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