Lyrics

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[Am – C – F – C    x 2]

G C Sail on the horizon's got a landfall rendezvous G C Captain steers a well-known course, he steers it straight and true F C F G As he trims the sheets he sings a song he learned on boats and bars F C G C A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor 'neath the stars

He's traveled the doldrums, typhoons and hurricanes He's logged a million soggy miles with water on his brain But Christmas is the season better suited for dry land He'll tell some lies, meet some spies, and dance barefoot in the sand

Am Em F G A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor on the hook F C F C F G Ka-lee, ko-lay... no work today, let's shelve the old log book F C F G The waterfront is reveling, the season has begun F C G C A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor having fun

There's a party down at Le Selecte... all music, rum, and cheers The faces in the shadows, God, I haven't seen for years The mast and shroud are filled with lights 'neath the waning of the moon There's an air of celebration in the realm of King Neptune

A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor on the hook Ka-lee, ko-lay... no work today... let's shelve the old log book The waterfront is reveling, the season has begun A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor having fun [Am on "fun"]

[intro x 2]

Jesus was a fisherman who walked upon the sea The North Pole is the ocean's remote rose and balcony The continents keep drifting but the children sing and play 'Cause nothing really matters, after all its Christmas day

A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor on the hook Ka-lee, ko-lay... no work today, he read it in a book The waterfront is reveling, the season has begun A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor having fun

A sailor spends his Christmas in a harbor having fun (...having fun ...having fun ...having fun ...having fun) [finish with intro chords]

Chords

Intro Chords w/ riff

e-----1--1--0-0----1--1--0-0-----1--1--0-0—-(0)--  <-- use index finger
B-----1--1--1-1----1--1--1-1-----1--1--1-1—-(1)-- 
G-----2--2--2-2----0--0--0-0-----2--2--2-2—-(0)-- 
D------------------------------3------------(2)--  <-- use ring finger on F
A--0-------------3---------------------------3---  <-- use ring finger on C
E------------------------------------------------    
   Am            C             F             C

Here is how to play the intro with the instrumental riff. All you have to do is bridge the 1st fret of the high E-strong with your index finger. Your index finger can actually remain on the C note (2nd string / 1st fret) the entire time.

Also... when playing the Am chord with the riff, it sounds better if you don't play the E note (4th string), as it creates heavy dissonance with the riff's F-note (which is not very Christmas-like).

Song Info

A Sailor's Christmas
by Jimmy Buffett
Copyright 1996
Album: Christmas Island
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