Fairport Convention – Claudy Banks (Guitar)

                                  Bb              Gm7
Twas on one summer's evening, all in the month of May

     F                      C       Gm     C
Down by a flowery garden, I carelessly did stray

  Bb          F
I overheard a young maid, in sorrow to complain

            Gm7      F      Bb       F            C      F
All for her handsome sailor boy, who ploughed the raging Main

                               Bb                 Gm7
I boldly stepped up to her and put her in such surprise

     F                          C         Gm    C
I'll vow she did not know me, I being all in disguise

       Bb             F
Says, "I'm a charming creature, my joy and heart's delight

             Gm7    F  Bb       F         C      F
How far have you to travel this queer and stormy night?"

                                           Bb                 Gm7
"My way, kind sir, to the Claudy Banks, if you will please to show

     F                           C       Gm      C
Pity a poor girl distracted, for there I have to go

  Bb                F
I am in search of a young man and Johnny is his name

          Gm7      F   Bb      F       C      F
Along the banks of Claudy, I'm told he does remain"

                                             Bb                 Gm7
"'Tis six long months and better, since your true love left the shore

   F                             C        Gm      C
In passing the wide ocean, where French's cannons roar

   Bb                F
In crossing the wide ocean, with honour and for gain

             Gm7      F   Bb       F      C        F
I'm told his ship was wrecked, all on the coast of Spain"

                                           C            Am7
Now, on hearing of this dreadful news, she fell into despair

       G                           D       Am     D
With a wringing of her hands and a tearing of her hair

     C                   G                 C        G
"Oh, since he's gone and left me, no other man I'll take

           Am7      G   C        G      D       G
Oh, on the banks of Claudy, I'll wander for his sake"

                                                C               Am7
Now, my heart was filled with joy that night, I could no longer stand

  G                            D      Am       D
I fell into her arms, crying, "Betsy, I'm that man

  C                G                        C           G
I am your faithful young man, whom once you thought was slain

                     Am7    G      C            G     D     G
But now, since we've met on Claudy Banks, we'll never part again"