Artist: Elvis Costello
Song: Shipbuilding
Tabbed by: DJ
24th April 2014

Am    = x02210     Bbdim = x12020    D/A  = x00232    D2     = xx0230
Am7/G = 302010     Dm/F  = xx3231   (G/B) = x2xxxx    Dm     = xx0231
D/F#  = 200232     Cm/Eb = xx1013   (G/A) = x0xxxx    Cm     = x35543
D     = xx0232     D/A   = x00232   (G)   = 3xxxxx   (Gm/Bb) = x1xxxx
Ebm   = xxx342     G     = 320033    G7/F = xx3433    Ebdim  = xx1212
Em    = 022000     C     = x32010    Eb   = xx5343    Em9    = 020002
B7/D# = xx1202     C/E   = 032010    D7   = xx0212
G/D   = xx0003     C/G   = 332010    D4   = xx0233

**********************************************************************

   Am           Am7/G           D/F#            D       (Ebm)
|  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /   /  |


Em         B7/D#     G/D               Bbdim                   D
     Is it worth it,      a new winter coat and shoes for the wife,
Dm/F              Cm/Eb
     And a bicycle on the boy's birthday?
D                     (D/A)       G  
    It's just a rumour that was spread around town,
C                       D           D/F#       G
    By the women and children, soon we'll be shipbuilding!


Em           B7/D#     G/D
     Well, I ask you,      the boy said,
Bbdim                               D
"Dad, they're going to take me to task,
Dm/F              Cm/Eb
      But I'll be back by Christmas!"
D                       (D/A)       G
      It's just a rumour that was spread around town,
C                           D
      Somebody said that someone got filled in...
C/E                    D/F#               
   ...For saying that people get killed in...
C/G                 D/A                  G
   ...The result of this shipbuilding–––––––!


(G/B) (G/A) (G) G7/F              (G/B) (G/A) (G)  Eb
 With  all  the will in the world, div – ing  for dear life,
D7                     G
    When we could be diving for pearls!


   G      (G/F#)   Em           B7/D#           G/D
|  /  /  /   /  |  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  / |

 Bbdim            D             Dm/F           Cm/Eb
|  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  /  |  /  /  /  / |


D                      (D/A)       G
     It's just a rumour that was spread around town,
C                       D
     A telegram or a picture postcard,
C/E                               D/F#
  ...Within weeks they'll be re – opening the shipyards,
C/G                    D/A           G
     And notifying the next of kin, once again!


(G/B) (G/A) (G)    G7/F     (G/B) (G/A) (G)    Eb        D7      G
 It's  all we're skilled in,  we  will   be shipbuilding–––––––,
(G/B) (G/A) (G)  F4                (Gm/Bb) (G/A) (G)  Eb       D4  D  D2
 With  all  the... will in the world, div  – ing  for dear life,
D7                    Em                B7/D#    G/D
    When we could be diving for pearls––––––––––––––––!


 Bbdim         D            Dm            Cm
| /  /  /  / | /  /  /  /  | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |

  D           G              C            D
| /  /  /  / | /  /  /  /  | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |

 C/E          D/F#          C/G          D/A           G
| /  /  /  / | /  /  /  /  | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / | /  /  /  / |


(G/B) (G/A) (G)    G7/F     (G/B)(G/A) (G)     Eb        D7      G
 It's  all we're skilled in,  we   will  be shipbuilding–––––––,
(G/B)(G/A)(G)  F4                 (Gm/Bb)(G/A)(G)  Eb       D4   D  D2
 With all the... will in the world, div – ing for dear life–––––––,
D                                                      (D2)
    When we could be diving for pearls––––––––––––––!
D7                                                     (Ebdim)
    When we could be diving for pearls––––––––––––––!
D7                         Em9
    When we could be div – ing for pearls–––––––––––!


***********************************************************************

There is a rare video of Elvis playing this on guitar,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUCUnHLaduE ,it's the 2nd song at(3:38)

In the verses he uses this progression...
Em[02200]– Em(maj7)[02100] – Em7/D [020000]– C#m7b5 [042000]
but not hitting the bass strings, whereas I've chosen the chords
as played on the album version.

Also, I think, he played the G7/F as [120003] or [12003x]
which I don't find as easy on the ear as the shape in my tab.

Instead of Cm/Eb, he plays a conventional Cm [335543]
with his thumb on the bottom G, but is probably only muting it,
and doesn't appear to hit it.