The Pogues
Thousands Are Sailing
[Intro]
F#m E Bm
F#m E Bm
A
[Intro Melody]
F#m E Bm F#m E Bm A
E|-9-9----9-12-9-|----------9---------|----------------------|-------------9------------|----|
B|-----12--------|-12-10-12---12-10---|-9-10-10-10-9---------|-10-12-10-12---12-10----9-|-10-|
G|---------------|-----------------11-|--------------11-9----|---------------------11---|----|
D|---------------|--------------------|-------------------11-|--------------------------|----|
A|---------------|--------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|----|
E|---------------|--------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|----|
[Verse]
A
The island it is silent now
D
But the ghosts still haunt the waves
A F#m
And the torch lights up a famished man
Bm E
Who fortune could not save
A
Did you work upon the railroad
D
Did you rid the streets of crime
A F#m
Were your dollars from the white house
E A
Were they from the five and dime
F#m
Did the old songs taunt or cheer you
D A
And did they still make you cry
F#m
Did you count the months and years
Bm E
Or did your teardrops quickly dry
A
Ah, No, says he 'twas not to be
D
On a coffin ship I came here
A F#m
And I never even got so far
E A
That they could change my name
[Chorus]
F#m
Thousands are still sailing
E Bm
Across the Western Ocean
F#m
To a land of opportunity
E Bm
That some of them will never see
F#m
Fortune prevailing
E Bm
Across the Western Ocean
F#m
Their bellies full
And their spirits free
E Bm
They'll break the chains of poverty
D
And they'll dance
[Interlude]
(D) F#m E Bm
A
[Interlude Melody]
D F#m E Bm A
E|----------------------|-----------------------------|-12-9------------------9------------|----|
B|-10-10-10-12-10-9---9-|-10-10-10-10-12-10-9---------|------12-9-12-12-12-12---12-10------|-10-|
G|------------------11--|---------------------11-8-9--|-------------------------------11-9-|----|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|----|
A|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|----|
E|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|----|
[Verse 2]
A
In Manhattan's desert twilight
D
In the death of afternoon
A F#m
We stepped hand in hand on Broadway
Bm E
Like the first man on the moon
A
And "The Blackbird" broke the silence
D
As you whistled it so sweet
A F#m
And in Brendan Behan's footsteps
E A
I danced up and down the street
F#m
Then we said goodnight to Broadway
D A
Giving it our best regards
F#m
Tipped our hats to Mister Cohan
Bm E
Dear old Times Square's favourite bard
A
Then we raised a glass to J.F.K.
F#m
And a dozen more besides
A F#m
When I got back to my empty room
E A
I suppose I must have cried
[Chorus 2]
F#m
Thousands are sailing
E Bm
Again across the ocean
F#m
Where the hand of opportunity
E Bm
Draws tickets in a lottery
F#m
Postcards we're mailing
E Bm
Of sky-blue skies and oceans
F#m
From rooms the daylight never sees
E Bm
Where lights don't glow on Christmas trees
D F#m
But we dance to the music, and we dance
[Interlude]
(D) (F#m) E Bm
D F#m E Bm
F#m A E
[Interlude Melody]
D F#m E Bm
E|----------------------|-----------------------------|-12-9------------------9------------|
B|-10-10-10-12-10-9---9-|-10-10-10-10-12-10-9---------|------12-9-12-12-12-12---12-10----9-|
G|------------------11--|---------------------11-8-9--|-------------------------------11---|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|
x2
F#m F#m A E
E|--------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------|
B|--7-7-7-7-9-7-7-7-7-|---7-7-7-7-9-7-7-7-7---|---------7---------------------|
G|-6------------------|-6-------------------8-|-9-9-8-9---9-6---6-------------|
D|--------------------|-----------------------|---------------9---9-6---6-----|
A|--------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------9---9-7-|
E|--------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------------|
x2
F#m F#m A E A E A
E|------------------|------------------|----9-7-9-7---------|
B|--7-7--9-10-9-7---|--7-7--9-10-9-7-9-|-10---------10-9-10-|
G|-6--------------9-|-6----------------|--------------------|
D|------------------|------------------|--------------------|
A|------------------|------------------|--------------------|
E|------------------|------------------|--------------------|
[Chorus 3]
F#m
Thousands are sailing
E Bm
Again across the ocean
F#m
Where the hand of opportunity
E Bm
Draws tickets in a lottery
F#m
Where e'er we go, we celebrate
E Bm
The land that makes us refugees
F#m
From fear of Priests with empty plates
E Bm
From guilt and weeping effigies
D F#m
And we dance to the music, and we dance
[Outro]
(D) (F#m) E Bm
D F#m E Bm
repeat to fade
[Outro Melody]
D F#m E Bm
E|----------------------|-----------------------------|-12-9------------------9------------|
B|-10-10-10-12-10-9---9-|-10-10-10-10-12-10-9---------|------12-9-12-12-12-12---12-10----9-|
G|------------------11--|---------------------11-8-9--|-------------------------------11---|
D|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|
A|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|
E|----------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|Thousands Are Sailing chords and lyrics
Free chords for Thousands Are Sailing by The Pogues. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.
The Pogues Thousands Are Sailing [Intro] F#m E Bm F#m E Bm A [Verse] [Chorus] And their spirits free [Interlude] (D) F#m E Bm A [Verse 2] [Chorus 2] [Interlude] (D) (F#m) E Bm D F#m E Bm F#m A E [Chorus 3] [Outro] (D) (F#m) E Bm
Thousands Are Sailing Chords by The Pogues
Learn how to play Thousands Are Sailing by The Pogues with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Thousands Are Sailing chords”, “Thousands Are Sailing guitar chords”, or “The Pogues Thousands Are Sailing 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 Thousands Are Sailing chords and for experienced players who want accurate Thousands Are Sailing lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F#m, E, Bm, A, B, G.
Frequently asked questions about Thousands Are Sailing
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The chords for "Thousands Are Sailing" show the original chord names (including F#m, E, Bm, A, B, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.