Bonita And Bill Butler

Intro: Em, D, A, C, D, Em Em D A I grew up in the scantling yards of Wheeling West Virginia C D Em A wheelhouse cub looking for an open door Em D A In the packet ways a Sweeney wed the keel of my Bonita C D Em Just two months from her timbers til she moored Em D A I paid the fare in billet on her maiden voyage to Vicksburg C D Em And talked my way to hand the tiller on the course Em D A In her planks I carved a notch and sealed the vow “Be my Bonita” C D Em And her dowry was my life between the shores [Refrão] Em D C G I was born with rouging ways, and she steered me like a woman C B7 From the port calls and the bawds that lead me stray Em D C G The calliope serenades, made the old towns come running C B7 And the boys would gamble shards to pull her chains C D Em The striker’s boast would fain me loss, about the wrecks the shoals were A keeping C D Em And how the old girl’s got poor Billy’s ransom saved Em, D, A, C, D, Em (2x) Em D A On the lake at Bistineau, she set the wharf at Dixie C D Em With a thousand bales of cotton on her main Em D A As the great raft disappeared, the watermark went sinking C D Em And she was stuck right hard, a listing on the bank Em D A With the furnace still a blaze, I stood my last upon her C D Em Then climbed the prow and took a landsman’s trade Em D A “A derelict now Milady” said the watch log I’ve concorded C D Em “Have the bosun sound us eight bells for the change” [Refrão] Em D C G I was born with rouging ways, and she steered me like a woman C B7 From the port calls and the bawds that lead me stray Em D C G The calliope serenades, made the old towns come running Em D C G And I would take to wider walks, so the gin I stopped a drinking C B7 At three scores aloft this crooked frame C D Em The striker’s boast would fain me loss, about the wrecks the shoals were A keeping C D Em And how the old girl’s got poor Billy’s ransom saved Outro: Em, D, A, C, D, Em