Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me
John Hurt (1966)

Basic accompaniment
4/4 | T3 - D - T4 - D - |
1 2 3 4
Intro (Basic Progression)
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [D7] | [G] |
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [G] | [C] |
| [G] Blues all on the | [C] ocean,
| [F] Blues all in the | [C] air;
| [F] Can't stay here no | [C] longer,
I | [D7] have no steamship | [G] fare.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
I | [G] do not work for | [C] pleasure;
Earthly | [F] peace I'll see no | [C] more;
The | [F] only reason I | [C] work at all
Is to | [D7] drive the wolf from my | [G] door.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
Instrumental
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [D7] | [G] |
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [G] | [C] |
My | [G] wife controles our | [C] happy home;
My | [F] sweetheart I cannot | [C] find.
The | [F] only thing I can | [C] call my own
Is a | [D7] troubled and a worried | [G] mind.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
| [G] Blues all in my | [C] body;
My | [F] darlin' has forsaken | [C] me.
If I | [F] ever see her | [C] face again
Have to | [D7] swim across that | [G] sea.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
Instrumental
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [D7] | [G] |
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [G] | [C] |
| [G] Blues all on the | [C] ocean,
| [F] Blues all in the | [C] air;
| [F] Can't stay here no | [C] longer,
I | [D7] have no steamship | [G] fare.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
#Play along in this key with this version. (Key of C)
#Last Updated 7/3/18 JJ
Visit UkeboxLessons
John Hurt (1966)




Basic accompaniment
4/4 | T3 - D - T4 - D - |
1 2 3 4
Intro (Basic Progression)
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [D7] | [G] |
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [G] | [C] |
| [G] Blues all on the | [C] ocean,
| [F] Blues all in the | [C] air;
| [F] Can't stay here no | [C] longer,
I | [D7] have no steamship | [G] fare.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
I | [G] do not work for | [C] pleasure;
Earthly | [F] peace I'll see no | [C] more;
The | [F] only reason I | [C] work at all
Is to | [D7] drive the wolf from my | [G] door.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
Instrumental
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [D7] | [G] |
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [G] | [C] |
My | [G] wife controles our | [C] happy home;
My | [F] sweetheart I cannot | [C] find.
The | [F] only thing I can | [C] call my own
Is a | [D7] troubled and a worried | [G] mind.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
| [G] Blues all in my | [C] body;
My | [F] darlin' has forsaken | [C] me.
If I | [F] ever see her | [C] face again
Have to | [D7] swim across that | [G] sea.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
Instrumental
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [D7] | [G] |
| [G] | [C] | [F] | [C] |
| [F] | [C] | [G] | [C] |
| [G] Blues all on the | [C] ocean,
| [F] Blues all in the | [C] air;
| [F] Can't stay here no | [C] longer,
I | [D7] have no steamship | [G] fare.
When my | [G] earthly trials are | [C] over,
Cast my | [F] body out in the | [C] sea;
| [F] Save on the under- | [C] taker bill
Let the | [G] mermaids flirt with | [C] me!
#Play along in this key with this version. (Key of C)
#Last Updated 7/3/18 JJ
Visit UkeboxLessons