On A Desert Isle Chords & Tabs

by C.W. Stoneking

[Version Description]
Standard tuning, no capo, key of C. This is an acoustic version C.W. plays--based largely on the guitar tutorial C.W. gives on his YouTube channel.
I used the following two videos below to get the tab done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9JXWhM8QXw--> CW’s live acoustic performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diPQYqnGbIw--> CW giving a guitar lesson
I've provided the chords here with lyrics below the progressions.  Timing is implied
by the spacing between the chords.  I haven't included everything here, but I did add
some little runs and licks that C.W. employs.  It's a bit different whether or not you
play it acoustic or with an electric equipped with a whammy bar as you'll see if you
watch the two videos.  The lyric timing took me some getting used to, but the tab is
pretty spot on, so just play around with it.  He doesn't always play it the same way
anyway, and neither will I, so I see no point in making things note for note.  The videos
will help you understand the flow of the fingerings he uses; he barely even plays some
of these passing chords, it's interesting that he even bothers with some of them--they're
so brief.  Oh, and, like C.W., I have almost no idea what to name most of these chords :)
I believe it was worth my time to figure it out, and I hope you enjoy it.
Cheers! y que tenga un buen día!

[Intro]
    C   Em       F Fdim C     B Bb A                   
e|--8---7-10-8----------8------------10-12-10---------|
B|--8---8--8----10-10---8----12-11-10---------13-10~--|
G|--9---9--X----10--8---9----12-11-10-----------------|
D|-10---9--9----10--9--10----12-11-10-----------------|
A|-10------------8-10--------14-13-12-----------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------|
e|---------7----8--10-----7--8---5--7---3--5---0--3--|
B|--10----10---10---------9------5------3------0-----|
G|--10----10---10--------10------6------4------2-----|
D|--9--------------------10------7------5------3-----|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|

[Verse 1]
(phrase 1)
    C    Em   F  Fdim C    Em EbmDm  F      C      G    G7   
e|------------1----------------------0----------------------|
B|--1---------1-------1--------------0------1-----------3---|
G|--0---------2----2--0----4--3--2---0--0-2-0--2-0---2------|
D|--2----2----3----1--2----5--4--3---3~~----2-----------3---|
A|--3----1---------3--3----7--6--5----------3-----------2---|
E|-------3-----------------------------------------3----3---|
I drifted in doldrums, almost dead, a weedy watery trail.
[Verse 1] phrase 2 (changes after Em/Ebm/Dm slide)
    C    Em   F  Fdim C    Em EbmDm  F      C     G      C    
e|------------1----------------------0-----------------------|
B|--1---------1-------1--------------0------1------------1---|
G|--0---------2----2--0----4-/3-/2---0------0------------0---|
D|--2----2----3----1--2----5-/4-/3---3~~2---2------------2---|
A|--3----1---------3--3----7-/6-/5-------5--3-----2b-----3---|
E|-------3------------------------------------3-5---5-3------|
With a useless rag hangin’ ‘bove my head, not a breath o’ breeze to fill my sail.
[Verse 1] phrase 3 (changes after initial C) from “liftin’ up my spyglass…” @9:58 CW tutorial
    C   Gm7 F Fdim C G#dim Dm Ebm Dm  G7   C                         
e|------0---1---------6-5--5---------------8------------------------|
B|--1---3---1------1--5----6----------8----8----8--7-6-5----1-------|
G|--0---1---2---2--0--6----7-7/9-----10----9--9b--9-8---5-2-0-------|
D|--2-------3---1--2--5---------6-10--9---10----------------2-------|
A|--3-----------3--3-----------------10---10----------------3-------|
E                                                                               
Then liftin’ up my spyglass, ol’ Buckley’s hope, I see somethin’ o’er the waves.

[Verse 1]
(phrase 4) (just like phrase 1) starting “I throwed my things”
    C    Em   F    Fdim C    Em EbmDm  F      C      G    G7   C   
e|------------1------------------------0--------------------------|
B|--1---------1---------1--------------0------1----------------1--|
G|--0---------2----2----0----4--3--2---0--0-2-0--2-0---2-------0--|
D|--2----2----3----1----2----5--4--3---3~~----2-----------3----2--|
A|--3----1---------3----3----7--6--5----------3-----------2----3--|
E|-------3-------------------------------------------3----3-------|
I throwed my things, I left my boat, and swam out on my way.

