Professional Pirate
View chords used in this chart
[Intro ]
Em D Em
Em D/F# G
G D
C D Em D/F# G
Verse
G D
When I was just a lad looking for my true vocation
B G F#m D
My father said "Now son, this choice deserves deliberation
B Em D G
Though you could be a doctor or perhaps a financier
C G D G B
My boy why not consider a more challenging career"
Chorus
Em D Em
Hey ho ho
Em D/F# G
You'll cruise to foreign shores
G D
And you'll keep your mind and body sound
C D G
By working out of doors
A Am Em
True friendship and adventure are what we can't live without
Em Am Bm C
And when you're a professional pirate
D G B
That's what the job's about
Em
Verse
D/F# G D
Now take Sir Francis Drake, the Spanish all despise him
B G F#m D
But to the British he's a hero and they idolize him
B Em D G
It's how you look at buccaneers that makes them bad or good
C G D G B
And I see us as members of a noble brotherhood
Chrous
Em D Em
Hey ho ho
Em D/F# G
We're honorable men
G D C D G
And before we lose our tempers we will always count to ten
Am Em
On occasion there may be someone you have to execute
Em Am Bm C
But when you're a professional pirate
D G B
You don't have to wear a suit..... what?
Em
Bridge
Em
I could have been a surgeon
Esus4 Em
I like taking things apart
Em
Bad Polly: I could have been a lawyer
Am
But I just had too much heart
G Am
I could have been in politics
Bm C
Cause I've always been a big spender
G
And me...
D Am Em B
I could have been a contender
Em
Verse
G D
Some say that pirates steal and should be feared and hated
B G F#m D
I say we're victims of bad press it's all exaggerated
B Em D G
We'd never stab you in the back, we'd never lie or cheat
C G D G B
We're just about the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet
(Long John's speech)
Em D Em
Em D/F# G
G D C G
Am Em
Em Am Bm C
D G B
Em D Em
Hey ho ho
Em D/F# G
It's one for all for one
G D C G
And we'll share and share alike with you and love you like a son
A Am Em
We're gentlemen of fortune and that's what we're proud to be
Em Am Bm C
And when your a professional pirate
Coda
D
You'll be honest brave and free
D
The soul of decency
G
You'll be loyal and fair and on the square
C
And most importantly
Em Am Bm C
When you're a professional pirate
D C G
You're always in the best of company
D G
How to play Professional Pirate
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 Em. 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.