(C7)From (F)north and south and east and west, the Coast Guard’s in the fight.
De (C7)stroy ing subs and (F)land ing troops, the (G7)Ax is feels our (C7)might.
For (F)we’re the first in vad ers on ev r’y fight ing field.
A (C7)float, a shore, on (F)men and spars you’ll find the (C7)Coast Guard (F)shield.
(F)We’re al ways read y for the call,
we (Bb)place our trust in (F)thee.
Through (C7)surf and storm and (F)howl (A7)ing (Dm)gale, high (C)shall our (G7)pur pose (C)be.
(F)“Sem per pa ra tus” is our guide,
our (Bb)fame, our glo ry (F)too.
To (C7)fight to save or (F)fight and (Dm)die!
Aye!
(F)Coast Guard, we (G7)are (C7)for (F)you!
(F)We’re al ways read y for the call,
we (Bb)place our trust in (F)thee.
Through (C7)howl ing gale and (F)shot (A7)and (Dm)shell, to (C)win our (G7)vic to (C)ry.
(F)“Sem per pa ra tus” is our guide,
our (Bb)pledge, our mot to (F)too.
We’re (C7)“al ways read y,” (F)do or (Dm)die!
Aye!
(F)Coast Guard, we (G7)fight (C7)for (F)you!
(F)you!
This page shows “Semper Paratus” by Homer Smith in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Bb at 180 BPM, a slightly more challenging arrangement — practice each phrase slowly first.