The Ship Song

by Nick Cave
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Other arrangements of The Ship Song

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Lyrics

Come sail your (D)ships

a round me

and burn your (G)brid ges down.

We make a lit tle (D)his t’ry

ba by

’ry time you (G)come a round.

loose (D)doubts

up on

let (G)hair hang

You are (D)mys

to me

(G)come a round.

(G)call a round.

We talk a bout it all night (D)long.

We de fine our (G)mor al ground.

But when I crawl in (G)to your arms

ev

’ry thing

it comes tumb ling (D)down.

Come sail your

(D)ships

a round me

and burn your

(G)brid ges down.

We’ll make a lit tle (D)his t’ry

ba by,

ev ’ry time you (G)come a round.

Your face has fall en (G)sad

now,

’fore you know the (G)time is nigh.

When must re (G)move

wings

and

you must

to (D)fly.

Come sail your

(D)ships

a round me

and burn your

(G)brid ges down.

We’ll make a lit tle (D)his t’ry

ba by,

ev ’ry time you (G)come a round.

Come loose your

(D)doubts

up on me

and let your

(G)hair hang down.

You are a lit tle (D)mys t’ry

to me

ev ’ry time you (G)call a round.

sail

(D)ships

a round

burn

(G)brid ges

We make

(D)his

ba by

(G)come

The Ship Song — Piano Accompaniment (Falling Notes)

14 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "The Ship Song" by Nick Cave in falling-notes (Synthesia) style. Watch the chord notes fall as you sing or play your instrument over the backing. Adjustable key + tempo. Original key G, 68 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 “The Ship Song”

Why does the accompaniment for "The Ship Song" show falling notes?
Falling Notes makes each chord visual — colored notes drop onto the keyboard so you can FEEL the rhythm of the backing before each entry. Singers find it easier to lock in with the piano's groove when they see the chord notes land instead of just hearing them.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "The Ship Song" by Nick Cave in?
The backing track is in G at 68 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 "The Ship Song" 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 "The Ship Song"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "The Ship Song", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "The Ship Song" 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 "The Ship Song"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "The Ship Song"?
"The Ship Song" was originally performed by Nick Cave. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Nick Cave are available?
Other accompaniments by Nick Cave: "Into My Arms", "Where The Wild Roses Grow". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
Can I use "The Ship Song" as a backing track for singing?
Yes — this is the piano accompaniment for The Ship Song by Nick Cave, with the chord notes falling visually so you can see exactly when each chord lands. Original key is G; transpose live to fit your voice.
How is this different from the bar-sheet accompaniment?
Same audio backing — different visualization. Falling notes show each chord note dropping in real time (like Synthesia), which makes the chord rhythm easier to feel. Use whichever view helps you stay on the beat.

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