Safe In The Harbour chords and lyrics
Written by Eric Bogle. Eric wrote this song for the Canadian folk musician Stan Rogers who tragically died at very young age in an air crash in 1983. The guitar chords are by Marc Fahrbach and it's one of Marc's favorites. Go to Eric Bogle song lyrics with chords . Also recorded by Irish singer Paddy O'Brien. The piano sheet music is included.
Have you (G)stood by the (Bm)ocean, on a (C)diamond-hard (G)morning
And (D)felt the hor(Am)izon stir (G)deep in your (D)soul
Watched the (G)wake of a (Bm)steamer as it (C)cut through blue (G)water
And been (Bm)gripped by a (Am)fever you (G)just can't (D)con(G)trol
Oh to (G)throw off the (Bm)shackles and (C)fly with the (G)seagulls
To (Bm)where green waves (Am)tumble before a (G)driving sea (D)wind
Or to (G)lie on the (Bm)decking on a (C)warm summer's (G)evening
Watch the (Bm)red sun fall (Am)burning, be(G)neath the (D)earth's (G)rim
Chorus
But (G)to every (Bm)sailor, comes (C)time to drop (D)anchor
(G)Haul in the (Bm)sails, and (C)make the lines (D)fast
You (G)deep water (D)dreamer, your (C)journey is (D)over
You're (G)safe in the (D)harbour at (C)last
You're (G)safe in the (D)harbour at (C)last
(G)Some men are (Bm)sailors, but (C)most are just (G)dreamers
Held (D)fast by the (Am)anchors they (G)forge in their (D)minds
Who in their (G)hearts know they'll (Bm)never sail (C)over deep (G)water
To (Bm)search for a (Am)treasure they're a(G)fraid they (D)won't (G)find
So in (G)sheltered (Bm)harbours, they (C)cling to their (G)anchors
(Bm)Bank down their (Am)boilers and (G)shut down their (D)steam
And (G)wait for the (Bm)sailors to re(C)turn with bright (G)treasures
That will (Bm)fan the dull (Am)embers and (G)fire up (D)their (G)dreams
Chorus
And (G)some men are (Bm)schemers who (C)laugh at the (G)dreamers
Take the (D)gold from the (Am)sailors and (G)turn it to (D)dross
They're (G)men in a (Bm)prison, they're (C)men without (G)vision
Whose (Bm)only hor(Am)izon is (G)profit (D)and (G)loss
So when (G)storm clouds come (Bm)sailing a(C)cross your blue (G)ocean
Hold (Bm)fast to your (Am)dreaming for (G)all that your're (D)worth
For as (G)long as there's (Bm)dreamers, there will (C)always be (G)sailors
Bringing (Bm)back their bright (Am)treasures from the (G)corners (D)of (G)earth
Chorus
And (D)felt the hor(Am)izon stir (G)deep in your (D)soul
Watched the (G)wake of a (Bm)steamer as it (C)cut through blue (G)water
And been (Bm)gripped by a (Am)fever you (G)just can't (D)con(G)trol
Oh to (G)throw off the (Bm)shackles and (C)fly with the (G)seagulls
To (Bm)where green waves (Am)tumble before a (G)driving sea (D)wind
Or to (G)lie on the (Bm)decking on a (C)warm summer's (G)evening
Watch the (Bm)red sun fall (Am)burning, be(G)neath the (D)earth's (G)rim
Chorus
But (G)to every (Bm)sailor, comes (C)time to drop (D)anchor
(G)Haul in the (Bm)sails, and (C)make the lines (D)fast
You (G)deep water (D)dreamer, your (C)journey is (D)over
You're (G)safe in the (D)harbour at (C)last
You're (G)safe in the (D)harbour at (C)last
(G)Some men are (Bm)sailors, but (C)most are just (G)dreamers
Held (D)fast by the (Am)anchors they (G)forge in their (D)minds
Who in their (G)hearts know they'll (Bm)never sail (C)over deep (G)water
To (Bm)search for a (Am)treasure they're a(G)fraid they (D)won't (G)find
So in (G)sheltered (Bm)harbours, they (C)cling to their (G)anchors
(Bm)Bank down their (Am)boilers and (G)shut down their (D)steam
And (G)wait for the (Bm)sailors to re(C)turn with bright (G)treasures
That will (Bm)fan the dull (Am)embers and (G)fire up (D)their (G)dreams
Chorus
And (G)some men are (Bm)schemers who (C)laugh at the (G)dreamers
Take the (D)gold from the (Am)sailors and (G)turn it to (D)dross
They're (G)men in a (Bm)prison, they're (C)men without (G)vision
Whose (Bm)only hor(Am)izon is (G)profit (D)and (G)loss
So when (G)storm clouds come (Bm)sailing a(C)cross your blue (G)ocean
Hold (Bm)fast to your (Am)dreaming for (G)all that your're (D)worth
For as (G)long as there's (Bm)dreamers, there will (C)always be (G)sailors
Bringing (Bm)back their bright (Am)treasures from the (G)corners (D)of (G)earth
Chorus
🎶 “Safe in the Harbour” — Guitar Arrangement
Key: D major
Time: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Tempo: ♩ = 104
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
🎸 1️⃣ STRUMMING PATTERN — “Ocean Waltz”
This song moves like slow waves — think oom-cha-cha:
Pattern:
Bass – Down – Down
Count: 1 2 3
Beat 1: pick or pluck the root/bass note (low D, A, or E).
