Ships "Big Country" - Easy Songs https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:35:14 +0000 wpForo 60 Re: Ships "Big Country" https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-323704 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:02:53 +0000 Easy Songs cwabbott68 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-323704 Re: Ships "Big Country" https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322287 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:10:12 +0000
All thanks please to Colin Dawson who tabbed this one out
"Ships" by Big Country From the Album "The Buffalo Skinners" Tab by Colin Dawson - colin_g_dawson@hotmail.com - December 2004 Updated 24 June 2005 - subtle changes to the fretting and fingering of the solos. Comments and corrections welcome! For more information about Big Country visit www.bigcountry.co.uk h = hammer p = pull s = slide sd = slide down r = let ring (sustain) Note; Stuart Adamson played this song using a Fender Telecaster B-Bender. Since few of us will have such a specialised and unusual instrument, we just have to bend the strings in the normal way. It's quite playable without the B-Bender. Verse 1; Em D G C G Look at him now another used man D C G Am D C Wearing the passing of his dignity with all the courage that he can Em D G C G He stood in the storm, carved out in stone D C G Am D He said I've worn my honesty with pride in everything I've done C G D G E|----------------------| B|----------------------| G|--------0-----0-------| D|------2-----0-----0---| A|0-2-3-----2-----0-----| E|--------------------3-| Chorus; G C G So where were you when my ship went down? Em C G Where were you when I ran aground? G C G Where were you when I turned it around? Em C G Where were you when they burned me down? Chorus; G C G So where were you when my ship went down? Em C G Where were you when I ran aground? G C G Where were you when I turned it around? Em C G Where were you when they burned me down? Note: (The "0b2" at the end of this riff is played by plucking the open A string and then pressing on the string between the nut and the machines to produce the bend. The alternative to this is to pull on the tremolo or play position 5 on the bottom E string and bend the string with your fingers) C G D Em E|-------------------------------------| B|----8-----8----------0---------------| G|7h9---9-9---9p7--2h4---4-2p0---------| D|-----------------------------2p0-----| A|---------------------------------0b2-| E|-------------------------------------| Verse 2; Em D G C G Look at her now, all tired and worn D C G Am D C She never thought her life would come to be so cold or so alone Em D G C C G She walked in the light. Fought bondage for love D C G Am D She said I cast off the chains that I was born with but it never was enough C G D G E|----------------------| B|----------------------| G|--------0-----0-------| D|------2-----0-----0---| A|0-2-3-----2-----0-----| E|--------------------3-| Chorus; G C G So where were you when my ship went down Em C G Where were you when I ran aground? G C G Where were you when I turned it around? Em C G Where were you when they burned me down? C Em Silent souls washed upon the shores G C D Left to walk the sands evermore, evermore Guitar solo; G C G Em C G E|--------10---------------------------------7-----------------------| B|-8-10b12--10b12b10p8-------------------8b10-8b10b8-----------------| G|7-------------------9sd-5-7b9b7-5-7---7-----------9p7--5-7b9b7-5-7-| D|-----------------------5-------------9----------------5------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------| Oh now where were you G C G Em C G E|--------10---------------------------------7-----------------------| B|-8-10b12--10b12b10p8-------------------8b10-8b10b8-----------------| G|7-------------------9sd-5-7b9b7-5-7---7-----------9p7--5-7b9b7-5-7-| D|-----------------------5-------------9----------------5------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------| When my ship went down G C G Em C G E|------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------8-10-8h10p8-7------------------| G|----7-9-7h9p7---7--7h9-9-7h9p7--7h9--------------9-7-7h9-9-7h9p7--| D|7h9-----------9---9-----------9---------------------------------9-| A|------------------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------------------------------| G C G Em C G C E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------8-10-10b12b10p8-8-10b12b10p8-8-8h10-8h10p8rrr| G|----7-9-7h9p7---7--7h9-9-7h9p7--7h9---------------9------------9----------------| D|7h9-----------9---9-----------9-------------------------------------------------| A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| C G D Em E|-------------------------------------| B|----8-----8----------0---------------| G|7h9---9-9---9p7--2h4---4-2p0---------| D|-----------------------------2p0-----| A|---------------------------------0b2-| E|-------------------------------------| Verse 3; Em D G C G Look at us now just chasing our