Hi,

I just heard from Taylor who has checked this thread and found he couldn't post a response, probably because of the high security of his work computer.

So here it is, direct from Taylor Whiteside —

617-510-1010

Hello All and thank you for your interest in this song. Here’s how I do it: First, be in Drop D tuning (drop the 6th string E to D). For the D chord use all six strings. The G chord is 3rd finger 6th string 5th fret, 4th finger 5th string 5th fret, 1st finger 1st string 3rd fret, and the other strings open. The A chord is as normal but leave out the 6th string. In the first half of the second line, walk down: D (open 4th string), C# (4th finger 5th string 4th fret), B (1st finger 5th string 2nd fret), A (open 5th string). Then for the Em chord the low E is thumb on 6th string 2nd fret, 2nd finger on 5th string 2nd fret, 3rd finger on 4th string 2nd fret, and the other strings open. Chorus is same as verse.

   D                         G                D
My father is a fisherman, likewise my brothers two

    D/D    /C#    /B       /A    Em             A
They follow in his footsteps with a wooden point of view

      G                D               D             A
While I the black sheep of the lot work safely on the shore

G               D                   A               D
I keep account of what we've got, find ways to make it more

Our mother left for Boston town some seven years ago
We sons receive a letter each Christmas time or so
And Father takes the dory then, and 'round the harbor rows
Until the weather drives him in, that's when his sorrow shows

CHORUS: Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?
She was due to fetch the Cutty Light by 3 o'clock today
No sail on the horizon, no vessel by the quay
Four boats in the harbor, where's the Martin Greigh?

Now a man's the master of his heart as boys we all were told
He strains to play the hero's part, a captain brave and bold
But in the end must pay the toll to feelings never shown
For trapped within this age-old role he finds himself alone

CHORUS

Now father says that one fine day he'll take the Greigh and go
To an island far beyond the bay that the coastin' trade don't know
And there he'll run the mainsail down and anchor by the shore
To leave behind old fishing grounds and think of her once more

CHORUS

CHORUS (a capella)

Last line of CHORUS (with guitar)