Bobby Shafto - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

This well known children's nursery rhyme was, oddly, used by Robert Shafto, an eighteenth century politician from the North-East of England, during his electioneering.  See this article for more information.

Chords

E
Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,

B7
Silver buckles on his knee;

E
He'll come back and marry me,

B7                  E
Bonny Bobby Shafto.




E
Bobby Shafto's tall and slim,

B7
Always dressed so neat and trim,

E
All the lasses smile at him -

B7                  E
Bonny Bobby Shafto.




E
Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,

B7
Silver buckles on his knee;

E
He'll come back and marry me,

B7                  E
Bonny Bobby Shafto.



E
Bobby Shafto's bright and fair,

B7
Combing down his yellow hair;

E
He's my love for evermore,

B7                  E
Bonny Bobby Shafto.



E
Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,

B7
Silver buckles on his knee;

E
He'll come back and marry me,

B7                  E
Bonny Bobby Shafto.

For a little variation, you can try playing a C#m chord in the middle of the third line of every verse (for example, over the word 'marry').  This will lend the song a slightly more melancholy and subtle air.

Lyrics

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shafto.

Bobby Shafto's tall and slim,
Always dressed so neat and trim,
All the lasses smile at him -
Bonny Bobby Shafto.

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shafto.

Bobby Shafto's bright and fair,
Combing down his yellow hair;
He's my love for evermore,
Bonny Bobby Shafto.

Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
Silver buckles on his knee;
He'll come back and marry me,
Bonny Bobby Shafto.