THE DOWNEASTER "ALEXA"  -       Billy Joel

Intro:
 Am - Em - G - Am        2x

        C           G        Am     
Well I'm on the Down- easter A- lexa
       C              G            F     
And I'm cruising through Block Island Sound.
      F          C            Dm      
I have chartered a course to the Vineyard.
       C         G       F       C - F     
But to- night I am Nantucket bound 

 F         G             C             F       
  We took on diesel back in Montauk yester- day,
 F            G               Am               G/B    
  And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner's Bay.
 F          G                C             F      
  Like all the locals here I've had to sell my home,
 F           G                 Am            G/B      
  Too proud to leave, I worked my fingers to the bone

          C          G         Am    
So I could own my Down- easter A- lexa
      C          G       F            
And I go where the ocean is deep.
         F        C            Dm       
There are giants out there in the canyons.
     C           G            F      C - F        
And a good captain can't fall a- sleep 

 F    G              C                 F     
  I got bills to pay and children who need clothes.
 F             G                 Am             G/B    
  I know there's fish out there but where, God only knows.
 F            G            C                 F      
  They say these waters aren't what they used to be.
 F          G              Am               G/B         
  But I've got people back on land who count on me.

           C           G        Am      
So when you see my Down- easter A- lexa
          C            G          F   
And if you work with the rod and the reel,
       F        C           Dm     
Tell my wife I am trolling At- lantis,
     C            G           F        
And I still have my hands on the wheel.

Instrumental Bridge:
 Am - Em - G - Am        2x
 Em - G - D - Em
 Am - Em - G - Am

     C            G         Am      
Now I drive my Down- easter A- lexa
        C              G         F     
More and more miles from shore ev'ry year,
          F        C            Dm         
Since they told me I can't sell no stripers.
           C         G            F        
And there's no luck in sword fishing here.

 F      G             C             F        
  I was a bayman like my father was be- fore.
 F           G           Am        G/B       
  Can't make a living as a bayman any-  more.
 F               G           C                F      
  There ain't much future for a man who works the sea.
 F                 G              Am            G/B      
  But there ain't no island left for islanders like me.

       C  G  Am    
Ya, ya, yaa aaa yo
       C  G  Am    
Ya, ya, yaa aaa yo
       C  G  Am    
Ya, ya, yaa aaa yo
       C  G  Am    
Ya, ya, yaa aaa yo// 

G/B     x20003

not the 1th version. i added and changed some chords. credit to the others