The Ship That Never Returned chords by
Jimmy Driftwood

N/A•

Key: C major•

Verse 1

G

G

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C

C

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On a summer day when

F

F

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the waves were ruffled

C

C

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G

G

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by the softest, gentlest breeze

C

C

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F

F

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Did a ship set sail with her cargo laden

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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for a port beyond the sea

There were sweet farewells,

F

F

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there were loving signals

C

C

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G

G

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while her form was yet desert

C

C

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And for years and years

F

F

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there were fond ones

C

C

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Watching for the ship that

G

G

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C

C

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never returned

Did she ever return?

F

F

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No, she never returned

C

C

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G

G

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And her fate is yet unlearned

C

C

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And for years and years

F

F

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there were fond ones

C

C

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G

G

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Watching for the ship that never returned

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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Said a feeble lad

F

F

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to his anxious mother,

C

C

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G

G

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I must cross the wide, sea

C

C

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For they say perchance in

F

F

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a foreign country

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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There is health and strength for me

F

F

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Was a gleam of hope in a maze of danger

C

C

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G

G

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And her heart for her youngest year

C

C

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Yet she sent him forth with

F

F

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a smile and a blessing

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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on the ship that never returned

Did she ever return?

F

F

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she never returned

C

C

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and her fate is yet unclear

G

G

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C

C

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And for years and years

F

F

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there were fond ones

C

C

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watching for the ship that nev

G

G

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C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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G

G

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er returned

C

C

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Just one more trip,

F

F

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said the gallop captain

C

C

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G

G

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as he kissed his weeping wife

C

C

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F

F

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Just one more bag of the golden treasure

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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and to last us all our life

F

F

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Then we'll settle down in a cozy cottage

C

C

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G

G

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and enjoy the rest we've earned

C

C

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F

F

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But alas, poor man, he sailed commander

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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On the ship that never returned

Did she ever return?

F

F

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No, she never returned

C

C

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G

G

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And her fate is yet unlearned

C

C

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And for years and years

F

F

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there were fond ones

C

C

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G

G

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C

C

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Watching for the ship that never returned

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An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

An acoustic guitar head with tuning pegs

Tuning:Standard Open Tuner

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 7 Strings

B ₁

E ₂

A ₂

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 12 stringStandard

E ₃

E ₂

A ₃

A ₂

D ₄

D ₃

G ₄

G ₃

B ₃

B ₃

E ₄

E ₄

Guitar Tuner 6 stringPower

Guitar Tuner 6 stringOpen

Guitar Tuner 6 stringExtras

G ₄

C ₄

E ₄

A ₄

CavaquinhoStandard

D ₄

G ₄

B ₄

D ₅

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

Bass Tuner 5 Strings

B ₀

E ₁

A ₁

D ₂

G ₂

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

C ₂

G ₂

D ₃

A ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

E ₅

G ₃

G ₃

D ₄

D ₄

A ₄

A ₄

E ₅

E ₅

Balalaika Tuner

E ₄

E ₄

A ₄

G ₄

D ₃

G ₃

B ₃

D ₄

Banjo Tuner 4 Strings

C ₃

G ₃

D ₄

A ₄

Chords

G
C
F

Capo: 0

Transpose: 0

0

Autoscroll20%

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Frequently asked questions

The original key of The Ship That Never Returned by Jimmy Driftwood is C major.

The primary chords used in The Ship That Never Returned are G, C, F.

No capo is required for this song.

Yes, this version uses open chords like G, C, F, making it a great song for beginner guitarists.

The tempo of The Ship That Never Returned is approximately 115 beats per minute.

You can easily change the key of The Ship That Never Returned using our Transpose button located in the toolbar. This will automatically update all chord diagrams on the page to match your new key.

Yes! Click the Print icon to generate a clean, one-page version of the chords and lyrics for The Ship That Never Returned. This is perfect for practicing offline or adding to a physical songbook.

Yes, we have integrated a Mini-Tuner directly on this page. Use it to quickly check your string pitch (Standard Tuning: E A D G B E) before you start playing along with Jimmy Driftwood.

Absolutely. Click the Save or Heart icon to add The Ship That Never Returned to your account. You can access all your saved songs under My Library at any time.

You can view the full chord sheet and lyrics for The Ship That Never Returned by Jimmy Driftwood on this page for free. We provide high-quality, verified chords to help you start playing immediately.