[Chorus]
@11:44 CW tutorial
  C9/E  F F/C  Dm7   Fdim  Bb  Bbdim   C  Fdim      F#dim    Edim 
e--0----1--1-----------------------------------------------------|
B--3b---1--1---/6--5--9----------------1-------------------------|
G--3----2--2---/5----/7----9-----------0--------------3--4^3--X--|
D--2----3------/6-----9---10--9-7--5-3-2-1-2-1-2~-1-2-2-------3--|
A----------3---/5----/8----7--8--------3--------------4-----4-5--|
E--0-----------------------8-10----------------------------------|
On a
Desert Isle, oh-de-lee-ee-oh-de-lay-ee, soft and sweet, got no shirt

[Chorus]
    Edim              Edim  C  F  C                        
e|-----------------------------1--------------------------|
B|--------------------------1--1--1-----------------------|
G|--0--5--5-4-2-2-----------0--2--0-----------------------|
D|--3--3--------3-----2-----2--3--2-----------------------|
A|--5--5--------5-----1-----3--3--3----    or*5-4-3-2-2---|
E|---------------*2-3-3-----------------------------------|
or shoes upon my feet, out in the middle of the o-o-ocean.
[Chorus] @12:15 CW tutorial (Last 4 lines from “Doin’ my thing…”)
“Doin’ my thing…”
   C9/E F          F      Fdim  C  G7 C  F  F#  E       G7  C  F      G   C   G7    
e|--0---1----------1-------------------------------------------1-0-----------------|
B|--3b--1-1-3------1-2-3-3/6----1--1--1-------------0-2-3---1--3b-3-1-3-3-1---3----|
G|--3---2----3-1-2-2-------5----0-----0------------3--------0--2----2-4---0--------|
D|--2---3----------3-2-3-3/6----2--3--2---1-/2-/3-------3---2--3----------2---3----|
A|-----------3-------------5----3--2--3---3-/4-/5-------2---3-------------3---2----|
E|---------------------------------3--------------------3-------------3-------3----|
Doing my thing, I’m happy just to dream and sing,                            Thumb
out livin’ like a marabout king on a Desert Isle.

