Trad.
Played by Bob Dylan and the Band in the Basement of 1967
Lyrics modified from It’s not a house it’s a home page. Chords tabbed by Eyolf Østrem

On my copy it plays in Bbm, thus a capo on the 1st fret.
The chords in the first verse aren’t quite like in the rest of the verses, which follow the simpler pattern of the second verse.


[introductory search for chords omitted for brevity]

Am

          Am     C/g        D/f#
Well, the bonnie ship was a good old ship
          Am                      E
She was a-fishin' on a [leading chain]
    Am     /c            C/g
And me an' John oh was a long catch[-on?]
           D/f#        F   E     Am
It was the last of the ones I've seen

        Am          G       Am
So with sword and a rope in bay
                            E
Feel all that your heart be sailed
          Am     C/g      D/f#
When that bonnie ship the Diamond goes
Am      Em      Am
fishin' for the whales.

         Am                  D
Well, we feud all night, the cabin gauge,
         Am                E
It was a-more than feelin' bad
         Am                  D
And with all kind friends we watched in fear
         Am             Em   Am
It was a naught time we ever had.

        Am   D     Am
So it's rise up my lads
                      E
Let your hearts never fail
          Am     C/g      D/f#
When that bonnie ship the Diamond goes
F       E       Am
fishin' for the whales.

An' all day long at Vera Cruz
We sailed [all the likes] to bind
With no heavy moan, any hearts [of stone]
No aid was cried [tried?] for mine.

So it's cheer up my boys
Let your hearts never fail
When that bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes fishin' for the whales.

Well, now along Cape Fate, 'twas lit in red
All along cape Horn
And from Vera Cruz we sailed ahead
It was all in the time of storm.

So, it's cheer on up my boys
Let your hearts never fail
When that bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes fishin' for the whales.