Other arrangements of Shipbuilding
Pick a learning view.
Is it (B7)worth it,
a new win ter (Bbdim)coat and shoes for the wife,
and a bi cy cle (Cm)on the boy’s birth day.
It’s just a ru mour that was (G)spread a round town
by the wo men and (D)child ren, soon we’ll be (G)ship build ing.
Well, I ask you
the boy said (Bbdim)“Dad they’re gon na take me to task,
but I’ll be (Cm)back by Christ mas.” It’s just a ru mour that was (G)spread a round town
some bo dy said that some one got filled in,
for say ing that (D)peo ple get killed in
the re sult of (D)this ship build
(G)ing.
With all the (G7)will in the world
div ing for (Eb)dear
life,
when we could be div (G)ing for pearls.
It’s just a ru mour that was (G)spread a round town,
a te le gram on a (D)pic ture post card.
with in weeks they’ll be re (D)op en ing the ship yard
and no ti fy ing the (D)next of kin,
(G)once a gain.
It’s all we’re (G7)skilled
in,
we will be (Eb)ship build
ing.
With all the (Gm)will in the world
div ing for (Eb)dear
life,
when we could be div (Em)ing for pearls.
It’s all we’re (D)-ing for pearls.
When we could be div ing for pearls.
When we could be div (Em9)ing for pearls.
Shipbuilding — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
5 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Shipbuilding" by Elvis Costello: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of G, 96 BPM.
Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (G) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.
Try other practice modes:
About “Shipbuilding”
- Can I sing "Shipbuilding" karaoke-style with the lyrics on screen?
- Yes — Karaoke mode puts the lyrics of "Shipbuilding" on screen a line at a time and lights up each word in time, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word and the chord shown just above. The piano backing plays underneath in G, and you can transpose it to fit your voice.
- What key is the piano accompaniment for "Shipbuilding" by Elvis Costello in?
- The backing track is in G at 96 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
- Can I sing over "Shipbuilding" with this accompaniment?
- Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
- Is this a karaoke version of "Shipbuilding"?
- Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Shipbuilding", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
- Can I use "Shipbuilding" as a backing track for my instrument?
- Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
- Can I download the accompaniment for "Shipbuilding"?
- Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
- Who wrote "Shipbuilding"?
- "Shipbuilding" was originally performed by Elvis Costello. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
- What other backing tracks by Elvis Costello are available?
- Other accompaniments by Elvis Costello: "God Give Me Strength", "Oliver's Army", "She". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Shipbuilding" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Shipbuilding" by Elvis Costello. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Shipbuilding" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in G, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Shipbuilding" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.