Elvis Costello - Shipbuilding

artist : elvis costello
song : shipbuilding
tabbed by : dj
24th april 2014

Am = x02210 A#dim = x12020 D/A = x00232 D2 = xx0230
Am7/G = 302010 [ ch ] Dm/F [ /Ch ] = xx3231 ( G/B ) = x2xxxx Dm = xx0231
D/F# = 200232 [ ch ] Cm/D# [ /Ch ] = xx1013 ( G/A ) = x0xxxx Cm = x35543
D = xx0232 D/A = x00232 ( G ) = 3xxxxx ( Gm/A# ) = x1
xxxxebm = xxx342 G = 320033 [ ch ] G7/F [ /Ch ] = xx3433 D#dim = xx1212
Em = 022000 C = x32010 D# = xx5343 Em9 = 020002
[ ch ] B7/D# [ /Ch ] = xx1202 C/E = 032010 D7 = xx0212
G/D = xx0003 C/G = 332010 D4 = xx0233

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Am Am7/G D/F# D ( D#m )
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

Em [ ch ] B7/D# [ /Ch ] G/D A#dim D
is it worth it , a new winter coat and shoes for the wife ,
[ ch ] Dm/F [ /Ch ] [ ch ] Cm/D# [ /Ch ]
and a bicycle on the boy’s birthday?
D ( D/A ) G
it’s just a rumour that was spread around town ,
C D D/F# G
by the women and children , soon we’ll be shipbuilding!

Em [ ch ] B7/D# [ /Ch ] G/D
well , i ask you , the boy said ,
A#dim D
“dad , they’re going to take me to task ,
[ ch ] Dm/F [ /Ch ] [ ch ] Cm/D# [ /Ch ]
but i’ll be back by christmas!”
D ( D/A ) G
it’s just a rumour that was spread around town ,
C D
somebody said that someone got filled in . . .
C/E D/F#
. . . for saying that people get killed in . . .
C/G D/A G
. . . the result of this shipbuilding – – – – – – – !

( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) [ ch ] G7/F [ /Ch ] ( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) D#
with all the will in the world , div – ing for dear life ,
D7 G
when we could be diving for pearls!

G ( G/F# ) Em [ ch ] B7/D# [ /Ch ] G/D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

A#dim D [ ch ] Dm/F [ /Ch ] [ ch ] Cm/D# [ /Ch ]
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

D ( D/A ) G
it’s just a rumour that was spread around town ,
C D
a telegram or a picture postcard ,
C/E D/F#
. . . within weeks they’ll be re – opening the shipyards ,
C/G D/A G
and notifying the next of kin , once again!

( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) [ ch ] G7/F [ /Ch ] ( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) D# D7 G
it’s all we’re skilled in , we will be shipbuilding – – – – – – – ,
( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) F4 ( Gm/A# ) ( G/A ) ( G ) D# D4 D D2
with all the . . . will in the world , div – ing for dear life ,
D7 Em [ ch ] B7/D# [ /Ch ] G/D
when we could be diving for pearls – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !

A#dim D Dm Cm
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

D G C D
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

C/E D/F# C/G D/A G
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) [ ch ] G7/F [ /Ch ] ( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) D# D7 G
it’s all we’re skilled in , we will be shipbuilding – – – – – – – ,
( G/B ) ( G/A ) ( G ) F4 ( Gm/A# ) ( G/A ) ( G ) D# D4 D D2
with all the . . . will in the world , div – ing for dear life – – – – – – – ,
D ( D2 )
when we could be diving for pearls – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
D7 ( D#dim )
when we could be diving for pearls – – – – – – – – – – – – – – !
D7 Em9
when we could be div – ing for pearls – – – – – – – – – – – !

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

there is a rare video of elvis playing this on guitar ,

in the verses he uses this progression . . .
Em [ 02200 ] – Em ( maj7 ) [ 02100 ] – Em7/D [ 020000 ] – C#m7b5 [ 042000 ]
but not hitting the bass strings , whereas i’ve chosen the chords
as played on the album version .

also , i think , he played the G7/F as [ 120003 ] or [ 12003x ]
which i don’t find as easy on the ear as the shape in my tab .

instead of Cm/D# , he plays a conventional Cm [ 335543 ]
with his thumb on the bottom G , but is probably only muting it ,
and doesn’t appear to hit it .