Beats 2–3: soft downstrokes on upper strings.
Keep the rhythm gentle, even, and flowing.
Example (D chord):
e|--2---------2---2---|
B|--3---------3---3---|
G|--2---------2---2---|
D|--0---------0---0---|
A|---------------------|
E|---------------------|
1 2 3
(Bass) Down Down
🎵 2️⃣ CHORDS USED
Chord Fingering Notes
D xx0232 home key
D/F# 2x0232 walking bass
F#m 244222
F#m11 202200 airy variant
A x02220
A/C# x42220 bass lift
A6 x02222 soft movement
A7 x02020
A/F# 202220
G 320003
G9 320203
Gmaj9 320002
G/B x20003
F 133211 (or easy Fmaj7 x33210)
Bm x24432 relative minor
Ebsus4 x68886 used as final passing chord
🎼 3️⃣ CHORD OUTLINE (aligned to your ABC)
Section Lyrics Chords
1 Have you stood by the ocean on a diamond-hard morning A/C# – D – F#m – G9
2 And felt the horizon stir deep in your soul D – F#m – A6 – D
3 Watched the wake of a steamer as it cuts through blue water A7 – D – F#m – G
4 And been gripped by a fever you just can’t control D – A6 – A7 – D
5 Oh to throw off the shackles and fly with the seagulls F#m – G – D – Gmaj9
6 To where green waves tumble before a driving sea wind D – F#m – A7
7 Or to lie on the decking on a warm summer evening A – D – F#m
8 Watch the red sun fall burning beneath the earth’s rim A7 – D
9 But to every sailor comes a time to drop anchor D – F#m – Bm – A
10 Haul in the sails and make the lines fast D – F#m – G – A
11 You deep-water dreamer, your journey’s over A7 – D – F#m11
12 You’re safe in the harbour at last G – D – F#m – G – D – Ebsus4
🎸 4️⃣ FINGERPICKING PATTERN — Soft Rolling Arpeggio (3/4)
For that classic folk texture:
Pattern (one measure): P – i – m – a – m – i
(Thumb, index, middle, ring)
Example (D chord):
D
e|---------2-----------2---|
B|-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|
D|---0----------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
P i m a m i
Example (A chord):
A
e|---------0-----------0---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|
D|---2----------------------|
A|-0------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
Example (F#m chord):
F#m
e|---------2-----------2---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|
D|---4----------------------|
A|-4------------------------|
E|2-------------------------|
🎵 5️⃣ TAB — Intro & First Verse
“Have you stood by the ocean, on a diamond-hard morning…”
A/C# D F#m G9
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------2---2-------2---2-|-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---4---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-4------------------------|-------------------------|-4----------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|2-----------------------|3------------------------|
Have you stood by the ocean, on a diamond-hard morning…
🎵 6️⃣ CHORUS (last verse)
“You deep-water dreamer, your journey’s over / You’re safe in the harbour at last…”
A7 D F#m11 G
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------0-----------0---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---4---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-0------------------------|-------------------------|-4----------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|2-----------------------|3------------------------|
You deep-water dreamer, your journey’s over, you’re safe in the harbour at last
🎧 7️⃣ PERFORMANCE TIPS
Keep the tempo fluid, like waves (slightly rubato).
Use fingerpicking for verses, light strums for emotional peaks.
Add hammer-ons D → Dsus4, and F#m → F#m11 for richness.
On the final “Safe in the harbour…”, slow down and let the D chord ring naturally.
🎵 8️⃣ OUTRO (final cadence)
G D Ebsus4
e|---------3-----------3---|---------2-----------2---|---------6-----------6---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------8---8-------8---8-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----8-------8---8-------|
D|---0----------------------|---0---------------------|---8---------------------|
A|-2------------------------|-------------------------|-6-----------------------|
E|3--------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
You’re safe in the harbour… at last...
Let the final chord (Ebsus4) fade into silence.