[Verse 2]
(phrase 1 & 2)(like intro) @13:25 CW tutorial
    C   Em  F Fdim C     B  Bb A  D9  C        Gaug  
e|--8---7----------8------------------8-----------|-|
B|--8---8--10-10---8----12-11-10--10--8-8-9-10-8--|-|
G|--9---9--10--8---9----12-11-10--10--9--------8--|X|
D|-10---9--10--9--10----12-11-10--9--10--------9--|X|
A|-10-------8-10--------14-13-12--0--10-------10--|-|
E|------------------------------------------------|-|
The shadin' palm trees bend an' sway,
The fish swim 'bout my feet, {1st time}
And a breeze blowin' soft 'pon the cordgrass play,
A lazy old melody, cool an' sweet,  {2nd time}
[Verse 2](phrase 3 from “the sun goes setting…”)
    C    Em   F  Fdim C   Em Ebm Dm  F      C      G    G7   C   
e|------------1----------------------0--------------------------|
B|--1---------1-------1--------------0------1-----------3----1--|
G|--0---------2----2--0----4--3--2---0--0-2-0--2-0---2-------0--|
D|--2----2----3----1--2----5--4--3---3~~----2-----------3----2--|
A|--3----1---------3--3----7--6--5----------3-----------2----3--|
E|-------3-----------------------------------------3----3-------|
As the sun goes sinkin' in a painted sky, My eye's on a pool of light,
[Verse 2] phrase 4 (changes at Em/Ebm/Dm slide)
    C    Em   F  Fdim C     B  Bb A       D9  C                                         
e|------------1-------------------------------8-----------8-10-12-17-15-12--8----------|
B|--1---------1-------1----12-11-10-12-10-10--8-------8-10---------X--X-15--8----------|
G|--0---------2----2--0----12-11-10-10----10--9-7-8-9-------------15-15-15--8----------|
D|--2----2----3----1--2----12-11-10-10----9--10-------------------14-14-14--8----------|
A|--3----1---------3--3----14-13-12-12----0--10----------------------------------------|
E|-------3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Where the stars cast a twinklin' veil on high, Where I sleep out everynight...
Segway to spoken verse @14:35(right after “where I sleep out every night…”)
Dmaj7b5
   Eb6        F6    Fdim C  F  C             Fdim   F#dim       G7 Edim  C  F  C   
e|-8-^10^8--5-1-------------1-----------------------------------------------1-----|
B|-8----------3----6--9-1---1--1---------------------------------3-------1--1--1--|
G|-8----------2----5--7-0-- 2--0--------------3--4^3--X------------------0--2--0--|
D|-8----------3----6--9-2---3--2-1-2-1-2~-1-2-2-------3----------3---2---2--3--2--|
A|-----------------5--8-3---3--3--------------4-----4-5--5-4-3-2-2---2---3--3--3--|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------3---4------------|
“Then one morning…”the silence broke,
As beset by a sea high-horned in waves I awoke,
To find no remnants of that paradise,
What laid about me, were a changed, unfriendly land,
Spoken verse, phase 2 (mostly like Chorus) @15:32 CW tutorial
   C9/E F          F      Fdim  C  G7 C        Dmaj7   D9  G  A  A  D9       G  D7   
e|--0---1----------1---------------------------------------------------7-6-5-3------|
B|--3b--1-1-3------1-2-3-3/6----1--1--1---------/6-5----5--3--------5--5-5-5-3------|
G|--3---2----3-1-2-2-------5----0-----0---------/5---5--5--4--5--4--5--5-5-5-4--5---|
D|--2---3----------3-2-3-3/6----2--3--2-------2-/6------4--0--7--5--4--4-4-4-5--4---|
A|-----------3-------------5----3--2--3---3-4---/5----0-0--0--0--0--0-----------5---|
E|---------------------------------3------------------------------------------------|
From beyond the compass' reach,
I sings this song of water an' dune,
Of wonders strange,
Out of the gloom, there came a sound like cryin' in the night,
My blue ruined eyes I thought lied,
A woman draggin' up, out of that squawlin' tide...
...D7    G
e|----------3-5-6-7--10-7^10^7-/5-/3~--|
B|--3-4-5------------------------------|
G|--5----------------------------------|
D|--4----------------------------------|
A|--5----------------------------------|
E|--------3----------------------------|
Thumb

[Chorus @11:44 CW tutorial]
   C9/E  F F/C  Dm7   Fdim  Bb  Bbdim   C  Fdim      F#dim    Edim 
e|--0----1--1-----------------------------------------------------|
B|--3b---1--1---/6--5--9----------------1-------------------------|
G|--3----2--2---/5----/7----9-----------0--------------3--4^3--X--|
D|--2----3------/6-----9---10--9-7--5-3-2-1-2-1-2~-1-2-2-------3--|
A|----------3---/5----/8----7--8--------3--------------4-----4-5--|
E|--0-----------------------8-10----------------------------------|
On a desert isle, Oh-de-lee-oh-oh-de-lay-ee, tired an' beat,
Writin' “Help” in letters fifteen feet,

[Chorus]
    Edim        G7  Edim    C  F  C       
e|-----------------------------1---------|
B|--------------------------1--1--1------|
G|--0--5--------------------0--2--0------|
D|--3--3---------3--3-------2--3--2------|
A|--5--5-5-4-3-2-2--2-------3-----3------|
E|---------------3--4--------------------|
Out on the beach, beside an o-o-ocean.

[Chorus]

   C9/E F          F      Fdim  C  G7 C  F  F#  E       G7  C  F      G   C   G7    
e|--0---1----------1-------------------------------------------1-0-----------------|
B|--3b--1-1-3------1-2-3-3/6----1--1--1-------------0-2-3---1--3b-3-1-3-3-1---3----|
G|--3---2----3-1-2-2-------5----0-----0------------3--------0--2----2-4---0--------|
D|--2---3----------3-2-3-3/6----2--3--2---1-/2-/3-------3---2--3----------2---3----|
A|-----------3-------------5----3--2--3---3-/4-/5-------2---3-------------3---2----|
E|---------------------------------3--------------------3-------------3-------3----|
Thumb
Woe is me, a cryin baby bouncin' on my knee,
In a little grass shack built for three,
Out on a Desert Isle.

