Other arrangements of The Ship Song
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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 — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
14 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "The Ship Song" by Nick Cave: 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, 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”
- Can I sing "The Ship Song" karaoke-style with the lyrics on screen?
- Yes — Karaoke mode puts the lyrics of "The Ship Song" 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 "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.
- Is there a karaoke version of "The Ship Song" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "The Ship Song" by Nick Cave. 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 "The Ship Song" 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 "The Ship Song" 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.
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