Last Boat Leaving
Words & Music:
Declan Patrick Aloysius
MacManus (Elvis Costello)
D
Am
B7
Em A
Hush my little one don't cry
so. You know your daddy was bound
to go.
D
A Bm
F#
They took his pride they took
his voice. Don't upset him, now,
don't make a noise.
G
Gm
Bm
G
They said, "You're lucky,
son, you still got the choice."
Last boat leaving.
A D A D A
D
A D
Don't waste your tears it's
not as if I'm in chains
A D A Bm A
A7/A#
Bm
E
I don't want to go, now, it
would be better for you, too
A
(D/F#-tacet)
If you don't look back when we
sail. (Last boat leaving, last
boat leaving)
Hush, my dear, while I whisper
it in your ear.
We're not going to sail
tonight, we're going to disappear.
And it feels like punishment,
but I don't know what for.
Take care of your mother, son,
it's you that she adores.
'Cause no matter how long we
sail, we'll never reach the shore.
Last boat leaving.
A D
A
D A D A D
So, dry your tears, it's not
as if I'm in chains.
A D A Bm A
A7/A# Bm E
When you go to school, son,
you'll read my story in history books,
A
D/F# [tacet]
Only they won't mention my
name (Last boat leaving, last boat
leaving)
(A tacet) (G tacet)
(D dim/F# tacet)
So, hush now, my darling, my
sweet little one.
(A tacet) (G tacet) (D dim/F# tacet)
I hope that you never have to
do what I've done. Do you know
what I've done?
Am
B7
Em
A
Why I'm going away? On the
last boat leaving this stinking town.
Bm G
Bm E
Last boat leaving, itŐs the
last boat leaving.
A#
C
You've had my innocence,
you've had my heartbreak.
Gm
You've taken the place where I
once belonged.
C/E
D Bm A# Gm
D
Now, what more can you take?