Ballad Of The Yarmouth Castle

THE BALLAD OF THE YARMOUTH CASTLE

Gordon Lightfoot (C) 1969

Transcribed by Gord Broom <gjbroom@csr.UVic.CA>, 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 <mfifer@merle.acns.nwu.edu> for sending me the lyrics

off the "Sunday Concert Plus" CD which corrected a couple of my "hear-os."

CHORDS:

xo231o x32o1o 32ooo4 xo23oo xo234o 32oo14

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SONG:

[Capo 2nd Fret]

Well it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the anchors have been weighed,

From Miami to Nassau, she's bound across the waves.

She's a-headin' south through Biscayne Bay, into the open sea,

The Yarmouth Castle's, she's a-dying and don't know it!

There were many years she's been to sea, she's seen the better times,

She gives a groan of protest as they cast away her lines.

And the grumble of her engines and the rust along her spine,

Tells the Castle she's too old to be sailing.

But the sands run out within her heart, a tiny spark glows red,

Smoulders through the evening as laughter overhead,

Now when dinner's served and the cards are dealt, & the

drinks are passed around,

Deep within, the fire starts a-burning.

Now it's midnight on the open sea, the moon is shining bright,

Some people join the party and others say goodnight.

There's many who are sleeping now, it's been a busy day,

And the tiny whisp of smoke is a-risin'.

"Oh lord," she groans, "I'm burnin', let someone understand!"

But her silent plea is wasted in the playin' of the band!

Everybody's dancin' on the deck and they're a-havin' such a time,

And a voice says, "Shut up and deal, I'm losin'"

Deep within the Yarmouth Castle the fire begins to glow,

It leaps into the hallways and climbs and twists and grows!

And the paint she wore to keep her young, oh Lord, how well it burns!

And soon that ol' fire is ragin'.

Now beneath the bridge it's climbing fast, the captain stands alone

He calls up to the bos'un, says, "Bos'un, we are lost!"

For the ragged hoses in the racks, no pressure do they hold,

The people down below will soon be dyin'.

All amidship's, oh she's a-blazin' now, it's spreadin' fore and aft!

The people are a-scramblin' as the fire blocks the path.

The evil smoke surrounds them and they're fallin' in their tracks,

And the captain in his lifeboat is a-leavin'.

BREAK: Am / (B) / C/ G / Am / G / Am

Oh then the ship Banana Star, comes steamin' through the night,

She sees the Castle blazin' and 'tis a terrible sight.

"Jump down, jump down," the captain cries, "we'll save you if we can!"

And the paint on his funnels is a-fryin'.

God help the ones who sleep below and cannot find the way,

Thank God for those we rescued upon this awful day!

Now the heroes they are many but the times are goin' slim,

And now from stern to bow she's a-blazin'.

Oh the Yarmouth Castle's moanin', she's cryin' like a child,

You can hear her if you listen above the roar so wild.

Is she cryin' for the ones who lie within her molten sides,

Or cryin' for herself I'm a-wonderin'?

But the living soon were rescued, the ones who lived to tell,

From the Star they a-watched her as she died there in the swells.

Like a toy ship on a mill pond she burned all through the night,

Then slipped beneath the waves in the mornin'.