On A Desert Isle Chords & Tabs

by C.W. Stoneking

[Version Description] Standard tuning, no capo, key of C. This is an acoustic version C.W. plays--based largely on the guitar tutorial C.W. gives on his YouTube channel. I used the following two videos below to get the tab done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9JXWhM8QXw--> CW’s live acoustic performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diPQYqnGbIw--> CW giving a guitar lesson I've provided the chords here with lyrics below the progressions. Timing is implied by the spacing between the chords. I haven't included everything here, but I did add some little runs and licks that C.W. employs. It's a bit different whether or not you play it acoustic or with an electric equipped with a whammy bar as you'll see if you watch the two videos. The lyric timing took me some getting used to, but the tab is pretty spot on, so just play around with it. He doesn't always play it the same way anyway, and neither will I, so I see no point in making things note for note. The videos will help you understand the flow of the fingerings he uses; he barely even plays some of these passing chords, it's interesting that he even bothers with some of them--they're so brief. Oh, and, like C.W., I have almost no idea what to name most of these chords :) I believe it was worth my time to figure it out, and I hope you enjoy it. Cheers! y que tenga un buen día! [Intro] C Em F Fdim C B Bb A e|--8---7-10-8----------8------------10-12-10---------| B|--8---8--8----10-10---8----12-11-10---------13-10~--| G|--9---9--X----10--8---9----12-11-10-----------------| D|-10---9--9----10--9--10----12-11-10-----------------| A|-10------------8-10--------14-13-12-----------------| E|----------------------------------------------------| e|---------7----8--10-----7--8---5--7---3--5---0--3--| B|--10----10---10---------9------5------3------0-----| G|--10----10---10--------10------6------4------2-----| D|--9--------------------10------7------5------3-----| A|---------------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------| [Verse 1] (phrase 1) C Em F Fdim C Em EbmDm F C G G7 e|------------1----------------------0----------------------| B|--1---------1-------1--------------0------1-----------3---| G|--0---------2----2--0----4--3--2---0--0-2-0--2-0---2------| D|--2----2----3----1--2----5--4--3---3~~----2-----------3---| A|--3----1---------3--3----7--6--5----------3-----------2---| E|-------3-----------------------------------------3----3---| I drifted in doldrums, almost dead, a weedy watery trail. [Verse 1] phrase 2 (changes after Em/Ebm/Dm slide) C Em F Fdim C Em EbmDm F C G C e|------------1----------------------0-----------------------| B|--1---------1-------1--------------0------1------------1---| G|--0---------2----2--0----4-/3-/2---0------0------------0---| D|--2----2----3----1--2----5-/4-/3---3~~2---2------------2---| A|--3----1---------3--3----7-/6-/5-------5--3-----2b-----3---| E|-------3------------------------------------3-5---5-3------| With a useless rag hangin’ ‘bove my head, not a breath o’ breeze to fill my sail. [Verse 1] phrase 3 (changes after initial C) from “liftin’ up my spyglass…” @9:58 CW tutorial C Gm7 F Fdim C G#dim Dm Ebm Dm G7 C e|------0---1---------6-5--5---------------8------------------------| B|--1---3---1------1--5----6----------8----8----8--7-6-5----1-------| G|--0---1---2---2--0--6----7-7/9-----10----9--9b--9-8---5-2-0-------| D|--2-------3---1--2--5---------6-10--9---10----------------2-------| A|--3-----------3--3-----------------10---10----------------3-------| E Then liftin’ up my spyglass, ol’ Buckley’s hope, I see somethin’ o’er the waves. [Verse 1] (phrase 4) (just like phrase 1) starting “I throwed my things” C Em F Fdim C Em EbmDm F C G G7 C