Em
[Verse 1]
Em D
I had a silver penny and an apricot tree,
C G D
And I said to the sailor on the white quay,
Em D
“Sailor O sailor, will you bring me
C G D
If I give you my penny and my apricot tree?
Em D
A fez from Algeria, an Arab drum to beat,
C G D
And a little gilt sword and a parakeet?”
[Verse 2]
Am C
Well, he smiled and he kissed me as strong as death,
G D
I saw his red tongue and I felt his sweet breath.
Am C
“You may keep your penny and your apricot tree,
G D Em
And I'll bring your presents back from the sea, from over the sea.”
Am C
The ship dipped down on the rim of the sky,
G D Em
And I waited while three long summers went by, three long summers went by.
[Verse 3]
Em D
Then one steel morning on the white quay
C G D
I saw a grey ship come in from the sea.
Em D
Slowly she came across the bay
C G D
And her flashing rigging was shot away.
Am C
And all around her wake the seabirds cried,
G D
And flew in and out of the hole in her side.
Am C
Slowly she came into the path of the sun,
G D Em
I heard the sound of a distant gun, of a distant gun.
[Interlude]
Em D C G D [x2]
[Verse 4]
Em D
Then a stranger came running up to me
C G D
From the deck of the ship, and he said, said he:
Am C
“Are you the boy who would wait by the quay
G D
With a little silver penny and an apricot tree?
Am C
But I've a plum coloured fez and a drum for thee;
G D Em
I’ve got a sword and a parakeet from over the sea.”
[Interlude]
Em D C G D
[Verse 5]
Em D
Where is the sailor with the bold red hair,
C G D
And what is that volley on the bright air?
Am C
And where are the other girls and boys?
G D Em
Why have you brought me children’s toys, brought me children’s toys?
