The Downeaster Alexa

G D Em Well I'm on the Down- easter A- lexa G D C And I'm cruising through Block Island Sound. C G Am I have charted a course to the Vineyard, G D C But to- night I am Nantucket bound. C D G C We took on diesel back in Montauk yester- day, C D Em D And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner's Bay. C D G C Like all the locals here I've had to sell my home, C D Em D Too proud to leave, I worked my fingers to the bone G D Em So I could own my Down- easter A- lexa G D C And I go where the ocean is deep. C G Am There are giants out there in the canyons, G D C And a good captain can't fall a- sleep. C D G C I got bills to pay and children who need clothes. C D Em D I know there's fish out there but where, God only knows. C D G C They say these waters aren't what they used to be. C D Em D But I've got people back on land who count on me. G D Em So when you see my Down- easter A- lexa G D C And if you work with the rod and a reel, C G Am Tell my wife I am trawling At- lantis, G D C And I still have my hands on the wheel. C D G C I was a bayman like my father was be-fore. C D Em D Can't make a living as a bayman any- more. C D G C There ain't much future for a man who works the sea. C G Em D But there ain't no island left for islanders like me. G D Em Now I drive my Down- easter A- lexa G D C More and more miles from shore ev'ry year, C G Am Since they told me I can't sell no stripers. G D C And there's no luck in sword fishing here.