Sail Away Ladies – Lyrics & Chords

G
Ain’t no use to sit and cry,
Sail away, ladies, sail away.
You’ll be an angel by an’ by,
Sail away, ladies, sail away,
Chorus:

C
Don’t you rock ‘im
die-dy-o,

G
Don’t you rock ‘im
die-dy-o,

D7
Don’t you rock ‘im
die-dy-o,

G
Don’t you rock ‘im
die-dy-o.
I’ve got a home in Tennessee, Sail, etc.
That’s the place I wanna be, Sail, etc.

If ever I get my new house done,
I’ll give the old one to my son,

Come along, boys, and go with me,
We’ll go down to Tennessee,

Ever I get my new house done,
Love you, pretty girls, one by  one.

Hush, little baby, don’t you cry,
You’ll be an angel by and by.

Alt lyrics

Chords

Capo at 3rd Fret

D                        G        D

D                        A7      D

D                        G        D

D                      A7       D
Ain’t no use to sit and cry,

D                        G        D

D                          G         D
You’ll be an angel by and by.

D                        G        D

D
Don’t you rock,

G
Don’t you rock him,

D                            A7
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,

G                             D                G     D    
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

D                        G        D

D                       A7       D
I got a home in Tennessee;

D                        G        D

D                             G         D
That’s the place I’d like to be.

D                        G        D

D
Don’t you rock,

G
Don’t you rock him,

D                               A7
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,

G                              D                G     D    
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

D                        G        D

D                       A7              D
When I get my new house done,

D                        G        D

D                        G        D
Give my old one to my son

D                        G        D

D
Don’t you rock,

G
Don’t you rock him,

D                               A7
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,

G                               D                G     D    
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

D                        G        D

 

D                      A7       D
Ain’t no use to sit and cry,

D                        G       D     
Sail away ladies, sail away;

D                           G         D
You’ll be an angel by and by.

D                        G      D
Sail away ladies, sail away;

D
Don’t you rock,

G
Don’t you rock him,

D                               A7
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,

G                               D                G     D    
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

D                        G        D

D                       A7       D
I got a home in Tennessee;

D                        G       D     
Sail away ladies, sail away;

D                            G         D
That’s the place I’d like to be.

D                        G       D
Sail away ladies, sail away;

D
Don’t you rock,

G
Don’t you rock him,

D                               A7
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,

G                               D                G     D    
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

D                        G        D

D                       A7              D
When I get my new house done,

D                        G       D     
Sail away ladies, sail away;

D                        G        D
Give my old one to my son

D                        G       D
Sail away ladies, sail away;

D
Don’t you rock,

G
Don’t you rock him,

D                               A7
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,

G                               D   
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o.

Lyrics

Ain’t no use to sit and cry,
You’ll be an angel by and by.

Don’t you rock,
Don’t you rock him,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

I got a home in Tennessee;
That’s the place I’d like to be.

Don’t you rock,
Don’t you rock him,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o

When I get my new house done,
I’ll give my old one to my son.

Don’t you rock,
Don’t you rock him,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o.

Ain’t no use to sit and cry;
Sail away ladies, sail away;
You’ll be an angel by and by;
Sail away ladies, sail away.

Don’t you rock,
Don’t you rock him,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o,
Don’t you rock him, Daddy-o.

I got a home in Tennessee;
Sail away ladies, sail away;
That’s the place I’d like to be;
Sail away ladies, sail away.

When I get my new house done;
Sail away ladies, sail away;
I’ll give my old one to my son;
Sail away ladies, sail away.

Origins

As with many folk songs, there is no one accepted version of ‘Sail Away Ladies’.  Different singers have slightly, or even very, different takes on the lyrics, and the arrangement.  The words are pretty much a moveable feast.  You can add verses or rearrange them to your heart’s content.  And the song can be played in many different styles: soulful-folk a la Joan Baez or Odetta: