THANK GOD
WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER
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Time signature: 6/8
but played as a fast "rolling" waltz, rather than a jig. |
NL Lyrics by Tom Cahill
based on Irish Lyrics by Dominic Behan "The Sea Around Us". UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
Everything needs to be checked. |
Accordion Notation
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Beats per bar = 6
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent Primary & secondary emphasis on beats 1 & 4 in each bar. |
Either row = Buttons 2 to 7* |
Verses 1: Newfoundland & Labrador lyrics (youTube videos #1 to #4)
New Zealand lyrics (youTube video #5)
Irish (rebel/resistance) lyrics (youTube videos #6 to #10)
.3 | .4 .4 .4 .4 .3* .3 | .3* .5 .5 :5
I'll tell you a tale a - bout New-found-land dear
I'll sing you a song of New - Zea - Land so dear
They say that the lakes of Kil - lar - ney are fair
.5* | .6* .5* .6* .5 .5* .5 | .4* .3* .3 :2*
We have-n't got mon-ey or rich - es to spare
We have-n't got mon-ey or rich - es to spare
No stream like the Lif-fey can ev'r com-pare
.3 | .4 .4 .4 .4 .3* .3 | .3* .5 .5 :5
But we can be thank - ful for one small af - fair
But we should be thank - ful for one small af - fair
If wat - er you want, you'll find noth - ing more rare
.5* | .6* .5* .5 .4* .3* .2* | .3* ::3
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Than stuff they make down by the o - cean
Chorus:
.5 | .5 .6 .6 :6 .6* | .7* .6 .6* .:6
The sea, oh the sea, the won - der - ful sea
The sea, oh the sea, the won - der - ful sea
The sea, oh the sea the gradh geal mo croide
.6* .5 .5 .5 .5* .5 | .4* .3* .3 :2*
Long may she roll be-tween peo-ple and me
Long may she roll be-tween nat-ions and me
Long may it roll be-tween Eng-land and me
.3 | .4 .4 .4 .4 .3* .3 | .3* .5 .5 .5
And ev - 'ry one here should get down on one knee
And ev - 'ry one here should go down on one knee
It's a sure guar - an - tee that some hour we'll be free
.5* | .6* .5* .5 .4* .3* .2* | .3* ::3
Thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
O thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
NOTE: Repeat last line of chorus instrumentally and
repeat last line singing at end of final chorus, slowing at end.
New Zealand lyrics (youTube video #5)
Irish (rebel/resistance) lyrics (youTube videos #6 to #10)
.3 | .4 .4 .4 .4 .3* .3 | .3* .5 .5 :5
I'll tell you a tale a - bout New-found-land dear
I'll sing you a song of New - Zea - Land so dear
They say that the lakes of Kil - lar - ney are fair
.5* | .6* .5* .6* .5 .5* .5 | .4* .3* .3 :2*
We have-n't got mon-ey or rich - es to spare
We have-n't got mon-ey or rich - es to spare
No stream like the Lif-fey can ev'r com-pare
.3 | .4 .4 .4 .4 .3* .3 | .3* .5 .5 :5
But we can be thank - ful for one small af - fair
But we should be thank - ful for one small af - fair
If wat - er you want, you'll find noth - ing more rare
.5* | .6* .5* .5 .4* .3* .2* | .3* ::3
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Than stuff they make down by the o - cean
Chorus:
.5 | .5 .6 .6 :6 .6* | .7* .6 .6* .:6
The sea, oh the sea, the won - der - ful sea
The sea, oh the sea, the won - der - ful sea
The sea, oh the sea the gradh geal mo croide
.6* .5 .5 .5 .5* .5 | .4* .3* .3 :2*
Long may she roll be-tween peo-ple and me
Long may she roll be-tween nat-ions and me
Long may it roll be-tween Eng-land and me
.3 | .4 .4 .4 .4 .3* .3 | .3* .5 .5 .5
And ev - 'ry one here should get down on one knee
And ev - 'ry one here should go down on one knee
It's a sure guar - an - tee that some hour we'll be free
.5* | .6* .5* .5 .4* .3* .2* | .3* ::3
Thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
O thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
NOTE: Repeat last line of chorus instrumentally and
repeat last line singing at end of final chorus, slowing at end.
Guitar Chord Notation First Draft - aided by Chordify.
Key of G: To play in key of G, but sound in key of A, place capo at fret 2
Key of C: To play in C, but sound in key of D, E or F, place capo at fret 2, 4 or 5
Key of C: To play in C, but sound in key of D, E or F, place capo at fret 2, 4 or 5
Verses 1, 2, 3 & 4 (of 6): Newfoundland & Labrador lyrics
Guitar Intro: D D7 G
G G7 C
G D
C G
I'll tell you a tale a - bout New-found-land dear
The Eng-lish-men came from Land's End to John Groat
Some vis - i - tors tas - ted our New-found-land screech
Now, Bes-sie Joe Kemp took her horse for a ride,
D
G
We have-n't got mon-ey or rich - es to spare
They came ov - er to ride our co - lon - ial goat;
And tipped up the bot - tle, drank six ounc-es each;
She ripped her old bloom-ers way up the left side;
G D A
C G D
But we can be thank - ful for one small af - fair
We'd have eight mil - lion more, but they didn't have boats,
They let out a yell as they ran for the beach
She hung them to dry on the beach at low tide,
D D7 G
G G7 C
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Chorus:
D
G
The sea, oh the sea, the won - der - ful sea
D
G
Long may she roll be-tween peo-ple and me
G D
C G
And ev - 'ry one here should get down on one knee
D D7 G
G G7 C
Thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
NOTE: Repeat last line of chorus instrumentally and
repeat last line singing at end of final chorus, slowing at end.