lives D C G Am D C Make like the saviours of the planet we're just trying to get by Em D G C G You may walk the line now you may see it all through D C G Am D But I know you cry yourself to sleep at night just wondering what to do C G D G E|----------------------| B|----------------------| G|--------0-----0-------| D|------2-----0-----0---| A|0-2-3-----2-----0-----| E|--------------------3-| Chorus; G C G So where were you when my ship went down Em C G Where were you when I ran aground? G C G Where were you when I turned it around? Em C G Where were you when they burned me down? Chorus; G C G So where were you when my ship went down Em C G Where were you when I ran aground? G C G Where were you when I turned it around? Em C G Where were you when they burned me down? G C G Em C G E|--------10---------------------------------7-----------------------| B|-8-10b12--10b12b10p8-------------------8b10-8b10b8-----------------| G|7-------------------9sd-5-7b9b7-5-7---7-----------9p7--5-7b9b7-5-7-| D|-----------------------5-------------9----------------5------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------| G C G Em C G E|--------10---------------------------------7-----------------------| B|-8-10b12--10b12b10p8-------------------8b10-8b10b8-----------------| G|7-------------------9sd-5-7b9b7-5-7---7-----------9p7--5-7b9b7-5-7-| D|-----------------------5-------------9----------------5------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------| G C G Em C G E|------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------8-10-8h10p8-7------------------| G|----7-9-7h9p7---7--7h9-9-7h9p7--7h9--------------9-7-7h9-9-7h9p7--| D|7h9-----------9---9-----------9---------------------------------9-| A|------------------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------------------------------| G C G Em C G E|------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------8-10-10b12b10p8-8-10b12b10p8-8-| G|----7-9-7h9p7---7--7h9-9-7h9p7--7h9---------------9------------9--| D|7h9-----------9---9-----------9-----------------------------------| A|------------------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------------------------------| For the next bit of the solo I've used the following shorthand abbreviations to make it easier to read and write; 2 = 12th fret 3 = 13th fret 4 = 14th fret 5 = 15th fret 6 = 16th fret 7 = 17th fret 8 = 18th fret 9 = 19th fret G C G E|--5-7-9p5-7p5-5-9p5-7p5-5-9p5-7p5-5-7b9b7p5-5-| B|7------------7---------7---------7---------7--| G|----------------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------| Em C G E|4-4h5p4----------------------------------| B|-------5-3p2-3p2---2---------------------| G|-----------------4---4-2h4p2-2-4b6b4p2-2-| D|----------------------------4---------4--| A|-----------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------| G C G E|------------------2h4-5-4-2h4p2---------------------| B|-------------2h3p2-------------5-2b3b2---2----------| G|--------2h4p2--------------------------4---4-2rr----| D|---2h4p2----------------------------------------4sd-| A|2h4-------------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------------| (Back to normal tab for this bit - no shorthand) Em C G E|----------------------------------| B|-12rrr-12rrr-12rrrsd--------------| G|-12b14-12b14-12b14sd--------------| D|----------------------7b9b7p5-5rr-| A|-----------------------------7----| E|----------------------------------| G C G Em C G G C G Em C G E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| Ah na where were you Chorus; G C G So where were you when my ship went down Em C G Where were you when I ran aground? G C G Where were you when I turned it around? Em C G C G D Where were you when they burned me down? C G D Em E|-------------------------------------| B|----8-----8----------0---------------| G|7h9---9-9---9p7--2h4---4-2p0---------| D|-----------------------------2p0-----| A|---------------------------------0b2-| E|-------------------------------------| G D C D Gsus G Dsus D G E|7------5--------3-------8-7---0-3--0-3-2----8--7---3-2------------------------------------| B|8-8----7-7------5-------8-8---3-3--3-3-3----8--8---3-3---15b17-15-------------------------| G|7---7--7---7----5-------7-7---2-2--2-2-2----7--7---2-2------------14b16b14p12h14-14b16rrr-| D|-------------7----------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Chords: CHORD | E A D G B E Am | 0 0 2 2 1 0 C | 3 3 2 0 1 0 C | 3 3 5 5 5 3 D | 2 0 0 2 3 2 D | 5 5 7 7 7 5 Dsus | X X 0 2 3 3 Em | 0 2 2 0 0 0 G | 3 5 5 4 3 3 G | X X X 7 8 7 Gsus | X X X 7 8 8 I did warn you that it was a little involved...But it is spot on]]> Easy Songs Rodders https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322287 Re: Ships "Big Country" https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322191 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 13:43:10 +0000 I was really shocked when he killed himself, he seemed to have it all. John Peel described him as Jimmy Paige of his generation.

