[]

came out alive on the other side

[]

that's where "the other side" got its name

(Repeat Chorus)

(solo)

(Verse 3 - same chords and strumming as beginning here)

Twenty years of a landlocked job

was all that tom could take

sitting at his desk

all alone and depressed

says this just cant be my fate

[]

went home that night and told his wife

[]

you can tell all your friends

[]

it's been real but it ain't been fun

[]

gonna get us one of them

(Repeat Chorus)

(Ending)

G D

[] []

vessels of freed-om

[]

boats

This is my first tab. Sounds close to me. Enjoy

About Boats Chords by Kenny Chesney

Learn how to play Boats by Kenny Chesney with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Boats chords”, “Boats guitar chords”, or “Kenny Chesney Boats 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 Boats chords and for experienced players who want accurate Boats lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Am7, B, D, C, Am.

FAQ — Boats by Kenny Chesney

How do I play "Boats" by Kenny Chesney on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Boats" by Kenny Chesney on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Boats" by Kenny Chesney free?

Yes. The chords for "Boats" by Kenny Chesney are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Boats" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Boats" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Boats"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Boats" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Boats" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Boats" by Kenny Chesney with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Kenny Chesney below.

What key is "Boats" in?

The chords for "Boats" show the original chord names (including G, Am7, B, D, C, Am). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.