the downeaster “alexa” – billy joel

intro :
Am – Em – G – Am 2

x C G Am
well i’m on the down – easter A – lexa
C G F
and i’m cruising through block island sound .
F C Dm
i have chartered a course to the vineyard .
C G F C – F
but to – night i Am nantucket bound

F G C F
we took on diesel back in montauk yester – day ,
F G Am G/B
and left this morning from the bell in gardiner’s bay .
F G C F
like all the locals here i’ve had to sell my home ,
F G Am G/B
too proud to leave , i worked my fingers to the bone

C G Am
so i could own my down – easter A – lexa
C G F
and i go where the ocean is deep .
F C Dm
there are giants out there in the canyons .
C G F C – F
and a good captain can’t fall A – sleep

F G C F
i got bills to pay and children who need clothes .
F G Am G/B
i know there’s fish out there but where , god only knows .
F G C F
they say these waters aren’t what they used to be .
F G Am G/B
but i’ve got people back on land who count on me .

C G Am
so when you see my down – easter A – lexa
C G F
and if you work with the rod and the reel ,
F C Dm
tell my wife i Am trolling at – lantis ,
C G F
and i still have my hands on the wheel .

instrumental bridge :
Am – Em – G – Am 2
x Em – G – D – Em
Am – Em – G – Am

C G Am
now i drive my down – easter A – lexa
C G F
more and more miles from shore ev’ry year ,
F C Dm
since they told me i can’t sell no stripers .
C G F
and there’s no luck in sword fishing here .

F G C F
i was a bayman like my father was be – fore .
F G Am G/B
can’t make a living as a bayman any – more .
F G C F
there ain’t much future for a man who works the sea .
F G Am G/B
but there ain’t no island left for islanders like me .

C G Am
ya , ya , yaa aaa yo
C G Am
ya , ya , yaa aaa yo
C G Am
ya , ya , yaa aaa yo
C G Am
ya , ya , yaa aaa yo//

G/B x20003

not the 1th version . i addEd and changed some chords . credit to the others