Would be great if you could put the solo up as well. I know the song well.

I have this, It still needs a bit of work but will certainly get you going
Winter Sky Intro X4 E|------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------| G|----6---6---7---7---9---9---7---6---| D|---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--| A|--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-----| E|------------------------------------| Verse - repeat throughout E|-------------------| B|------10--10---10--| G|----9--------9-----| D|--7----------------| A|-------------------| E|-------------------| Post chorus riff - played with distortion/overdrive E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|--------7--10--7----------------------------7--10--7--------7--10--7-----| G|--6--9------------6--6--9--6-----6----6--9------------6--9------------9--| D|------------------------------9------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|--------7--10--7----------------------------7--10--7--------7--10--7-----| G|--6--9------------6--6--9--6-----6----6--9------------6--9------------7--| D|------------------------------9------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| OK I will put the solo up for "Ships" but I will have to edit a bit first as it can be a bit confusing at first glance.

Like you I have also seen them on numerous occasions and loved every minute.
In my opinion the definitive band of the 80's, better than U2, Ultravox, Duran Duran, or any other band from that era you dare to think about way back then.]]> Easy Songs Rodders https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322191 Re: Ships "Big Country" https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322177 Sat, 28 Feb 2009 02:43:39 +0000 I was really shocked when he killed himself, he seemed to have it all. John Peel described him as Jimmy Paige of his generation.

Would be great if you could put the solo up as well.]]> Easy Songs jase36 https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322177 Re: Ships "Big Country" https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322155 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:25:57 +0000
If you've got the solo tabbed out I'll definitely have a copy


A :-)]]> Easy Songs Alan Green https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-322155 Ships "Big Country" https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-35163 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:53:22 +0000
I have always loved Big Country's music and always rated the late Stuart Adamson as one of our better guitarists. There is a beautiful solo in this song, really melodic, fantastic tone almost country sounding. Probably due to the Telecaster.
Heres the song
Ships EM Look at him now C G C G Another used man G C Wearing the passing of his dignity D C With all the courage that he can EM He stood in the storm C G CG Carved out in stone G C He said I've worn my honesty with pride D C In everything I've done G C G So where were you when my ship went down EM C G Where were you when I ran aground G C G Where were you when I turned it around EM C G C Where were you when they burned me down EM Look at her now C G CG All tired and worn G C She never thought her life D Would come to be so cold or so alone EM She walked in the light C G CG Fought bondage for love G C She said I cast off the chains that I was born with D But it never was enough CHORUS C G Silent souls washed upon the shores C Left to walk the sands C D Evermore, evermore EM C G CG Look at us now, just chasing our lives G C Make like the saviors of the planet D We're just trying to get by EM You may walk the line C G CG You may see it all through G C I know you cry yourself to sleep at night D Just wondering what to do I have the solo tabbed out but its quite involved for the ESD.
but if anybody would like it I'll put it up

Here is the obligatory link to the song on youtube.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Acj_zKWZs



Stuart Adamson, 11 April 1958 – 16 December 2001]]> Easy Songs Rodders https://guitarnoise.forum/easy-songs/ships-big-country/#post-35163