[Intro]
Dm
[Verse]
Dm
Winter's ice clings to cliff
F C
To beach and empty shell
Dm
The grey wind moans on the bones of the summer
F C
And takes a slap at the bell
Dm
And all the boats are upside down
C
Hull down on the shore
Dm
Parson G, Clarissa Lee
C
That used-up, short-rigged whore
Bb
The Lindy Lou with her sides stove through
F C
And her keel all rotten and tore
C
And it's many a night when the wind's been right
Bb
And the weather's been getting poor
Bb
I try to sleep, but I can't sleep
F C Bb F C
For the banging of the wheelhouse door
[Verse]
Dm
So I lie in bed, like a kid, you know
F C
Hoping she'll go away
Dm
But no such luck, goddamn her bones
F C
So it's down to the kitchen for me
Dm
Find the old pipe and get it lit up
C
Bring down the tea from the shelf
Dm
Ida's been gone since 'Sixty-One
F C
So I've had to do for myself
Bb
And as soon as the smoke's curling over the book
F C
And the tea's getting ready to pour
Bb
Then as sure as I stand, I can hear Pete McCann
F C Bb F C
And the banging of the wheelhouse door
[Verse]
Dm
Pete and me, we were headed home
F C
With half a catch in the hold
Dm
Tryin' to raise the South Head light
F C
And, Jesus, did it blow
Dm
By the time we heard the breakers
C
We were too close in on to shore
Bb
With a prayer and a curse, we felt her lurch
F C
As the rocks dug in and tore
Bb
And I got knocked off my feet, I couldn't find Pete
F C
I don't recall much more
Bb
But Lindy Lou, cryin' and dyin'
F C
And the ocean roaring through
Bb
And the last thing I heard, the noise, not a word
F C Bb F C
The banging of the wheelhouse door
[Verse]
Dm
I woke up four days later
F C
In a hospital in St John's
Dm
In a body cast, 'cause I hurt my back
F C
And they told me Pete was gone
Dm
They never found his body
C
Though they searched ten miles of shore
Dm
And me, I'm alone and my back's gone
F C
And I can't fish no more
Bb
And Lindy Lou with her sides stove through
F C
She was dragged out on shore
Bb
And there's many a night when the wind's been right
F C
And the weather's been getting poor
Bb
I try to sleep, but I can't sleep
F C Bb F C
For the banging of the wheelhouse door