Sail Away Chords

Song: Sail Away (originally by Randy Newman)
Artist: Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
Album: Sonny and Brownie
 
This song is a cover of Randy Newman's work. Newman plays the song with piano, strings, and some jazz 
instrumentation.
Terry and McGhee use acoustic guitar, banjo, bass, piano, organ, harmonica, and what I think is a toy piano. I
 tabbed
this song with the intention of playing it on solo acoustic guitar, which I think sounds good as well.
 
I think the chords in this version differ slightly from Newman's version, so if you want to play Newman's 
version,
you may have to tinker with the chords.
 
Some further notes. Where a chord is in parentheses - e.g., (Bb) - this indicates that it is optional. To play
 exactly
along exactly with the record, you will need to play these chords. But if you perform the song live, probably 
no one
will notice if you omit the chord. I know Bb can be an awkward chord for new players to play, especially after
 a C
played in the normal voicing, so do not get discouraged if you cannot play every chord in this song at the 
start.
 
A final note. Playing the Bb as a barre chord at the 6th fret and the Bb as a barre chord at the 1st fret 
sounds
closer to the record than other voicings. This can be awkward and confusing, so I encourage you to play 
whatever is
comfortable.
 
-----------------------------------
 
F           A            Dm
  In America you'll get plenty food to eat
  Bb                              C
  Won't have to run through the jungle
             (Bb)   F
  And scuff up your  feet
 
 
F                           A
  You'll just sing about Jesus
Dm
  And drink wine all day
Bb                 C
  It's gonna be great
F                   F
  To be an American
 
 F                      Dm
  Ain't no lions or tigers
 G7
  Ain't no mamba snake
 C
  Just the sweet watermelon
 F
  And the buckwheat cake
 
 F                 Dm
  Everybody is happy
 G7
  As a man can be
 C              (Bb)
  Climb aboard little children
 F
  Sail away with me
 
Chorus
 
F
 Sail Away
      Bb
 Sail Away
         F                     Dm                G       C
 We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
F
 Sail Away
        Bb
 Sail Away
           F      Dm          G           Bb     F
 We will cross the mighty ocean into Charleston Bay
 
Note: You can play that last Bb as a C also.
 
Verse:
In America
Every man is free
To take care of his home
and his family
 
You'll be happy as a monkey
in a monkey tree
Be American
Sail away with me
 
Chorus x 2
X