Sloop John B.

by Barry McGuire
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Lyrics

We (G)came on the Sloop John B.,

my grand fa ther and me.

’Round Nas sau town

we did (D)roam.

(D7)Drink in’ all (G)night,

had man y a (C)fight.

I (G)feel so broke up, I wan na go (G)home.

So hoist up the John B.

sails,

and clean up the John B.

rails.

Oh, cap tain, please come a board and sail me back (D7)home.

The sloop, the John (G)B.

can trav el the (C)sea,

next (G)time with out me.

I (D7)wan na go (G)home.

The (G)first mate, he got so drunk,

he broke o pen my trunk.

Poor sea sick me

on the (D)foam.

(D7)O ceans are (G)grand,

but give me the (C)land.

I (G)feel so broke up, I wan na go (G)home.

So hoist up the John B.

sails,

and clean up the John B.

rails.

Oh, cap tain, please come a board and sail me back (D7)home.

The sloop, the John (G)B.

can trav el the (C)sea,

next (G)time with out me.

I (D7)wan na go (G)home.

Sloop John B. — Beginner Piano Tutorial

Learn "Sloop John B." on piano — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded notes show you exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of G, 110 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple Sheet

About “Sloop John B.”

What key is "Sloop John B." by Barry McGuire played in?
Sloop John B. is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Sloop John B."?
The arrangement plays at 110 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Sloop John B." easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Sloop John B."?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Sloop John B."?
"Sloop John B." was originally performed by Barry McGuire. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Sloop John B."?
This arrangement uses 7 chords: C, C6, Cm, D, D7, G, G7.
What other songs by Barry McGuire can I play here?
Try "EVE OF DESTRUCTION". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

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