Intro: Em, D, A, C, D, Em
Em D A
I grew up in the scantling yards of Wheeling West Virginia
C D Em
A wheelhouse cub looking for an open door
Em D A
In the packet ways a Sweeney wed the keel of my Bonita
C D Em
Just two months from her timbers til she moored
Em D A
I paid the fare in billet on her maiden voyage to Vicksburg
C D Em
And talked my way to hand the tiller on the course
Em D A
In her planks I carved a notch and sealed the vow “Be my Bonita”
C D Em
And her dowry was my life between the shores
Em D C G
I was born with rouging ways, and she steered me like a woman
C B7
From the port calls and the bawds that lead me stray
Em D C G
The calliope serenades, made the old towns come running
C B7
And the boys would gamble shards to pull her chains
C D Em
The striker’s boast would fain me loss, about the wrecks the shoals were
A
keeping
C D Em
And how the old girl’s got poor Billy’s ransom saved
Em, D, A, C, D, Em (2x)
Em D A
On the lake at Bistineau, she set the wharf at Dixie
C D Em
With a thousand bales of cotton on her main
Em D A
As the great raft disappeared, the watermark went sinking
C D Em
And she was stuck right hard, a listing on the bank
Em D A
With the furnace still a blaze, I stood my last upon her
C D Em
Then climbed the prow and took a landsman’s trade
Em D A
“A derelict now Milady” said the watch log I’ve concorded
C D Em
“Have the bosun sound us eight bells for the change”
Em D C G
I was born with rouging ways, and she steered me like a woman
C B7
From the port calls and the bawds that lead me stray
Em D C G
The calliope serenades, made the old towns come running
Em D C G
And I would take to wider walks, so the gin I stopped a drinking
C B7
At three scores aloft this crooked frame
C D Em
The striker’s boast would fain me loss, about the wrecks the shoals were
A
keeping
C D Em
And how the old girl’s got poor Billy’s ransom saved
Outro: Em, D, A, C, D, Em