Key: D major
Time: 3/4 (slow waltz)
Tempo: ♩ = 104
Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
🎸 1️⃣ STRUMMING PATTERN — “Ocean Waltz”
This song moves like slow waves — think oom-cha-cha:
Pattern:
Bass – Down – Down
Count: 1 2 3
Beat 1: pick or pluck the root/bass note (low D, A, or E).
Beats 2–3: soft downstrokes on upper strings.
Keep the rhythm gentle, even, and flowing.
Example (D chord):
e|--2---------2---2---|
B|--3---------3---3---|
G|--2---------2---2---|
D|--0---------0---0---|
A|---------------------|
E|---------------------|
1 2 3
(Bass) Down Down
🎵 2️⃣ CHORDS USED
Chord Fingering Notes
D xx0232 home key
D/F# 2x0232 walking bass
F#m 244222
F#m11 202200 airy variant
A x02220
A/C# x42220 bass lift
A6 x02222 soft movement
A7 x02020
A/F# 202220
G 320003
G9 320203
Gmaj9 320002
G/B x20003
F 133211 (or easy Fmaj7 x33210)
Bm x24432 relative minor
Ebsus4 x68886 used as final passing chord
🎼 3️⃣ CHORD OUTLINE (aligned to your ABC)
Section Lyrics Chords
1 Have you stood by the ocean on a diamond-hard morning A/C# – D – F#m – G9
2 And felt the horizon stir deep in your soul D – F#m – A6 – D
3 Watched the wake of a steamer as it cuts through blue water A7 – D – F#m – G
4 And been gripped by a fever you just can’t control D – A6 – A7 – D
5 Oh to throw off the shackles and fly with the seagulls F#m – G – D – Gmaj9
6 To where green waves tumble before a driving sea wind D – F#m – A7
7 Or to lie on the decking on a warm summer evening A – D – F#m
8 Watch the red sun fall burning beneath the earth’s rim A7 – D
9 But to every sailor comes a time to drop anchor D – F#m – Bm – A
10 Haul in the sails and make the lines fast D – F#m – G – A
11 You deep-water dreamer, your journey’s over A7 – D – F#m11
12 You’re safe in the harbour at last G – D – F#m – G – D – Ebsus4
🎸 4️⃣ FINGERPICKING PATTERN — Soft Rolling Arpeggio (3/4)
For that classic folk texture:
Pattern (one measure): P – i – m – a – m – i
(Thumb, index, middle, ring)
Example (D chord):
D
e|---------2-----------2---|
B|-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|
D|---0----------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
P i m a m i
Example (A chord):
A
e|---------0-----------0---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|
D|---2----------------------|
A|-0------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
Example (F#m chord):
F#m
e|---------2-----------2---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|
D|---4----------------------|
A|-4------------------------|
E|2-------------------------|
🎵 5️⃣ TAB — Intro & First Verse
“Have you stood by the ocean, on a diamond-hard morning…”
A/C# D F#m G9
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------2-----------2---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------2---2-------2---2-|-------3---3-------3---3-|
G|-----2-------2---2-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---4---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-4------------------------|-------------------------|-4----------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|2-----------------------|3------------------------|
Have you stood by the ocean, on a diamond-hard morning…
🎵 6️⃣ CHORUS (last verse)
“You deep-water dreamer, your journey’s over / You’re safe in the harbour at last…”
A7 D F#m11 G
e|---------0-----------0---|---------2-----------2---|---------0-----------0---|---------3-----------3---|
B|-------2---2-------2---2-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------0---0-------0---0-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----0-------0---0-------|-----0-------0---0-------|
D|---2----------------------|---0---------------------|---4---------------------|---0---------------------|
A|-0------------------------|-------------------------|-4----------------------|-2-----------------------|
E|--------------------------|-------------------------|2-----------------------|3------------------------|
You deep-water dreamer, your journey’s over, you’re safe in the harbour at last
🎧 7️⃣ PERFORMANCE TIPS
Keep the tempo fluid, like waves (slightly rubato).
Use fingerpicking for verses, light strums for emotional peaks.
Add hammer-ons D → Dsus4, and F#m → F#m11 for richness.
On the final “Safe in the harbour…”, slow down and let the D chord ring naturally.
🎵 8️⃣ OUTRO (final cadence)
G D Ebsus4
e|---------3-----------3---|---------2-----------2---|---------6-----------6---|
B|-------0---0-------0---0-|-------3---3-------3---3-|-------8---8-------8---8-|
G|-----0-------0---0-------|-----2-------2---2-------|-----8-------8---8-------|
D|---0----------------------|---0---------------------|---8---------------------|
A|-2------------------------|-------------------------|-6-----------------------|
E|3--------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
You’re safe in the harbour… at last...
Let the final chord (Ebsus4) fade into silence.
Safe in the harbour piano sheet music by Eric Bogle In D Major.