Guitar Intro: D D7 G
G G7 C
G D
C G
I'll tell you a tale a - bout New-found-land dear
The Eng-lish-men came from Land's End to John Groat
Some vis - i - tors tas - ted our New-found-land screech
Now, Bes-sie Joe Kemp took her horse for a ride,
D
G
We have-n't got mon-ey or rich - es to spare
They came ov - er to ride our co - lon - ial goat;
And tipped up the bot - tle, drank six ounc-es each;
She ripped her old bloom-ers way up the left side;
G D A
C G D
But we can be thank - ful for one small af - fair
We'd have eight mil - lion more, but they didn't have boats,
They let out a yell as they ran for the beach
She hung them to dry on the beach at low tide,
D D7 G
G G7 C
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Thank God we're sur - round- ed by wat - er
Chorus:
D
G
The sea, oh the sea, the won - der - ful sea
D
G
Long may she roll be-tween peo-ple and me
G D
C G
And ev - 'ry one here should get down on one knee
D D7 G
G G7 C
Thank God we're sur-round-ed by wat - er
NOTE: Repeat last line of chorus instrumentally and
repeat last line singing at end of final chorus, slowing at end.
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Embedded youTube VIDEOS
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Total 9 videos, various keys: C=2 D=2 F=1 G=1 A=3
Although the lyrics in these videos fall into three categories, there are only minor differences in the tune. Some of the videos are played in 3/4 (standard waltz) time rather than 6/8 (rolling waltz or jig time).
Although the lyrics in these videos fall into three categories, there are only minor differences in the tune. Some of the videos are played in 3/4 (standard waltz) time rather than 6/8 (rolling waltz or jig time).
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#1 NL
Key: G Tempo: ~180 bpm Singer: Joan Morrissey Posted by: NLTreasure |
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#2 NL
Key: A Tempo: ~190 bpm Singer: Dick Nolan Posted by: Dick Nolan - Topic |
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#3 NL
Key: C Tempo: ~190 bpm Group: The Government Rams Posted by: The Government Rams - Topic |
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#4 NL
Key: D Tempo: ~130 bpm Group: Shanneyganock Posted by: Shanneyganock-Topic |
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#5 NZ
Key: A Tempo: ~190 bpm Singer: Noel Parlane Posted by: Noel Parlane - Topic This is the New Zealand version, adapted from Dick Nolan's version of Tom Cahill's lyrics. |
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#6 IE
Key: F Tempo: ~200 bpm Composer & Singer: Dominic Behan Posted by: K Ryan |
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#7 IE
Key: A Tempo: ~165 bpm Group: The Dubliners Singer: Ronnie Drew Posted by: LordOfNumenor Recorded live at the Grace Theatre in Dublin. |
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#8 IE
Key: D Tempo: ~190 bpm Group: The Ludlows Posted by: catalpa "This was No 1 in Ireland in 1966" |
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#9 IE
Key: C Tempo: ~165 bpm Singer: Denis Murray Posted by: Denis Murray |
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Lyrics, Background Information & Links
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LYRICS
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Verse 1
Chorus Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 Verse 5 Verse 6 |
I'll tell you a tale about Newfoundland, dear.
We haven't got money or riches to spare; But we can be thankful for one small affair. Thank God we're surrounded by water. The sea, oh the sea, the wonderful sea, Long may she roll between people and me; And everyone here should get down on one knee, Thank God we're surrounded by water. But the Englishmen came from Land's End to John O'Groat's, They came over to ride our colonial goat; We'd have eight million more, but they didn't have boats, Thank God we're surrounded by water. Some visitors tasted our Newfoundland screech, Tipped up the bottle, drank six ounces each; And they let out a yell as they ran for the beach, Thank God we're surrounded by water. Now, Bessie Joe Kemp took her horse for a ride, She ripped her old bloomers way up the left side; And she hung them to dry on the beach at low tide, Oh, thank God we're surrounded by water. The French in Quebec want a separate state, Including our own Labrador, just you wait; They came down to Bell Isle, but they can't walk our Strait, Thank God we're surrounded by water. Now Joey was God, said the Liberal bunch, One day on our harbour he walked after lunch; But he couldn't quite make that old Galilee stunt, Thank God we're surrounded by water. |
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Background info and link:
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The original lyrics were probably part of the Irish rebel/resistance folk music of the 1960's, featuring a strong dislike, if not hatred, of the English and of those, like 19th century Irish poet Tom Moore, who were friends of the English.
The NL lyrics by Tom Cahill in the early 1970's, while being satirically negative towards England, Quebec and Premier "Joey" Smallwood (perhaps reflecting a residual resentment from the Confederation debate and vote of the late 1940's), contain some humorous verses. Click HERE for additional info about this song (GEST). Click HERE for information about Newfoundland's Tom Cahill. Click HERE for information about Ireland's Dominic Behan (wikipedia). |