Intro: Em, D, A, C, D, Em  

Em                                  D             A 
I grew up in the scantling yards of Wheeling West Virginia 
   C             D                   Em 
A wheelhouse cub looking for an open door 
Em                                   D          A 
In the packet ways a Sweeney wed the keel of my Bonita 
     C                   D               Em 
Just two months from her timbers til she moored 
Em                                      D         A 
I paid the fare in billet on her maiden voyage to Vicksburg 
C                             D             Em 
And talked my way to hand the tiller on the course 
Em                                            D          A 
In her planks I carved a notch and sealed the vow “Be my Bonita” 
C                    D                Em 
And her dowry was my life between the shores 

  

      Em                D             C                 G 
I was born with rouging ways, and she steered me like a woman 
         C                                     B7 
From the port calls and the bawds that lead me stray 
    Em            D              C              G 
The calliope serenades, made the old towns come running 
        C                                    B7 
And the boys would gamble shards to pull her chains 
              C                   D               Em                  
The striker’s boast would fain me loss, about the wrecks the shoals were 
A 
keeping 
            C                   D              Em 
And how the old girl’s got poor Billy’s ransom saved
 



Em, D, A, C, D, Em (2x)  


       Em                     D                A 
On the lake at Bistineau, she set the wharf at Dixie 
       C                 D             Em 
With a thousand bales of cotton on her main 
       Em                          D              A 
As the great raft disappeared, the watermark went sinking 
            C                   D              Em 
And she was stuck right hard, a listing on the bank 
         Em                       D             A 
With the furnace still a blaze, I stood my last upon her 
     C                    D                 Em 
Then climbed the prow and took a landsman’s trade 
   Em                            D              A 
“A derelict now Milady” said the watch log I’ve concorded 
          C              D                   Em 
“Have the bosun sound us eight bells for the change” 


 
     Em                D             C                 G 
I was born with rouging ways, and she steered me like a woman 
         C                                     B7 
From the port calls and the bawds that lead me stray 
    Em            D              C              G 
The calliope serenades, made the old towns come running 
       
            Em            D             C               G 
And I would take to wider walks, so the gin I stopped a drinking 
   C                               B7 
At three scores aloft this crooked frame 
              C                   D               Em                  
The striker’s boast would fain me loss, about the wrecks the shoals were 
A 
keeping 
            C                   D              Em 
And how the old girl’s got poor Billy’s ransom saved
 

Outro: Em, D, A, C, D, Em