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Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle

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The Ballad of The Yarmouth Castle
Gordon Lightfoot 1969
Capo at the second fret and fingerpick.  At the end of the first and
third lines of each verse, use a G/Gsus4/G riff.  At the end of the
second and fourth lines, use an Am/Asus4/Am/Asus2/Am riff.
CHORDS:
 Asus2
   002200
 Asus4
   002230
 Gsus4
   320013
 Am                         C              G
 Well it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the anchors have been weighed,
      Am       G            Am
 From Miami to Nassau, she's bound across the waves.
                               C             G
 She's a-headin' south through Biscayne Bay, into the open sea,
     Am                         G               Am
 The Yarmouth Castle's, she's a-dying and don't know it!
            Am               C                  G
 There were many years she's been to sea, she's seen the better times,
     Am               G               Am
 She gives a groan of protest as they cast away her lines.
         Am             C               G
 And the grumble of her engines and the rust along her spine,
           Am               G         Am
 Tells the Castle she's too old to be sailing.
         Am            C                   G
 But the sands run out within her heart, a tiny spark glows red,
 Am                    G          Am
 Smoulders through the evening as laughter overhead,
     Am                           C
 Now when dinner's served and the cards are dealt, & the
       G
       drinks are passed around,
 Am               G             Am
 Deep within, the fire starts a-burning.
          Am              C             G
 Now it's midnight on the open sea, the moon is shining bright,
      Am              G         Am
 Some people join the party and others say goodnight.
         Am           C                  G
 There's many who are sleeping now, it's been a busy day,
         Am            G          Am
 And the tiny whisp of smoke is a-risin'.
     Am                  C                G
 "Oh lord," she groans, "I'm burnin', let someone understand!"
         Am             G             Am
 But her silent plea is wasted in the playin' of the band!
      Am                    C                  G
 Everybody's dancin' on the deck and they're a-havin' such a time,
       Am           G                     Am
 And a voice says, "Shut up and deal, I'm losin'"
      Am                  C          G
 Deep within the Yarmouth Castle the fire begins to glow,
    Am             G            Am
 It leaps into the hallways and climbs and twists and grows!
         Am                C                  G
 And the paint she wore to keep her young, oh Lord, how well it burns!
     Am            G       Am
 And soon that ol' fire is ragin'.
       Am                    C                  G
 Now beneath the bridge it's climbing fast, the captain stands aloft
    Am              G              Am
 He calls up to the bos'un, says, "Bos'un, we are lost!"
 Am                          C         G
 For the ragged hoses in the racks, no pressure do they hold,
     Am            G                Am
 The people down below will soon be dyin'.
     Am                     C                 G
 All amidship's, oh she's a-blazin' now, it's spreadin' fore and aft!
     Am           G                 Am
 The people are a-scramblin' as the fire blocks the path.
     Am            C                       G
 The evil smoke surrounds them and they're fallin' in their tracks,
         Am             G             Am
 And the captain in his lifeboat is a-leavin'.
 BREAK:
 Am  B   C   G  Am  G  Am
    Am              C                G
 Oh then the ship Bahama Star, comes steamin' through the night,
     Am              G                Am
 She sees the Castle blazin' and 'tis a terrible sight.
  Am                         C                     G
 "Jump down, jump down," the captain cries, "we'll save you if we can!"
         Am           G            Am
 And the paint on his funnels is a-fryin'.
     Am                C               G
 God help the ones who sleep below and cannot find the way,
       Am               G        Am
 Thank God for those we rescued upon this awful day!
         Am              C            G
 Now the heroes they are many but the times are goin' slim,
     Am                G           Am
 And now from stern to bow she's a-blazin'.
        Am                C              G
 Oh the Yarmouth Castle's moanin', she's cryin' like a child,
         Am              G         Am
 You can hear her if you listen above the roar so wild.
        Am             C            G
 Is she cryin' for the ones who lie within her molten sides,
    Am         G             Am
 Or cryin' for herself I'm a-wonderin'?
         Am               C            G
 But the living soon were rescued, the ones who lived to tell,
          Am          G                  Am
 From the Star they a-watched her as she died there in the swells.
        Am            C             G
 Like a toy ship on a mill pond she burned all through the night,
      Am                  G            Am
 Then slipped beneath the waves in the mornin'.

Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle chords and lyrics

Free chords for Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle by Gordon Lightfoot. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

The Ballad of The Yarmouth Castle
Gordon Lightfoot 1969
Capo at the second fret and fingerpick.  At the end of the first and
third lines of each verse, use a G/Gsus4/G riff.  At the end of the
second and fourth lines, use an Am/Asus4/Am/Asus2/Am riff.
CHORDS:
 Asus2  002200
 Asus4  002230
 Gsus4  320013
 BREAK:
 Am  B   C   G  Am  G  Am

Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle Chords by Gordon Lightfoot

Learn how to play Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle by Gordon Lightfoot with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle chords”, “Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle guitar chords”, or “Gordon Lightfoot Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle 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 Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Gsus4/G, Am, Asus4, Asus2, Gsus4.

Frequently asked questions about Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle

How do I play "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" by Gordon Lightfoot on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" by Gordon Lightfoot 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 "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" by Gordon Lightfoot free?

Yes. The chords for "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" by Gordon Lightfoot are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" to a different key?

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

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" by Gordon Lightfoot with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Gordon Lightfoot below.

What key is "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" in?

The chords for "Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle" show the original chord names (including G, Gsus4/G, Am, Asus4, Asus2, Gsus4). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.