[Intro]
C Dm C F C G F C G/B
[Verse]
C F C F
On a fine summer's morning as we lay at the quay
C Dm F G
The holds were filled high with the treasures of the sea
C F C F
So that they could be transported by men such as we
C Dm7 G C G G/A
To homeland and for Queen
[Verse]
G/B C F C F
When the loading was done, we hoisted full sail
C Dm F G G/A
Prayed for good winds to guide us and deliverance from gales
G/B C F C F
And the thoughts of the crew turned to home and strong ale
C G F
As we cast off the ropes and set sail
[Chorus]
G C F
Fight for honour and for praise
G C
Sailed the sea throughout the days
G/B Am
In cold ground I'll never lay
F G Am F G Am
I'd rather die on the ocean
[Verse]
C F C F
Thirty days out to sea and the weather was fine
C Dm F G
The wind that we'd prayed for and making good time
C F C F
The honour of first home was soon to be mine
C Dm7 G C G
To homeland and to Queen
[Verse]
C F C F
But the night became stormy and the wind changed our course
C Dm F G
A gale was a-blowing and the wind gathered force
C F C F
And I wondered if ever we'd reach our home port
C G/B F
Or if we'd all be lost in the storm
[Chorus]
G C F
Fight for honour and for praise
G C
Sailed the sea throughout the days
G/B Am
In cold ground I'll never lay
F G Am F G Am
I'd rather die on the ocean
[Verse]
C F C F
Well, the waves washed the deck, in the wind we were locked
C Dm F G
I fought with the wheel to stay clear of the rocks
C F C F
But the fighting is in vain, in the storm we were lost
C Dm7 G C G
And our prayers blew away on the wind
[Verse]
C F C F
Well, I coughed and I choked and I tasted the sea
C Dm F G
I looked over the sands, there was no one but me
C F C F
And I knew that the might of the sea had finished me
C G/B F
And I wished that I'd drowned in the storm
[Chorus]
G C F
Fight for honour and for praise
G C
Sailed the sea throughout the days
G/B Am
In cold ground I'll never lay
F G Am
I'd rather die on the ocean
[Verse]
C F C F
And I've lived with the thought for the rest of m' days
C Dm F G
That I'd given the lives of the crew just to pay
C F C F
In search of the garlands of honour and praise
C G F
And I wish that I'd drowned in the storm
[Chorus]
G C F
Fight for honour and for praise
G C
Sailed the sea throughout the days
G/B Am
In cold ground I'll never lay
F G Am
I'd rather die on the ocean
[Chorus]
G C F
Fight for honour and for praise
G C
Sailed the sea throughout the days
G/B Am
In cold ground I'll never lay
F G Am F G Am
I'd rather die on the ocean