1st verse 
C5                                  F5 
He said, I left California back in '76 
D5                  A5 
the music died with Jimi Hendrix 
C5                        G5 
things got crazy in San Francisco 
C5                                 F5 
But thumbin' cross the country, I thought I would freeze 
D5                           A5 
So I followed Buffet to the Florida Keys 
C5                                                     G5 
Where I nearly got busted, with a load,of snow white cargo  
 
2nd verse 
C5                                        F5 
But I picked up this boat, in a illegal deal 
D5                     A5 
You could say, I got a hell of a steal 
C5                                           G5 
But I couldn't stay there, so I headed to Islamado 
C5                      F5 
But as a sea captain, I ain't worth a damn 
D5                 A5 
Out in the ocean I got all turned around 
C5                                              G5 
Then I limped into Bolliver, with a hole in my hull  
 

C5                                         F5 
I said if I ain't sinkin', well I must be swimin'  
D5                 A5 
If I ain't dead, I must be livin' 
C5                                        G5 
Livin' is the thing, that scares me the most 
C5                        F5 
And if I ain't sleepin', well I better be fishin' 
D5                    A5  
If I ain't anchored I will be driftin' 
C5                 F5 
But all and all, I'm doing pretty good, 
G5                      C5 
since I hit my third coast   
 
** play this lick twice before going into the next verse 
 
e-0-0-0-1-- 
b-1-1-1-1-- 
g-0-0-0-2-- 
d-2-0-2-3-- 
a-3-0------ 
e | ---------- 
 
3rd verse 
 
Said I quit the weed, pokin' holes in my arms 
I gotta stay straight, weather these storms 
When they blow in off the gulf, in the fall of the year 
See Port Bolliver, was a blessing to me 
It gave me a chance to give it back to the sea 
I think god every morning when I wake up and  
I'm still here. 
 
2nd chorus  
And I ain't sinkin' So I must be swimin' 
I ain't dead so I must be livin' 
Livin' is the thing that still scares me the most 
And if I ain't sleepin' then I'd better be fishin' 
If I ain't anchored, I will be driftin' 
but all and all, I' doing pretty good 
since I hit my third coast 
 
Solo: 
 
4th verse 
 
So you gotta stand up boy, If you wanna make ends meet 
'cause the ropes to short when your on your knees 
you gotta listen for the ring, if you wanna answer the call. 
'cause fishin' ain't fishin, fishin' ain't fun 
livin' ain't livin' less you feel like you've won 
winning ain't winning if it ain't worth the cost 
 
3rd chorus 
 
See if you ain't sinkin' well your swimin' 
if you ain't dead, your livin' 
livin' is the thing, better scare you the most 
And if you ain't sleepin' well ya better be fishin' 
If you ain't anchored, you will be driftin' 
All and all, you'll be doing pretty good 
when you find your third coast 
when you find your third coast 
 
*spoken 
 
Yea, see ol'Jack he'd roll out of his bunk about 6:30 
in the morning, say, "Larry Joe, I'm gonna teach you how  
to sail today buddy. You gotta get your sea legs under ya.  
You gotta roll with them waves. You gotta get right.  
Lord, you gotta get right." 
 
That's why I left California back in '76 
the music died with Jimi Hendrix.