Preview (partial song; no chords displayed)

The Blessing (of the Fleet)
by Billy Luz Sprague and Jim Weber
copyright 1993 Paragon Music Corp./Skin Horse, Inc./Centergetic Music.
(admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)
ASCAP. All rights reserved.
--Polly_Vedder@GALE.COM
Time: 3/4
G C G D
The ships have been waiting too long in the harbor;
G C D G
A fair wind is calling the fleet to set sail.
G C G D
Ice on the moorings is finally melted;
G C D G / G / D / C
Forgotten's the frost and the winter's last gale.
G C G D
The fishermen come with their nets newly mended
G C D G
And gather their families there on the shore.
G C G D
Children and fathers fall equally silent
D C D / D / D D G / G / C / D
While sweethearts and wives wish for one ... one minute more.
F C G
Then drawing together and bowing their heads
G Am D
for the ones who are sailing away
F C G
The journey is worth every danger they dread,
C D / D / Dsus4 / D
so they stand by the sea and they pray


Chorus
G C D G
May your nets be filled, your compass true
C D
May the wind and the wave be your friend
G C D Em
May you stand the storm, and the hand of the Lord
Am D G / G / D / C
bring you safely to harbor again.
G C G D
Anchors aweigh, let the canvases billow,
G C D G
as full as the hearts of the ones left behind
G C G D
Who watch till the last sail sinks o'er the horizon
G C D G / G / D / C
Then chart their own course through an ocean of time
G C G D
Many are waiting and many must travel
G C D G
And someday we all will sail over the rim.
G C G D
For every hand on the helm helps the calling,
G C D / D / D D G / G / C / D
Some will be fishers and some ... fishers of men.
F C G
So drawing together and bowing our heads
G Am D
for the ones who are sailing away
F C G
The journey is worth every danger we dread,
C D / D / Dsus4 / D
So we stand by each other and pray


Chorus
opt. repeat of Chorus, then on last "again": G / D / C / G / D / G