Shoals Of Herring
View chords used in this chart
Intro
C F C
C F C
C F C G F
C F C
O, it was a fine and a pleasant day
Em Am F G
Out of Yarmouth harbour I was faring
Am G F
As a cabin boy on a sailing lugger
C G C
For to go and hunt the shoals of herring
C F C
O, the work was hard and the hours were long
Em Am F G
And the treatment sure it took some bearing
Am G F
There was little kindness and the kicks were many
Dm C F
As we hunted for the shoals of herring
C F C
O, we fished the Swarth and the Broken Bank
Em Am F G
I was a cook and I'd a quarter-sharing
Am C F
And I used to sleep, standing on my feet
Dm C F
And I'd dream about the shoals of herring
F Em-F
C F C
O, we left the home grounds in the month of June
Em Am F G
And to canny Shiels we soon was bearing
Am C F
With a hundred cran of the silver darlings
Dm C F
That we'd taken from the shoals of herring
C G F
C G F
Am C G F
C G F
C F C
Now you're up on deck, you're a fisherman
Em Am F G
You can swear and show a manly bearing
Am C F
Take your turn on watch with the other fellows
Dm C F
While you're searching for the shoals of herring
Am G
In the stormy seas and the living gales
Dm F
Just to earn your daily bread you're daring
Am F
From the Dover Straits to the Faroe Islands
G F
As you're following the shoals of herring
G F G F
C F C
O, I earned me keep and I paid my way
F G
And I earned the gear that I was wearing
Am C F
Sailed a million miles, caught ten-million fishes
Dm C F
We were sailing after shoals of herring
C G F
Am G F
Am C G F
Am C G F
How to play Shoals Of Herring
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 C. 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.