Am                      G         Am
A shanty man's life is a wearisome one
                      G        Am
Though some say it's free from care
        E               Am
It's the swinging of an axe
                  G
From morning 'till night
      Am      F        Am
In the forest wild and drear

 Am                          G        Am
Transported as we are from a lady so fair
                    G       Am
To the banks of some lonely stream
         E                Am
Where the wolf, bear, and owl
                   G
Give a terrifying howl
     Am         F         Am
And disturb our nightly dreams

  Am                         G             Am
Oh sleeping at night in our bunks without cheer
                       G         Am
While the cold winter winds do blow
   E                Am
But as soon as the morning
            G
Star does appear
 Am              F        Am
To the wild woods we must go

                              G              Am
Had we ale, wine, or beer our spirits for to cheer
                    G        Am
When we're in those woods so wild
       E                 Am
Where a glass of whiskey shone
                        G
When we're in the woods alone
      Am      F             Am
For to pass away our long exile


                              G              Am
Shantying, I’ll give o’er when I landed safe on shore  
                    G        Am
And I’ll lead a different life
       E                 Am
No more will I roam 
                        G
but contented stay at home
      Am      F             Am
With a happy little smiling wife


                          G         Am
A shanty man's life is a wearisome one
                     G         Am
Though some say it's free from care
         E             Am
It's the swinging of an axe
                   G
From morning 'till night
      Am       F          Am
In the forest wild and drear

Am F Am F Am