Lyrics and Chords

The Leaving of Liverpool

The lyrics to The Leaving of Liverpool tell the story of a sailor who has to leave his loved one behind while he earns his living on a sailing ship. The lyrics are presented here in full but most singers leave out some of the verses.

Leaving of Liverpool
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The chords are presented here in the key of C Major, the key used by the Pogues in their recording of The Leaving of Liverpool.

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The Dubliners play the song in A Major in their first recording of the song featuring Ronnnie Drew and Bobby Lynch on vocals.

In later years when Patsy Watchorn sang with the Dubliners, they performed the song in D Major.

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Leaving of Liverpool Lyrics and Chords

C 

Fare thee well, the Prince’s  

F 

Landing 

 

 

C 

Stage,

 

River Mersey,  

Am 

fare thee  

G7 

well.

 

I am  

C 

bound for Cali

F 

forni

C 

a,

 

A place I  

G 

know right  

C 

well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

 

So  

G7 

fare you well my  

F 

own true  

C 

love,

 

When I  

Am 

re-

Em 

turn united we will  

G7 

be,

 

It’s not the  

C 

leaving of Liverpool that  

F 

grieves 

 

 

C 

me,

 

But my darling when I  

G7 

think of  

C 

thee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

I’m off to California,

By the way of the stormy Cape Horn,

And I will send to you a letter, love,

When I am homeward bound.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

Farewell to Lower Frederick Street,

Anson Terrace and Park Lane;

Farewell, it will be some long time

Before I see you again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

I’ve shipped on a Yankee clipper ship,

Davy Crockett is her name;

And Burgess is the captain of her,

And they say she’s a floating hell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

It’s my second trip with Burgess in the Crockett,

And I think I know him well.

If a man’s a sailor, he can get along,

But if not, he’s sure in hell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

The tug is waiting at the pierhead

To take us down the stream.

Our sails are loose and our anchor secure,

So I’ll bid you good-bye once more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

I’m bound away to leave you,

Good-bye, my love, good-bye.

There ain’t but one thing that grieves me -

That’s leaving you behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chorus

Alternative First verse

Some singers drop the first verse about the Prince’s Landing stage and use this as a first verse instead.

Fare thee well to you my own true love
I am going far away,
I am bound for California
But I know that I’ll return some day

Additional verse

This verse is not in the original collected version but has emerged since and has been used on several recordings.

Now the sun is in the harbour love,
And I wish I could remain,
For I know it will be a long, long time,
Before I see you again.

Leaving of Liverpool
Videos
Lyrics and Chords
Lyrics and Chords Print version