{title: The Bonnie Ship the Diamond}
{artist: Traditional Scottish (Aberdeen whaling)}
{album: Early 19th-century Aberdeen whaling song; the Diamond was an Aberdeen whaler crushed in Davis Strait ice in 1819 (all hands survived)}
{key: G}
{tempo: 120}
{difficulty: beginner}
{phase: 4}
{strand: M}
{feel: drive}
{lead_voice: mid}
{lead_mode: solo}
{lead_demand: easy}
{harmony: M,H}
{a_cappella: no}
{kit: fdl,gtr,bod}
{set_role: driver}
{lang: en}
{country_tags: SCO}
{copyright: pd}
{tags: call-response,capstan,chorus,public-domain,scottish,shanty,traditional,whaling,wordy}

{c: A rollicking Aberdeen whaler's farewell — "Greenland for the whale-fish, that's where we'll go." Wordy and fast once locked in. Strong driving 4/4 with a long-line chorus that wants the whole band's voice. Public domain; pre-1900 collection.}
{c: Three chords (G, C, D). Capstan tempo, around 110-130 BPM. Rollicking strum, no subtlety.}

{start_of_verse}
The [G]Diamond is a ship, my [C]lads, for the [G]Davis Strait we're [D]bound
The [G]quay it is all garn[C]ished with [G]bonnie [D]lasses [G]round
Captain [G]Thomson gives the [C]order to [G]sail the ocean [D]wide
Where the [G]sun it never [C]sets, my lads, nor [G]darkness [D]dims the [G]sky
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[G]fishin' for the [D]whale
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[D]fishin' for the [G]whale
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
Along the quay at [C]Peterhead, the [G]lassies stand a[D]round
With their [G]shawls all pulled [C]about them and the [G]salt tears [D]running [G]down
Don't you [G]weep, my bonnie [C]lass, though [G]you be left be[D]hind
For the [G]rose will grow on [C]Greenland's ice be[G]fore we [D]change our [G]mind
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[G]fishin' for the [D]whale
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[D]fishin' for the [G]whale
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
Here's a [G]health to the Resolu[C]tion, like[G]wise the Eliza [D]Swan
[G]Three cheers for the Bat[C]talia and [G]Diamond, ship of [D]fame
We [G]wear the trousers of the [C]white and the [G]jackets of the [D]blue
When we [G]return to Peter[C]head, we'll [G]have sweet[D]hearts a[G]new
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[G]fishin' for the [D]whale
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[D]fishin' for the [G]whale
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
It [G]will be bright both day and [C]night when the [G]Greenland lads come [D]home
A [G]ship that's full of [C]oil, my lads, and [G]money to our [D]name
We'll [G]make the cradles for to [C]rock and the [G]blankets for to [D]tear
And [G]every lass in [C]Peterhead sing "[G]Hush a-[D]bye, my [G]dear"
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[G]fishin' for the [D]whale
And it's [G]cheer up, my lads, let your [C]hearts never [G]fail
For the [G]bonnie ship the [C]Diamond goes a-[D]fishin' for the [G]whale
{end_of_chorus}

{c: ===== HOW TO PLAY IT =====}
{c: Lead carries the verses; whole crew on the chorus, full voice. Drive the rhythm hard — mandolin chop on 2 and 4, bodhrán strong on the downbeat.}
{c: The verses are dense with lyrics — print them, sing from the paper until you have them.}
{c: Reference recordings: The Corries (the standard Scottish folk version); The Longest Johns; Storm Weather Shanty Choir; Planxty's arrangement.}