Ships

by Barry Manilow
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Lyrics

There’s We (Ab)walked to the (Dbmaj7)sea, just my (Eb)fa ther ’n’ (C7)me, and the (Fm)dogs played a (Ab)round on the (Dbmaj7)sand.

Win (Eb)ter (Ab)cold cut the (Dbmaj7)air, hang in’ (Eb)still ev ’ry (C7)where.

Dressed in (Fm)gray, did he (Ab)say, “Hold my (Dbmaj7)hand”?

I said, “Love’s eas ier when it’s (Db)far a way.”

We sat ’n’ watched a dis tant (Eb)light.

(Db)We’re (Eb)two (B)ships that (D#m)pass in the (E)night,

we both (B)smile and we (D#m)say it’s al (E)right.

We’re still (B)here, it’s just that (D#m7)we’re

out of (Emaj7)sight,

like those (G#m)ships that (F#)pass in the (Emaj7)night.

There’s a (Ab)boat on the (Dbmaj7)line where the (Eb)sea meets the (C7)sky; there’s an (Fm)oth er that (Ab)rides far be (Dbmaj7)hind.

And (Eb)it (Ab)seems you and (Dbmaj7)I are like (Eb)strang ers a (C7)wide ways a (Fm)part as we (Ab)drift on through (Dbmaj7)time.

He said, “It’s hard er now, we’re (Db)far a way.

We on ly read you when you (Eb)write.”

(Db)We’re (Eb)two (B)ships that (D#m)pass in the (E)night,

and we (B)smile when we (D#m)say it’s al (E)right.

We’re still (B)here, it’s just that (D#m7)we’re

out of (Emaj7)sight,

like those (G#m)ships that (F#)pass in the (Emaj7)night.

(Emaj7)night.

(Em7)We’re (A)just (F)ships that (Am7)pass in the (Bbmaj7)night,

and we (Dm7)smile when we (Am7)say it’s al (Bbmaj7)right.

We’re (A)still (F)here, it’s just that (Am7)we’re

out of (Bbmaj7)sight,

like (A)those (Dm)ships that (C)pass in the (Bbmaj7)night.

We’re just (F)ships that (Am7)pass in the (Bbmaj7)night,

and we (Dm7)smile when we (Am7)say it’s al (Bbmaj7)right.

We’re (A)still (F)here, it’s just that (Am7)we’re

out of (Bbmaj7)sight,

like (A)those (Dm)ships that (C)pass in the (Bbmaj7)night.

We’re just (F)ships that (Am7)pass in the (Bbmaj7)night...

Ships — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

6 people have learned this song

Learn "Ships" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of Ab, 80 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Ships”

Can I play "Ships" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Ships" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Ships" by Barry Manilow played in?
Ships is arranged in the key of Ab on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Ships"?
The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Ships" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Ships"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Ships"?
"Ships" was originally performed by Barry Manilow. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Ships"?
This arrangement uses 26 chords: A, Ab, Ab7, Am7, B, Bbm, Bbmaj7, C, +18 more.
What other songs by Barry Manilow can I play here?
Try "THIS CAN'T BE REAL", "CAN'T SMILE WITHOUT YOU", "JUMP SHOUT BOOGIE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "Ships"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Ships" is simplified for beginners.
Do I need to read music to play "Ships"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Ships" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.