Boatman
View chords used in this chart
verse 1
D(9)
Hearts were exploding around us as
D/F# G(9)
we drifted south down the bay.
Bm7 E7sus E7
The gray up above and gray down below
Em7 D/F# A7sus A7
left us with nothing to say.
D(9)
So we drifted along in silence
D/F# G(9)
till the tickle of life trickled in.
Bm7 E7sus E7
And the rhythm began in the hiss of the sand,
Em7 D/F# A7sus A
we were catching fire again.
G/D D G D
Oh boatman, I am the river,
G/D D A7sus A D
I am the mountain and the sea.
G/D D G D A/C#
Oh boatman, taker and giver,
Bm7 E7 Em7 D/F# G(9)
Can you deliver me?
G(9) A D G/D D
I would forever run free.
verse 2
D(9)
Yeah, we finally caught up with legends,
D/F# G(9)
we were walking along side by side.
Bm7 E7sus E7
We worked out a plan to go out hand in hand,
Em7 D/F# A7sus A7
the long trail just wasn't that wide.
D(9)
The water around us was freezing,
D(9) D/F# G(9)
we just laughed and threw ourselves in.
Bm7 E7sus E7
And although we were old, the sting of that cold
Em7 D/F# A7sus A
pumped up the feeling, here it is again.
[Refrão]
G/D D G D
Oh boatman, I am the river,
G/D D A7sus A D
I am the mountain and the sea.
G/D D G D A/C#
Oh boatman, taker and giver,
Bm7 E7 Em7 D/F# G(9)
Can you deliver me?
G(9) A D G/D D
I would forever run free.
BRIDGE
A B7 E A
Oh, I'm a message in a bottle
A B7 E A/E E
drifting along on a deep blue sea.
A B E A
Waiting for some foreign shore,
A B/E A
ready for something to be.
verse 3
D(9)
No longer afraid of falling,
D/F# G(9)
we cut the strings to the sky.
Bm7 E7sus E7
We found lever ground and we put ourselves down,
Em7 D/F# A7sus A7
amazing we all didn't die.
D(9)
We took each moment as given,
D/F# G(9)
by second, by second they came.
Bm7 E7sus E7
The ice and the sun and the thundering guns,
Em7 D/F# A7sus A
good God I was finally sane.
[Refrão]
G/D D G D
Oh boatman, I am the river,
G/D D A7sus A D
I am the mountain and the sea.
G/D D G D A/C#
Oh boatman, taker and giver,
Bm7 E7 Em7 A7sus A
Can you deliver me?
G/D D G D
Oh holy roller, I am the river,
G/D D A7sus A D
I am the mountain and the sea.
G/D D G D A/C#
Oh boatman, taker and giver,
Bm7 E7 Em7 D/F# G(9)
Can you deliver me?
G(9) A D
I would forever run free.
How to play Boatman
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.