From: Gord Broom
THE BALLAD OF THE YARMOUTH CASTLE
Gordon Lightfoot (C) 1969
Transcribed by Gord Broom , 1994. (Version 1.0)
NOTES:
This song appeared originally on the Sunday Concert live album.
Capo at the second fret and fingerpick. At the end of the first and
third lines of each verse, use a G/Gsus4/G riff. At the end of the
second and fourth lines, use an Am/Asus4/Am/Asus2/Am riff. I`ve
transcribed it from the Original Lightfoot boxed set. Thanks to
Matthew Fifer for sending me the lyrics
off the Sunday Concert Plus CD which corrected a couple of my hear-os.
CHORDS:
Am C G Asus2 Asus4 Gsus4
xo231o x32o1o 32ooo4 xo23oo xo234o 32oo14
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======
||||o| ||||o| |||||| |||||| |||||| ||||o|
||oo|| ||o||| |o|||| ||oo|| ||oo|| |o||||
|||||| |o|||| o||||o |||||| ||||o| o||||o
SONG:
[Capo 2nd Fret]
Am C G
Well it`s 4 o`clock in the afternoon, the anchors have been weighed,
Am G Am
From Miami to Nassau, she`s bound across the waves.
C G
She`s a-headin` south through Biscayne Bay, into the open sea,
Am G Am
The Yarmouth Castle`s, she`s a-dying and don`t know it!
Am C G
There were many years she`s been to sea, she`s seen the better times,
Am G Am
She gives a groan of protest as they cast away her lines.
Am C G
And the grumble of her engines and the rust along her spine,
Am G Am
Tells the Castle she`s too old to be sailing.
Am C G
But the sands run out within her heart, a tiny spark glows red,
Am G Am
Smoulders through the evening as laughter overhead,
Am C
Now when dinner`s served and the cards are dealt, & the
G
drinks are passed around,
Am G Am
Deep within, the fire starts a-burning.
Am C G
Now it`s midnight on the open sea, the moon is shining bright,
Am G Am
Some people join the party and others say goodnight.
Am C G
There`s many who are sleeping now, it`s been a busy day,
Am G Am
And the tiny whisp of smoke is a-risin`.
Am C G
Oh lord, she groans, I`m burnin`, let someone understand!
Am G Am
But her silent plea is wasted in the playin` of the band!
Am C G
Everybody`s dancin` on the deck and they`re a-havin` such a time,
Am G Am
And a voice says, Shut up and deal, I`m losin`
Am C G
Deep within the Yarmouth Castle the fire begins to glow,
Am G Am
It leaps into the hallways and climbs and twists and grows!
Am C G
And the paint she wore to keep her young, oh Lord, how well it burns!
Am G Am
And soon that ol` fire is ragin`.
Am C G
Now beneath the bridge it`s climbing fast, the captain stands alone
Am G Am
He calls up to the bos`un, says, Bos`un, we are lost!
Am C G
For the ragged hoses in the racks, no pressure do they hold,
Am G Am
The people down below will soon be dyin`.
Am C G
All amidship`s, oh she`s a-blazin` now, it`s spreadin` fore and aft!
Am G Am
The people are a-scramblin` as the fire blocks the path.
Am C G
The evil smoke surrounds them and they`re fallin` in their tracks,
Am G Am
And the captain in his lifeboat is a-leavin`.
BREAK: Am / (B) / C/ G / Am / G / Am
Am C G
Oh then the ship Banana Star, comes steamin` through the night,
Am G Am
She sees the Castle blazin` and `tis a terrible sight.
Am C G
Jump down, jump down, the captain cries, we`ll save you if we can!
Am G Am
And the paint on his funnels is a-fryin`.
Am C G
God help the ones who sleep below and cannot find the way,
Am G Am
Thank God for those we rescued upon this awful day!
Am C G
Now the heroes they are many but the times are goin` slim,
Am G Am
And now from stern to bow she`s a-blazin`.
Am C G
Oh the Yarmouth Castle`s moanin`, she`s cryin` like a child,
Am G Am
You can hear her if you listen above the roar so wild.
Am C G
Is she cryin` for the ones who lie within her molten sides,
Am G Am
Or cryin` for herself I`m a-wonderin`?
Am C G
But the living soon were rescued, the ones who lived to tell,
Am G Am
From the Star they a-watched her as she died there in the swells.
Am C G
Like a toy ship on a mill pond she burned all through the night,
Am G Am
Then slipped beneath the waves in the mornin`.
