{title: The Eddystone Light}
{artist: Traditional (English / maritime)}
{album: Late-19th-century comic forecastle song; the Eddystone Lighthouse stands on rocks 14 miles south of Plymouth}
{key: G}
{tempo: 120}
{difficulty: beginner}
{phase: 2}
{tags: shanty,forecastle,pub,traditional,public-domain,comic,singalong}

{c: A daft, beloved comic song about a lighthouse keeper who marries a mermaid and ends up with three children — a young porpoise, a young squid, and "a son who was the spit of his father." Lightens any set; the audience always laughs at the same lines.}
{c: Three chords (G, C, D). Standard 4/4 capstan feel, around 120 BPM. Public domain.}
{c: Lead solo on the verses, full crew on the "yo-ho-ho" chorus.}

{start_of_verse}
[G]Me father was the keeper of the [C]Eddystone [G]light
And he [G]met with a mermaid one [D]fine night
From this [G]union there came [C]three — a [G]porpoise and a [D]porgy
And the [G]other was [C]me!
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the life on the [D]rolling sea
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the [D]life on the [G]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[G]One night when I was [C]a-trimming the [G]glim
And [G]singing a verse from the [D]evening hymn
A [G]voice from the starboard [C]shouted "A[G]hoy!"
And there was me [D]mother, a-sitting on a [G]buoy
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the life on the [D]rolling sea
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the [D]life on the [G]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
"Oh, [G]what has become of my [C]children [G]three?"
Me [G]mother then she [D]asked of me
"One [G]is exhibited [C]as a fish
And the [G]other [D]on a vendor's [G]dish"
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the life on the [D]rolling sea
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the [D]life on the [G]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[G]Then the phosphorous [C]flashed in her [G]hair
I [G]glanced again and [D]me mother wasn't there
[G]But a voice came [C]echoing through the [G]night
"To [G]hell with the [D]keeper of the Eddystone [G]light!"
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the life on the [D]rolling sea
[G]Yo ho ho, the [C]wind blows [G]free
[G]Oh for the [D]life on the [G]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{c: Reference recordings: The Weavers (1950s); The Wiggles (kids' version); Burl Ives. The standard arrangement is unison voices, lightly accompanied. Don't over-arrange — the joke is the joke.}
{c: Performance tip: the lead should commit to the absurdity. Land "and the OTHER was ME" with a wide grin and a finger pointed at yourself.}