Great Big Sea – England (Guitar)

Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E) • Capo 5
Key
-
Versions (3)

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Chords

From "Fortune's Favour"(2008) Alan tunes his b-string up to C and uses only the top despite really being EADGCE. chord shapes for that tuning: C: xxx000 F: xxx201 G: xx0403 Dm7: xx0201 Am: x02200 ------------------------------------------ [Intro] C [Chorus]
         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England,

 C             F           G
far from our children and wives,

     F       C           G       C
to play our hand in the Newfoundland,

           C         F       G
where the wind cuts like a knife.

         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England.
[Verse]
     C                   G   C
We shipped on board the Maryanne,

    C      F      G
to find a better life,

        F        C        G C
and we walked across the water

           C      F      G
when she broke up on the ice.

    C              G    C
We came ashore in Carbonear,

       C           F   G
with nothing but our rights,

       F       C     G     C
and I wondered if I e'er again

       C     F      G
would see my London Lights.
[Chorus]
         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England,

 C             F           G
far from our children and wives,

     F       C           G       C
to play our hand in the Newfoundland,

           C         F       G
where the wind cuts like a knife.

         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England.
[Verse]
     C              G       C
We spend our days amid the waves,

         C      F          G
working water, hook, and twine,

     F       C           G         C
we'd go for weeks with blistered cheeks,

         C       F      G
waiting for the sun to shine. 

        C                   G    C
But as long as the sky hold over us,

    C        F          G
we will not taste the brine,

           F         C            G       C
and we'll curse the cod with the fear of God,

       C       F     G
as we haul in ev'ry line.
[Chorus]
         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England,

 C             F           G
far from our children and wives,

     F       C           G       C
to play our hand in the Newfoundland,

           C         F      G
where the wind cuts like a knife.

         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England,

 C            F      G5
far from our native soil,

     F      C           G        C
to chase a wish,and to hunt the fish,

    C       F        G
and on the rocks to toil,

         C            F         G  C
we were far from the shores of England.
"Lift High the Cross" C Dm7 C G C F Am F G C [Verse]
       C                  G  C
Should we find fortune's favour,

    C           F        G
and be spared from the gale,

         F        C      G  C
we will live off honest labour,

           C        F      G
with our hearts as big as sails.

    C                       G   C
But if I should die, don't bury me,

     C      F       G
or leave me to the sea,

      F       C         G      C
just send my bones back to my home,

           C     F      G
where my spirit can be free.
[Chorus]
         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England,

 C             F           G
far from our children and wives,

     F       C           G       C
to play our hand in the Newfoundland,

           C         F       G
where the wind cuts like a knife. 

         C             F        G  C
We were far from the shores of England,

 C            F      G
far from our native soil,

     F      C            G        C
to chase a wish, and to hunt the fish,

    C       F        G
and on the rocks to toil,

         C             F        G  C
we were far from the shores of England!
C