{title: Drunken Sailor}
{artist: Traditional}
{key: Dm}
{tempo: 120}
{difficulty: beginner}
{phase: 1}
{strand: M}
{feel: drive}
{lead_voice: low}
{lead_mode: call_response}
{lead_demand: easy}
{harmony: M,B}
{a_cappella: opt}
{kit: bod}
{set_role: opener}
{lang: en}
{country_tags: trad}
{copyright: pd}
{flags: drone}
{tags: campfire,chorus,drone,modal,public-domain,shanty,singalong,starter,traditional}
{audio: /static/audio/drunken-sailor.mp3}
{credit: Audio: Leonard Warren with Tom Scott & Morris Levine, 'The Drunken Sailor' (78rpm, 1949). Public domain in Canada (>70 years since publication). Source: Internet Archive Great 78 Project.}
{video: youtube:yk2y_j-XrIM}
{credit: The Irish Rovers - 'Drunken Sailor' (Official with lyrics). Traditional capstan shanty (PD composition).}

{c: A halyard shanty in modal Dm — only TWO chords (Dm and C). Perfect first shanty. Belt the chorus.}
{c: Strum: heavy down-down-down-down. Bring the whole room in on the chorus.}

{start_of_verse}
[Dm]What shall we do with the drunken sailor
[C]What shall we do with the drunken sailor
[Dm]What shall we do with the drunken sailor
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Way-hay and up she rises
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Dm]Shave his belly with a rusty razor
[C]Shave his belly with a rusty razor
[Dm]Shave his belly with a rusty razor
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Way-hay and up she rises
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Dm]Put him in the long boat till he's sober
[C]Put him in the long boat till he's sober
[Dm]Put him in the long boat till he's sober
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Way-hay and up she rises
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Dm]Pull out the plug and wet him all over
[C]Pull out the plug and wet him all over
[Dm]Pull out the plug and wet him all over
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Way-hay and up she rises
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Dm]Tie him to the taffrail when she's yardarm under
[C]Tie him to the taffrail when she's yardarm under
[Dm]Tie him to the taffrail when she's yardarm under
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Way-hay and up she rises
[Dm]Way-hay and up she rises
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[Dm]That's what we do with the drunken sailor
[C]That's what we do with the drunken sailor
[Dm]That's what we do with the drunken sailor
[C]Earl-y in the [Dm]morning
{end_of_verse}

{c: Make up your own verses — that's the whole tradition. Keep them clean for the kids.}