Misc Traditional – The Fair Maid (Guitar)

     C                  G
When I was a fair maid about seventeen

                                      C
I listed in the Navy for to serve the Queen

                G      C             G
I listed in the Navy a sailor lad to stand

       F                C              G        C
For to hear the cannons rattle and the music so grand

    G                   C        G
The music so grand, the music so grand

       F                C              G        C
For to hear the cannons rattle and the music so grand

     C                           G
The officer that listed me was a tall and handsome man

                                               C
He said ‘You'll make a sailor so come along my man’

               G       C                            G
My waist been tall and slender my fingers long and thin

        F              C            G             C
And the very soon they learned me I soon exceeded them

  G                     C             G
I soon exceeded them, I soon exceeded them

        F               C           G             C
And the very soon they learned me I soon exceeded them

     C                                    G
They sent me to my bed they sent me to my bunk

                                  C
To lie with a sailor I never was afraid

           G               C                   G
But taking off me bluecoat shirt often made me smile

       F              C           G              C
For to think I was a sailor and a maiden all the while

   G                       C              G
A maiden all the while, a maiden all the while

       F              C            G              C
For to think I was a maiden and a sailor all the while

     C                                      G
They sent me up to London for to guard the tower

                                                  C
And I thought I might be there till my very dying hour

           G        C                              G
But a lady fell in love with me I told her I was a maid

    F               C             G            C
She went up to the captain and my secret she betrayed

   G                       C            G
My secret she betrayed, my secret she betrayed

    F               C             G            C
She went up to the captain and my secret she betrayed

     C                                         G
The captain he came up to me and asked if this was so

                                  C
I dare not I dare not I dare not say no

       G                       C                     G
It's a pity we should lose you such a sailor lad you made

       F               C              G        C
It's a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid

       G                   C                     G
Such a handsome young maid such a handsome young maid

       F              C               G              C
It's a pity we should lose you such a handsome young maid

    C                                            G
So fare thee well my captain you've been so kind to me

                                        C
And likewise my shipmates I'm sorry to part with thee

                G                   C            G
But if ever the Navy needs a lad a sailor I'll remain

     F                 C                 G                C
I'll put on me cap and feathers and I'll run the rigging again

     G                 C                 G
I'll run the rigging again, I'll run the rigging again

     F                  C                G               C
I'll put on me cap and feathers and I'll run the rigging again