{title: Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor}
{artist: Traditional Newfoundland (adapted from John Read, 1878)}
{album: Originally 'Every Inch a Sailor' by John Read (English songwriter, 1878); evolved into Newfoundland folk standard}
{key: D}
{tempo: 130}
{difficulty: beginner}
{phase: 2}
{tags: canadiana,newfoundland,traditional,public-domain,singalong,humour,kids,shanty,campfire}
{video: youtube:e-esVgooOv0}
{credit: Traditional Newfoundland folk song, adapted from 'Every Inch a Sailor' by John Read (1878). Public domain. Recording: Ed McCurdy, 'Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor.' McCurdy was an American-Canadian folk singer who recorded extensively in the 1950s.}

{c: A comical retelling of the Jonah-and-the-whale story with a Newfoundland whaler as the protagonist - except in this version, the whale gets his comeuppance. One of the most-loved Newfoundland folk songs, taught in elementary schools across the province.}
{c: Public domain. Standard lyrics below.}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]'Twas twenty-five or [A]thirty years
[A]Since Jack first saw the [D]light
[D]He came into this [G]world one day
[D]Soon af[A]ter sun[D]light
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]The world's been on the [A]downward path
[A]Since I have come a[D]shore
[D]For now there's nothing [G]going right
[D]No more, no [A]more, no [D]more
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]When Jack grew up to [A]be a man
[A]He went to Labra[D]dor
[D]He fished in Indian [G]Harbour
[D]Where his [A]father fished be[D]fore
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]On his returning in the [A]fog
[A]He met a heavy [D]gale
[D]And Jack was swept in[G]to the sea
[D]And swal[A]lowed by a [D]whale
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]The whale went straight for [A]Baffin's Bay
[A]'Bout ninety knots an [D]hour
[D]And every time he'd [G]blow a spray
[D]He'd send it [A]in a [D]shower
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]"Oh, now," says Jack unto [A]himself
[A]"I must see what he's a[D]bout"
[D]He caught the whale all [G]by the tail
[D]And turned him [A]inside [D]out!
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
[D]Jack was every inch a [A]sailor
Five and twenty years a [D]whaler
[D]Jack was every inch a [G]sailor
He was [D]born up[A]on the bri[D]ny sea
{end_of_chorus}

{c: ===== HOW IT'S PERFORMED =====}
{c: Lively dance tempo, almost a reel feel. Tempo: ~130 BPM.}
{c: Three chords (D, A, G) - beginner-friendly.}
{c: Strum: boom-chuck on the verses, full strum on the choruses.}
{c: Singalong chorus - everyone joins on 'Jack was every inch a sailor.' The kids ALWAYS sing the chorus by verse 2.}

{c: ===== AS A KIDS' SONG =====}
{c: The whale-getting-his-comeuppance moment ('He caught the whale all by the tail / And turned him inside out!') is the laugh-out-loud peak. Kids will demand this song over and over for the punchline.}
{c: For your seven-year-old: he yells 'INSIDE OUT!' on the last line. Make it his moment.}

{c: ===== FIDDLE PART =====}
{c: This song is BUILT for fiddle - Newfoundland fiddle is a major tradition, and this song is at every kitchen party.}
{c: Key: D major.}
{c: Suggested fiddle line for the chorus (ABC notation, key D, 4/4):}
{c:   |: A2 d2 d2 f2 | e2 d2 c#2 A2 | d2 f2 e2 d2 | A2 d2 d4 :|}
{c: Between verses, fiddle takes a full 16-bar instrumental break - same melody as the vocal verse, but ornament freely.}
{c: Accordion: chord pad throughout. Newfoundland accordion is iconic.}

{c: ===== WHY THIS SONG =====}
{c: One of the foundational Newfoundland folk songs. Taught in every Newfoundland and Labrador elementary school. The Jonah parody is gentle enough for kids and funny enough for adults. Three chords, perfect singalong chorus, story-song structure that builds to a punchline.}
{c: Pair with I'se the B'y and Lots of Fish in Bonavist' Harbour for a Newfoundland triple-bill.}