Country, Folk

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords

Jimmy Buffett Beginner Key of G 4 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

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Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords – Guitar

Jimmy Buffett’s classic tale of a weathered sailor reflecting on a life spent outside the mainstream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Calypso Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a relaxed, laid-back strum to match the storytelling feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

G D G

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

G C

You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all

G D G

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam

Verse 2

G C

And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen

G D

Most of ’em dream, most of ’em dream

G C

Yes, I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Verse 3

G C

I made enough money to buy Miami

G D G

But I pissed it away so fast, never meant to last

G

Never meant to last

G C

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Bridge

C G

I go for older women, lived in several houses

D G C G

Might even settle down in Jacksonville if I live that long

C G

But I’m forty now and I know what I know

D G C

I’ve a head full of memories and a head full of rain

Verse 4

G C

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

G D G

The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder

G C

I’m an over-forty victim of fate

G D

Arriving too late, arriving too late

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, G is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords – Ukulele

Jimmy Buffett’s classic tale of a weathered sailor reflecting on a life spent outside the mainstream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Calypso Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a relaxed, laid-back strum to match the storytelling feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

G D G

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

G C

You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all

G D G

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam

Verse 2

G C

And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen

G D

Most of ’em dream, most of ’em dream

G C

Yes, I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Verse 3

G C

I made enough money to buy Miami

G D G

But I pissed it away so fast, never meant to last

G

Never meant to last

G C

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Bridge

C G

I go for older women, lived in several houses

D G C G

Might even settle down in Jacksonville if I live that long

C G

But I’m forty now and I know what I know

D G C

I’ve a head full of memories and a head full of rain

Verse 4

G C

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

G D G

The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder

G C

I’m an over-forty victim of fate

G D

Arriving too late, arriving too late

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, G is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords – Piano

Jimmy Buffett’s classic tale of a weathered sailor reflecting on a life spent outside the mainstream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Calypso Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a relaxed, laid-back strum to match the storytelling feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

G D G

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

G C

You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all

G D G

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam

Verse 2

G C

And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen

G D

Most of ’em dream, most of ’em dream

G C

Yes, I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Verse 3

G C

I made enough money to buy Miami

G D G

But I pissed it away so fast, never meant to last

G

Never meant to last

G C

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Bridge

C G

I go for older women, lived in several houses

D G C G

Might even settle down in Jacksonville if I live that long

C G

But I’m forty now and I know what I know

D G C

I’ve a head full of memories and a head full of rain

Verse 4

G C

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

G D G

The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder

G C

I’m an over-forty victim of fate

G D

Arriving too late, arriving too late

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, G is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords – Banjo

Jimmy Buffett’s classic tale of a weathered sailor reflecting on a life spent outside the mainstream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Calypso Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a relaxed, laid-back strum to match the storytelling feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

G D G

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

G C

You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all

G D G

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam

Verse 2

G C

And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen

G D

Most of ’em dream, most of ’em dream

G C

Yes, I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Verse 3

G C

I made enough money to buy Miami

G D G

But I pissed it away so fast, never meant to last

G

Never meant to last

G C

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Bridge

C G

I go for older women, lived in several houses

D G C G

Might even settle down in Jacksonville if I live that long

C G

But I’m forty now and I know what I know

D G C

I’ve a head full of memories and a head full of rain

Verse 4

G C

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

G D G

The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder

G C

I’m an over-forty victim of fate

G D

Arriving too late, arriving too late

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, G is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords – Mandolin

Jimmy Buffett’s classic tale of a weathered sailor reflecting on a life spent outside the mainstream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Calypso Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a relaxed, laid-back strum to match the storytelling feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

G D G

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

G C

You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all

G D G

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam

Verse 2

G C

And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen

G D

Most of ’em dream, most of ’em dream

G C

Yes, I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Verse 3

G C

I made enough money to buy Miami

G D G

But I pissed it away so fast, never meant to last

G

Never meant to last

G C

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Bridge

C G

I go for older women, lived in several houses

D G C G

Might even settle down in Jacksonville if I live that long

C G

But I’m forty now and I know what I know

D G C

I’ve a head full of memories and a head full of rain

Verse 4

G C

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

G D G

The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder

G C

I’m an over-forty victim of fate

G D

Arriving too late, arriving too late

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, G is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Em

A Pirate Looks at 40 Chords – Harmonica

Jimmy Buffett’s classic tale of a weathered sailor reflecting on a life spent outside the mainstream. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Calypso Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a relaxed, laid-back strum to match the storytelling feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G C

Mother, mother ocean, I have heard you call

G D G

Wanted to sail upon your waters since I was three feet tall

G C

You’ve seen it all, you’ve seen it all

G D G

Watched the men who rode you switch from sails to steam

Verse 2

G C

And in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen

G D

Most of ’em dream, most of ’em dream

G C

Yes, I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Verse 3

G C

I made enough money to buy Miami

G D G

But I pissed it away so fast, never meant to last

G

Never meant to last

G C

And I have been drunk now for over two weeks

G D

I passed out and I rallied and I sprung a few leaks

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Bridge

C G

I go for older women, lived in several houses

D G C G

Might even settle down in Jacksonville if I live that long

C G

But I’m forty now and I know what I know

D G C

I’ve a head full of memories and a head full of rain

Verse 4

G C

Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late

G D G

The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder

G C

I’m an over-forty victim of fate

G D

Arriving too late, arriving too late

Chorus

C

But I’ve got to stop wishin’, got to go fishin’

G

Down to rock bottom again

C G

Just a few friends, just a few friends

Practice tip: The chord progression G, C, D, G is the core of this song. Practice switching between these three chords smoothly before adding the lyrics.