Rock, Folk

Sloop John B Chords

The Beach Boys Beginner Key of G 5 Chords 3 min read

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

G · C · D · Am · Em

The Beach Boys’ folk-rock adaptation of a traditional Bahamian sea shanty about a disastrous sailing voyage. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a light, bouncy feel to match the calypso-inspired rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

We come on the sloop John B

C G

My grandfather and me

D G

Around Nassau town we did roam

G

Drinking all night

C

Got into a fight

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 2

G

The first mate he got drunk

C G

Broke in the captain’s trunk

D G

The constable had to come and take him a-way

G

Sheriff John Stone

C

Why don’t you leave me alone?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 3

G

The poor cook he got fits

C G

And threw away all my grits

D G

And then he took and he ate up all of my corn

G

Let me go home

C

Why don’t you let me go home?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Final Chorus / Outro

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

G

I want to go home

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (G, C, D). Practice switching between G and D smoothly, as that is the most common transition in the chorus.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

G · C · D · Am · Em

The Beach Boys’ folk-rock adaptation of a traditional Bahamian sea shanty about a disastrous sailing voyage. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a light, bouncy feel to match the calypso-inspired rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

We come on the sloop John B

C G

My grandfather and me

D G

Around Nassau town we did roam

G

Drinking all night

C

Got into a fight

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 2

G

The first mate he got drunk

C G

Broke in the captain’s trunk

D G

The constable had to come and take him a-way

G

Sheriff John Stone

C

Why don’t you leave me alone?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 3

G

The poor cook he got fits

C G

And threw away all my grits

D G

And then he took and he ate up all of my corn

G

Let me go home

C

Why don’t you let me go home?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Final Chorus / Outro

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

G

I want to go home

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (G, C, D). Practice switching between G and D smoothly, as that is the most common transition in the chorus.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

G · C · D · Am · Em

The Beach Boys’ folk-rock adaptation of a traditional Bahamian sea shanty about a disastrous sailing voyage. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a light, bouncy feel to match the calypso-inspired rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

We come on the sloop John B

C G

My grandfather and me

D G

Around Nassau town we did roam

G

Drinking all night

C

Got into a fight

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 2

G

The first mate he got drunk

C G

Broke in the captain’s trunk

D G

The constable had to come and take him a-way

G

Sheriff John Stone

C

Why don’t you leave me alone?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 3

G

The poor cook he got fits

C G

And threw away all my grits

D G

And then he took and he ate up all of my corn

G

Let me go home

C

Why don’t you let me go home?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Final Chorus / Outro

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

G

I want to go home

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (G, C, D). Practice switching between G and D smoothly, as that is the most common transition in the chorus.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

G · C · D · Am · Em

The Beach Boys’ folk-rock adaptation of a traditional Bahamian sea shanty about a disastrous sailing voyage. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a light, bouncy feel to match the calypso-inspired rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

We come on the sloop John B

C G

My grandfather and me

D G

Around Nassau town we did roam

G

Drinking all night

C

Got into a fight

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 2

G

The first mate he got drunk

C G

Broke in the captain’s trunk

D G

The constable had to come and take him a-way

G

Sheriff John Stone

C

Why don’t you leave me alone?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 3

G

The poor cook he got fits

C G

And threw away all my grits

D G

And then he took and he ate up all of my corn

G

Let me go home

C

Why don’t you let me go home?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Final Chorus / Outro

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

G

I want to go home

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (G, C, D). Practice switching between G and D smoothly, as that is the most common transition in the chorus.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

G · C · D · Am · Em

The Beach Boys’ folk-rock adaptation of a traditional Bahamian sea shanty about a disastrous sailing voyage. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a light, bouncy feel to match the calypso-inspired rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

We come on the sloop John B

C G

My grandfather and me

D G

Around Nassau town we did roam

G

Drinking all night

C

Got into a fight

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 2

G

The first mate he got drunk

C G

Broke in the captain’s trunk

D G

The constable had to come and take him a-way

G

Sheriff John Stone

C

Why don’t you leave me alone?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 3

G

The poor cook he got fits

C G

And threw away all my grits

D G

And then he took and he ate up all of my corn

G

Let me go home

C

Why don’t you let me go home?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Final Chorus / Outro

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

G

I want to go home

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (G, C, D). Practice switching between G and D smoothly, as that is the most common transition in the chorus.

Gtap to play

Ctap to play

Dtap to play

Amtap to play

Emtap to play

Key

G Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

G · C · D · Am · Em

The Beach Boys’ folk-rock adaptation of a traditional Bahamian sea shanty about a disastrous sailing voyage. Beginner difficulty in the key of G.

Folk Rock Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Keep a light, bouncy feel to match the calypso-inspired rhythm.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

G

We come on the sloop John B

C G

My grandfather and me

D G

Around Nassau town we did roam

G

Drinking all night

C

Got into a fight

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 2

G

The first mate he got drunk

C G

Broke in the captain’s trunk

D G

The constable had to come and take him a-way

G

Sheriff John Stone

C

Why don’t you leave me alone?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Verse 3

G

The poor cook he got fits

C G

And threw away all my grits

D G

And then he took and he ate up all of my corn

G

Let me go home

C

Why don’t you let me go home?

D

Well I feel so broke up

G

I want to go home

Chorus

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

Final Chorus / Outro

C G

So hoist up the John B’s sail

D G

See how the main sail’s set

C G

Call for the captain a-shore

D G

Let me go home, let me go home

C

I want to go home, yeah yeah

G

Well I feel so broke up

D

I want to go home

G

I want to go home

Practice tip: The song uses only three chords (G, C, D). Practice switching between G and D smoothly, as that is the most common transition in the chorus.