The Blessing (of the Fleet)

by Billy Luz Sprague and Jim Weber

copyright 1993 Paragon Music Corp./Skin Horse, Inc./Centergetic Music.

(admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.) 

ASCAP. All rights reserved.



[Intros and transitions are my compensations for the lack of a full band]

--Polly_Vedder@GALE.COM



Time: 3/4



Intro: G / C / D / G / G / C / D / G



      G              C           G           D 

The ships have been waiting too long in the harbor;

   G            C            D           G

A fair wind is calling the fleet to set sail.

 G          C           G       D

Ice on the moorings is finally melted;

    G             C            D             G   /  G  /  D  /  C

Forgotten's the frost and the winter's last gale.



     G         C               G          D

The fishermen come with their nets newly mended

     G            C         D            G

And gather their families there on the shore.

  G           C           G        D

Children and fathers fall equally silent

        D              C              D / D / D   D          G / G / C / D

While sweethearts and wives wish for one   ...   one minute more.



       F                   C            G

Then drawing together and bowing their heads 

         G            Am       D

for the ones who are sailing away

     F                      C            G

The journey is worth every danger they dread,

                      C            D  /  D  / Dsus4 / D

so they stand by the sea and they pray





Chorus

         G         C          D         G

 May your nets be filled, your compass true

                              C             D

 May the wind and the wave be your friend

               G            C             D           Em

 May you stand the storm, and the hand of the Lord

                   Am        D        G  / G / D / C

 bring you safely to harbor again.



G          C             G        D

Anchors aweigh, let the canvases billow,

    G            C            D           G

as full as the hearts of the ones left behind

      G             C               G          D

Who watch till the last sail sinks o'er the horizon

       G               C               D         G / G / D / C

Then chart their own course through an ocean of time



 G        C           G          D

Many are waiting and many must travel

     G          C            D         G

And someday we all will sail over the rim.

    G      C           G              D

For every hand on the helm helps the calling,

 G            C           D / D / D   D          G / G / C / D

Some will be fishers and some   ...  fishers of men.



     F                   C          G

So drawing together and bowing our heads

         G            Am       D

for the ones who are sailing away

      F                     C          G 

The journey is worth every danger we dread,

                    C          D / D / Dsus4 / D

So we stand by each other and pray





Chorus



opt. repeat of Chorus, then on last "again": G / D / C / G / D / G

(or repeat intro)