Artist: Elvis Costello
Song: Shipbuilding
Tabbed by: DJ
24th April 2014
Am = x02210 Bbdim = x12020 D/A = x00232 D2 = xx0230
Am7/G = 302010 [ch]Dm/F[/ch] = xx3231 (G/B) = x2xxxx Dm = xx0231
D/F# = 200232 [ch]Cm/Eb[/ch] = xx1013 (G/A) = x0xxxx Cm = x35543
D = xx0232 D/A = x00232 (G) = 3xxxxx (Gm/Bb) = x1xxxx
Ebm = xxx342 G = 320033 [ch]G7/F[/ch] = xx3433 Ebdim = xx1212
Em = 022000 C = x32010 Eb = xx5343 Em9 = 020002
[ch]B7/D#[/ch] = xx1202 C/E = 032010 D7 = xx0212
G/D = xx0003 C/G = 332010 D4 = xx0233
**********************************************************************
Am Am7/G D/F# D (Ebm)
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Em [ch]B7/D#[/ch] G/D Bbdim D
Is it worth it, a new winter coat and shoes for the wife,
[ch]Dm/F[/ch] [ch]Cm/Eb[/ch]
And a bicycle on the boy's birthday?
D (D/A) G
It's just a rumour that was spread around town,
C D D/F# G
By the women and children, soon we'll be shipbuilding!
Em [ch]B7/D#[/ch] G/D
Well, I ask you, the boy said,
Bbdim D
"Dad, they're going to take me to task,
[ch]Dm/F[/ch] [ch]Cm/Eb[/ch]
But I'll be back by Christmas!"
D (D/A) G
It's just a rumour that was spread around town,
C D
Somebody said that someone got filled in...
C/E D/F#
...For saying that people get killed in...
C/G D/A G
...The result of this shipbuilding-------!
(G/B) (G/A) (G) [ch]G7/F[/ch] (G/B) (G/A) (G) Eb
With all the will in the world, div - ing for dear life,
D7 G
When we could be diving for pearls!
G (G/F#) Em [ch]B7/D#[/ch] G/D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
Bbdim D [ch]Dm/F[/ch] [ch]Cm/Eb[/ch]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/e/elvis_costello/shipbuilding_crd_ver_2.html ]
D (D/A) G
It's just a rumour that was spread around town,
C D
A telegram or a picture postcard,
C/E D/F#
...Within weeks they'll be re - opening the shipyards,
C/G D/A G
And notifying the next of kin, once again!
(G/B) (G/A) (G) [ch]G7/F[/ch] (G/B) (G/A) (G) Eb D7 G
It's all we're skilled in, we will be shipbuilding-------,
(G/B) (G/A) (G) F4 (Gm/Bb) (G/A) (G) Eb D4 D D2
With all the... will in the world, div - ing for dear life,
D7 Em [ch]B7/D#[/ch] G/D
When we could be diving for pearls----------------!
Bbdim D Dm Cm
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
D G C D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
C/E D/F# C/G D/A G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
(G/B) (G/A) (G) [ch]G7/F[/ch] (G/B)(G/A) (G) Eb D7 G
It's all we're skilled in, we will be shipbuilding-------,
(G/B)(G/A)(G) F4 (Gm/Bb)(G/A)(G) Eb D4 D D2
With all the... will in the world, div - ing for dear life-------,
D (D2)
When we could be diving for pearls--------------!
D7 (Ebdim)
When we could be diving for pearls--------------!
D7 Em9
When we could be div - ing for pearls-----------!
***********************************************************************
There is a rare video of Elvis playing this on guitar,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUCUnHLaduE ,it's the 2nd song at(3:38)
In the verses he uses this progression...
Em[02200]- Em(maj7)[02100] - Em7/D [020000]- C#m7b5 [042000]
but not hitting the bass strings, whereas I've chosen the chords
as played on the album version.
Also, I think, he played the G7/F as [120003] or [12003x]
which I don't find as easy on the ear as the shape in my tab.
Instead of Cm/Eb, he plays a conventional Cm [335543]
with his thumb on the bottom G, but is probably only muting it,
and doesn't appear to hit it.
