The Ship
View chords used in this chart
Intro: Em D (4x)
G C Am D
I awoke in the dust of an autumn morning
G C D
Faces oil-lit and kneeling 'round the family chairs
G C Am D
I never knew that a heart could take such filling
G C D
Spaces everywhere, everywhere
[Refrão]
G C
And the ship comes 'round
Am D
And she's waiting at the harbour
G C
Be prepared to get on board
D
Be prepared
G C
I never knew that the light of ages
Am D
Breaks away before us
Em D G
Sail away, sail away
C Am D
All the front doors opened and the men came walking
G C D
Suits and shoes, heads of silver and grey
G C Am D
It's one short road from a darkened cradle
G C D
To the endless light of day
C D Em
She walked like a bride down the aisle of her childhood
Bm C D
The shops, the schoolyard, the church on the hill
G C Am D
Where she trembled on the day she was touched and broken
G C D
Ah, Marie was born again
[Refrão]
G C
And the ship comes 'round
Am D
And she's waiting at the harbour
G C
Be prepared to get on board
D
Ah, be prepared
G C
I never knew that the light of ages
Am D
Breaks away before us
Em D G
Sail away, sail away
Instrumental: Em D (4x)
G C Am D
All ears to the trawler band in the evenings
G C D
Forty grands and the spirits run wild
G C Am D
The storms, the drownings, the tables, the drinking
G C D
The sea had claimed their lives
C D Em
There's peat smoke rising from the village chimneys
Bm C D
You take your chances with the red haired girl
G C Am D
All the boats take their rest in the heart of the harbour
G C D
That night in a changing world
[Refrão]
G C
And the ship comes 'round
Am D
And she's waiting at the harbour
G C
Be prepared to get on board
D
Be prepared
G C
I never knew that the light of ages
Am D
Breaks away before us
Em D G
Sail away, sail away
OUTRO: Em D (## repeat about 12x and fade to end ##)
How to play The Ship
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.