Obs: Os versos e os refrãos tem os mesmos acordes, na mesma sequência e tempo
Intro:

        (flute doubled with glockenspiel, arr. for guitar)

         v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v
        -8---------------|-------9-8-------
        -----------------|-----------9-----
        -----------------|-------------6---
        -----------------|-----------------
        -----------------|-----------------
        -----------------|-----------------

Verse 1:

            Ab
        We come on the sloop John B
        My grandfather and me
                                  Eb
        Around Nassau town we do roam
                      Ab
        Drinking all night
                    Db    /C Bbm
        Got into a fight
                Ab
        Well I feel so broke up
        Bbm    Eb       Ab
            I wanna go home

Chorus (Os acordes do refrão são iguais os do verso):

        So hoist up the John B's sail [2: (hoist up the John B's sail)]
        See how the mainsail sets [2: (see how the mainsail sets)]
        Call for the Captain ashore, let me go home [2: (let me go home)]
        Let me go home
        I wanna go home, yeah yeah
        Well I feel so broke up
        I wanna go home

Verse 2:

        The first mate he got drunk
        And broke in the Captain's trunk
        The constable had to come and take him away
        Sheriff John Stone
        Why don't you leave me alone, yeah yeah
        Well I feel so broke up
        I wanna go home

[repeat chorus w/acapella break]:

                  [N.C.]
        I wanna go home, let me go home
                                  (Hoist up the John B's sail)
        Why don't you let me go home
                                (Hoist up the John B's sail)
                                                      (Hoist up the John B)

        (instruments re-enter)

        I feel so broke up
        I wanna go home (Let me go home)

Verse 3:

        The poor cook he caught the fits
        And threw away all my grits
        And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
        Let me go [double-time] home
        Why don't they let me go home
        This is the worst trip
        I've ever been on

[repeat chorus to fade]