Back of the Moon - Ship in a Bottle

      
 
 Intro 
 
 C Am C F (2x)
 
 Verse 1 
 
 G             C            F                C 
 We sat in his living room, staring at the fire
     F                           C                                   G     
 And watched as the sparks leapt from the grate, and the flames rose higher
        Am             F                Am               Em 
 It was hard for me to tell him, it was time for me to leave
             F         Em                            G                F  
 He said, "I didn't go see the world, I thought that it would come to me"
 
 Verse 2 
 
 G              C                       F                C    
 Pointing to the mantelpiece, he said, "Take that if you wish"
   F                        C               G   
 A dirty whisky jar that contained a wooden ship
            Am                  F             Am             Em 
 "Your grandfather drained that bottle, and I put it to good use
        F             Em                 G               F  
 Now it ties me to my yesterdays, I'd be better off to lose"
 
 Chorus 
 
        Dm7      C        F       C              F C 
 No use fighting when the wind's against the tide
           Dm7             F                     G    E7      Am  
 Ship your oars, stow your sails, just enjoy the ride of your life
              C           Em          Am  
 Or throw yourself on the mercy of the sea
     F                       G                    C 
 Whatever you do, son, don't waste your time like me
 
 Interlude 
 
 C Am C F 
     
 
 Verse 3 
 
    G                 C          F                C   
 He built it back in '33, just a young boy at the time
      F                   C                                 G    
 Back when the matchstick masts appeared to tower above the Clyde
         Am           F                       Am             Em 
 Leaving school, real ships he built, carried men and goods afar
     F          Em                 G           F  
 To America and India, and in the '40s, to the war
 
 Verse 4 
 
     G              C                   F                     C    
 His country didn't want him, his mates fell through war-torn skies
     F                     C                               G      
 The rest, they joined the convoys, still, he was too young to die
              Am            F                  Am                 Em   
 Now he can't even find his glasses, his hands shake too much, he knows
              F             Em          G                F 
 To break the bottle for himself and to let the memories go
 
 Chorus 
 
        Dm7      C        F       C              F C 
 No use fighting when the wind's against the tide
           Dm7             F                     G    E7      Am  
 Ship your oars, stow your sails, just enjoy the ride of your life
              C           Em          Am  
 Or throw yourself on the mercy of the sea
     F                       G                    C 
 Whatever you do, son, don't waste your time like me
 
 Instrumental 
 ]
 C   Am  C  F         
 C F  C F C G C F (2x)
 
 Verse 5 
 
 G              C                F                 C   
 Sitting on the mantelpiece, the bottle's gathered dust
       F                       C                                      G   
 While shipyards closed, their gates were locked, the chains begin to rust
        Am               F            Am            Em  
 He was tied down to his memories, forever in their debt
          F                   Em           G              F    
 But I'll sail for clear blue waters and a life with no regrets
 
 Chorus 
 
        Dm7      C        F       C              F C 
 No use fighting when the wind's against the tide
           Dm7             F                     G    E7      Am  
 Ship your oars, stow your sails, just enjoy the ride of your life
              C           Em          Am  
 Or throw yourself on the mercy of the sea
     F                       G                    C 
 Whatever you do, son, don't waste your time like me