The Pogues – Thousands Are Sailing chords

Verse 1
CThe island it is silent now
        FBut the ghosts still haunt the waves
        C                 AmAnd the torch lights up a famished man
    Dm                GWho fortune could not save

C       Did you work upon the railroad
        FDid you rid the streets of crime
          C                 AmWere your dollars from the white house
     G                      CWere they from the five and dime
       
C        AmDid the old songs taunt or cheer you
           F                    CAnd did they still make you cry
        AmDid you count the months and years
                Dm               GOr did your teardrops quickly dry
G   CAh, No, says he 'twas not to be
     FOn a coffin ship I came here
      C          AmAnd I never even got so far
     G                        CThat they could change my name


Chorus 1

AmThousands are still sailing
G                  DmAcross the Western Ocean
     AmTo a land of opportunity
     G                 DmThat some of them will never see
AmFortune prevailing
G                  DmAcross the Western Ocean
      AmTheir bellies full

And their spirits free
        G                   DmThey'll break the chains of poverty
            F     Am  G D F Am G D CAnd they'll dance

Verse 2

CIn Manhattan's desert twilight
       FIn the death of afternoon
           C               AmWe stepped hand in hand on Broadway
               Dm          GLike the first man on the moon
G        CAnd "The Blackbird" broke the silence
       FAs you whistled it so sweet
       C               AmAnd in Brendan Behan's footsteps
            G            C   I danced up and down the street

C       Am                Then we said goodnight to Broadway
       F           CGiving it our best regards
           AmTipped our hats to Mister Cohan
         Dm                       GDear old Times Square's favourite bard
G       C      Then we raised a glass to J.F.K.
      FAnd a dozen more besides
       C              AmWhen I got back to my empty room
   G                  CI suppose I must have cried


Chorus 2
AmThousands are sailing
G                  DmAgain across the ocean
          AmWhere the hand of opportunity
      G            DmDraws tickets in a lottery
AmPostcards we're mailing
   G                  DmOf sky-blue skies and oceans
     AmFrom rooms the daylight never sees
      G                    DmWhere lights don't glow on Christmas trees
       F                            Am G D F Am G D Am Dm Am F C G C G CBut we dance to the music and we dance


Chorus 3
AmThousands are sailing
G                  DmAgain across the ocean
          AmWhere the hand of opportunity
      G            DmDraws tickets in a lottery
AmWhere e'er we go, we celebrate
   G                  DmThe land that makes us refugees
     AmFrom fear of Priests with empty plates
      G                    DmFrom guilt and weeping effigies
       F                             Am G D F Am G D Am Dm Am F C G C G CAnd we dance to the music and we dance