Toiler on the Sea by The Stranglers Lyric & Guitar Chords

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

TOILER ON THE SEA

-----------------

Transcription by: Richard Stanforth (rtstanforth@hotmail.com)
Date of Transcription: 1st April 2002

This transcription and more is exclusive to and can be found at :-
http://www.geocities.com/strangledchords

intro: bass, notes alternating between A and E.

A D C G A (x2)

guitar solo (repeat twice)

E----------1-1---|---------------------|---------1-1--|------------------|
B------3-3--3----|---------------------|-----3-3--3---|------------------|
G--2-2-----------|--4-0-2--2s4--2------|-2-2----------|--4-0-2--2s4--2---|
D----------------|----------------5-2--|--------------|------------------|
A----------------|---------------------|--------------|------------------|
E----------------|---------------------|--------------|------------------|

E----------------|-------------|-----------------|------------------------|
B----------------|-------------|-----------------|------------------------|
G--5-5-5-4-2-0-2-|-------------|--5-5-5-4-2-0-2--|-0---------0h2p0--------|
D----------------|-4^-2--4^-2--|-----------------|----0h2p0---------0h2p0-|
A----------------|-------------|-----------------|------------------------|
E----------------|-------------|-----------------|------------------------|

A5 C5 G5 (x2)

Bb5 F5 G5 (x2) Bb5 F5

then the following is played, a sort of discordant variation on the main
riff.

E----------------------|---------------------|----------------------|
B----------------------|---------------------|----------------------|
G----------------------|---------------------|----------------------|
D----------------------|---------------------|--4-------4--4--------|
A--2-0---0-2--2-0---0--|-5-4---4-5--5-4-5-4--|----5-4-5------5-4-5--|
E------2----------2----|-----5---------------|----------------------|
E----------------------|
B----------------------|
G----------------------|
D--6-------6--6--------|
A----7-5-7------7-5-7--|
E----------------------|

main verse riff, the bass follows similar:

E----------------------|
B----------------------|
G----------------------|
D----------------------|
A--2-0---0-2--2-0---0--|
E------2----------2----|

for acoustic guitar players, the underlying chord is Bm.

I had a woman ship, I took her overseas
She left her hold unlocked, I had to find a dock
I was a toiler on the sea, I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea, I was a toiler on the sea

E Bm E A (x2)

We didn’t use cruel words, to navigate cruel seas
The wind was biting hard, at times I had to scream
I was a toiler on the sea, I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea, I was a toiler on the sea

E Bm E A (x2) Bm

And when we reached the land we went
Aground on the rocks Became a wreck in the sand became
A home for a flock We ventured overland Fought with the
Aliens The young ones used their hands Pointed the
Way to a flock A flock of seagulls A flock of
Seagulls

Bm (main riff, discordant variation).

Then we retraced our steps, rebuild the woman ship
I took her back up north, I lost her in the fog
I was a toiler on the sea, I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea, I was a toiler on the sea

(repeat until fade).