Frankie On The Sheepscot
View chords used in this chart
Intro: F Bb F F7
Verse
Bb C F
Frankie braids the purse-string, Cleon sets the tow
Bb C
Frankie goes to pick them over in the well
Bb F
He's never got a hat on, and the snow is all about him
Bb F
And it packs around his head like his own skin
Verse
Bb F
"Don't I hate this foolish river!", Frankie cries
Bb C
"Up and down her like a yo-yo on a string
F Bb C
Go out in the morning and tear up
Bb F
Mend all your afternoon
Bb F F7
And all this dirty river staving by"
Verse
Bb
Ah, but boys, you should have seen him
F
Wearing the snow as you would wear your hair
Bb F
Singing, "It's a hard life for a boy on the gut"
Bb C
He's got the words wrong, but he doesn't seem to care
Bb C F
And the seagulls working easy out behind him
Verse
Bb
Cleon slides the hatch back, and he shouts down
F
"Boys, we're anchored"
Bb C
And you set your coffee down and you go on deck
Bb F
But the river's humping by so fast, the snow's so flying thick
Bb F
You can't tell if she's moving or lying still
Verse
Bb F
"Don't I hate this foolish river!", Frankie cries
Bb C
"Up and down her like a yo-yo on a string
F Bb C
Go out in the morning and tear up
Bb F
Mend all your afternoon
Bb F F7
And all this poor old river going by"
Verse
Bb C F
Cleon winds the wheel and he cracks the power to her
Bb C
And she pokes her head around, but she doesn't turn
Bb
And he takes her out of gear
F
While Frankie goes to try to haul back
Bb F
He says, "I guess we've hooked the dear old State of Maine"
Verse
Bb
Ah, but boys, you should have seen him
F C
Hour after hour, Cleon on that old wheel
F Bb C
There's nothing out there but hard times
Bb F
Time and the flying snow
Bb F
And all that pretty river rolling by
Verse
Bb
Oh, but boys it makes me wonder
F C
Hour after hour, Cleon on that old wheel
F Bb C
There's nothing to see but hard times
Bb F
Time and the flying snow
Bb F Bb F Bb F
But Cleon watches day and night and day
How to play Frankie On The Sheepscot
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 F. 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.