{title: The Sailor's Alphabet}
{artist: Traditional}
{album: Forecastle song, collected from Nova Scotia seamen by Helen Creighton 1940s-1960s}
{key: D}
{tempo: 110}
{difficulty: beginner}
{phase: 1}
{tags: shanty,traditional,public-domain,nova-scotia,alphabet,forecastle,kids,campfire}
{video: youtube:jS3NK9PeMCA}
{credit: Traditional sea song, collected from Nova Scotia seamen by Helen Creighton (the foundational Maritime folklorist) in the 1940s-60s. Public domain. Recording: Fairport Convention - 'Sailor's Alphabet' (Topic channel, audio + cover art). Fairport are the English folk-rock pioneers; their version is the modern reference.}

{c: Not strictly a working shanty - this is a forecastle song, sung by sailors at their ease in the front of the ship between watches. The structure is an alphabetical run-through of nautical terms, perfect for teaching kids ship-vocabulary while singing.}
{c: Public domain - centuries old in various forms. Standard lyrics below.}

{start_of_verse}
[D]A is the anchor that [A]holds a bold ship
[A]B is the bowsprit that [D]often does dip
[D]C is the capstan on [G]which we do wind
And [D]D is the [A]davits on which the jolly boat [D]hangs
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh, [D]hi derry, hey derry, [A]ho derry down
[A]Give sailors their grog and [D]nothing goes wrong
[D]So merry, so merry, so [G]merry are we
No [D]matter who's [A]laughing at sailors at [D]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]E is the ensign that [A]over us flies
[A]F is the fo'c'sle where [D]the watch lies
[D]G is the gangway on [G]which the mate stands
And [D]H is the [A]halyards we hoist with our [D]hands
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh, [D]hi derry, hey derry, [A]ho derry down
[A]Give sailors their grog and [D]nothing goes wrong
[D]So merry, so merry, so [G]merry are we
No [D]matter who's [A]laughing at sailors at [D]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]I is the iron of [A]our stunsail boom
[A]J is the jib that [D]oft causes our doom
[D]K is the keelson far [G]down in the hold
And [D]L is the [A]lanyards that always will [D]hold
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh, [D]hi derry, hey derry, [A]ho derry down
[A]Give sailors their grog and [D]nothing goes wrong
[D]So merry, so merry, so [G]merry are we
No [D]matter who's [A]laughing at sailors at [D]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]M is the mainmast so [A]stout and so strong
[A]N is the needle that [D]never points wrong
[D]O is the oars of our [G]jolly boat's crew
And [D]P is the [A]pennant of red, white, and [D]blue
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh, [D]hi derry, hey derry, [A]ho derry down
[A]Give sailors their grog and [D]nothing goes wrong
[D]So merry, so merry, so [G]merry are we
No [D]matter who's [A]laughing at sailors at [D]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]Q is the quadrant the [A]sun for to take
[A]R is the riggin' that [D]always doth shake
[D]S is the starboard side [G]of our bold ship
And [D]T are the [A]topmasts that often do [D]dip
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh, [D]hi derry, hey derry, [A]ho derry down
[A]Give sailors their grog and [D]nothing goes wrong
[D]So merry, so merry, so [G]merry are we
No [D]matter who's [A]laughing at sailors at [D]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{start_of_verse}
[D]U is the union flag [A]hoisted up high
[A]V is the vane to [D]show how the winds fly
[D]W is the wheel that [G]we all take in turn
And [D]X, Y, and [A]Z is the name of this [D]song
{end_of_verse}

{start_of_chorus}
Oh, [D]hi derry, hey derry, [A]ho derry down
[A]Give sailors their grog and [D]nothing goes wrong
[D]So merry, so merry, so [G]merry are we
No [D]matter who's [A]laughing at sailors at [D]sea
{end_of_chorus}

{c: ===== HOW IT'S PERFORMED =====}
{c: Lively but steady tempo. Tempo: ~110 BPM. This is a forecastle relaxation song, not a working shanty - keep it singable, not frantic.}
{c: Three chords (D, A, G).}
{c: Verses run through the alphabet; chorus 'Oh hi derry...' repeats between verses. Some traditions sing only 4-5 of the alphabet sections; the full A-to-Z version takes 6+ minutes.}
{c: Strum: standard sea-song boom-chuck. The chorus opens up for everyone to join.}

{c: ===== AS A KIDS' SONG =====}
{c: The alphabet structure is what makes this song's value - kids learn ship-vocabulary in order. By the end he'll know what an ensign, fo'c'sle, halyard, keelson, mainmast, quadrant, and starboard are.}
{c: For your seven-year-old: he learns one or two letter-stanzas at a time. Start with A-B-C-D verse and the chorus. Add letters as he masters them.}
{c: This song was historically used for teaching young sailors basic ship terminology - it's literally a curriculum dressed as a singalong.}

{c: ===== FIDDLE PART =====}
{c: Fiddle is welcome but not central - this is a vocal song. Fiddle plays sustained chord tones and counter-melody between verses.}
{c: Key: D major.}
{c: For an instrumental verse (between alphabet sections), fiddle plays the chorus melody (ABC notation, key D, 4/4):}
{c:   |: A2 d2 d2 f2 | e2 d2 c#2 A2 | d2 e2 f2 e2 | d4 A4 :|}
{c: Concertina: drone D throughout, very steady. The forecastle feel.}
{c: Mandolin: chop on the off-beats throughout the choruses.}

{c: ===== WHY THIS SONG =====}
{c: Helen Creighton's collection work in Nova Scotia in the mid-20th century preserved much of the Maritime folk tradition that would otherwise have been lost. This is one of those songs - sung by working sailors, captured on tape, now part of the standard repertoire.}
{c: The alphabet structure gives it pedagogical depth that most shanties lack. For an audience with kids in it — especially kids learning to read — this is the song to use.}