e|------------1------------------------0--------------------------| B|--1---------1---------1--------------0------1----------------1--| G|--0---------2----2----0----4--3--2---0--0-2-0--2-0---2-------0--| D|--2----2----3----1----2----5--4--3---3~~----2-----------3----2--| A|--3----1---------3----3----7--6--5----------3-----------2----3--| E|-------3-------------------------------------------3----3-------| I throwed my things, I left my boat, and swam out on my way. [Chorus] @11:44 CW tutorial C9/E F F/C Dm7 Fdim Bb Bbdim C Fdim F#dim Edim e--0----1--1-----------------------------------------------------| B--3b---1--1---/6--5--9----------------1-------------------------| G--3----2--2---/5----/7----9-----------0--------------3--4^3--X--| D--2----3------/6-----9---10--9-7--5-3-2-1-2-1-2~-1-2-2-------3--| A----------3---/5----/8----7--8--------3--------------4-----4-5--| E--0-----------------------8-10----------------------------------| On a Desert Isle, oh-de-lee-ee-oh-de-lay-ee, soft and sweet, got no shirt [Chorus] Edim Edim C F C e|-----------------------------1--------------------------| B|--------------------------1--1--1-----------------------| G|--0--5--5-4-2-2-----------0--2--0-----------------------| D|--3--3--------3-----2-----2--3--2-----------------------| A|--5--5--------5-----1-----3--3--3---- or*5-4-3-2-2---| E|---------------*2-3-3-----------------------------------| or shoes upon my feet, out in the middle of the o-o-ocean. [Chorus] @12:15 CW tutorial (Last 4 lines from “Doin’ my thing…”) “Doin’ my thing…” C9/E F F Fdim C G7 C F F# E G7 C F G C G7 e|--0---1----------1-------------------------------------------1-0-----------------| B|--3b--1-1-3------1-2-3-3/6----1--1--1-------------0-2-3---1--3b-3-1-3-3-1---3----| G|--3---2----3-1-2-2-------5----0-----0------------3--------0--2----2-4---0--------| D|--2---3----------3-2-3-3/6----2--3--2---1-/2-/3-------3---2--3----------2---3----| A|-----------3-------------5----3--2--3---3-/4-/5-------2---3-------------3---2----| E|---------------------------------3--------------------3-------------3-------3----| Doing my thing, I’m happy just to dream and sing, Thumb out livin’ like a marabout king on a Desert Isle. [Verse 2] (phrase 1 & 2)(like intro) @13:25 CW tutorial C Em F Fdim C B Bb A D9 C Gaug e|--8---7----------8------------------8-----------|-| B|--8---8--10-10---8----12-11-10--10--8-8-9-10-8--|-| G|--9---9--10--8---9----12-11-10--10--9--------8--|X| D|-10---9--10--9--10----12-11-10--9--10--------9--|X| A|-10-------8-10--------14-13-12--0--10-------10--|-| E|------------------------------------------------|-| The shadin' palm trees bend an' sway, The fish swim 'bout my feet, {1st time} And a breeze blowin' soft 'pon the cordgrass play, A lazy old melody, cool an' sweet, {2nd time} [Verse 2](phrase 3 from “the sun goes setting…”) C Em F Fdim C Em Ebm Dm F C G G7 C e|------------1----------------------0--------------------------| B|--1---------1-------1--------------0------1-----------3----1--| G|--0---------2----2--0----4--3--2---0--0-2-0--2-0---2-------0--| D|--2----2----3----1--2----5--4--3---3~~----2-----------3----2--| A|--3----1---------3--3----7--6--5----------3-----------2----3--| E|-------3-----------------------------------------3----3-------| As the sun goes sinkin' in a painted sky, My eye's on a pool of light, [Verse 2] phrase 4 (changes at Em/Ebm/Dm slide) C Em F Fdim C B Bb A D9 C e|------------1-------------------------------8-----------8-10-12-17-15-12--8----------| B|--1---------1-------1----12-11-10-12-10-10--8-------8-10---------X--X-15--8----------| G|--0---------2----2--0----12-11-10-10----10--9-7-8-9-------------15-15-15--8----------| D|--2----2----3----1--2----12-11-10-10----9--10-------------------14-14-14--8----------| A|--3----1---------3--3----14-13-12-12----0--10----------------------------------------| E|-------3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------| Where the stars cast a twinklin' veil on high, Where I sleep out everynight... Segway to spoken verse @14:35(right after “where I sleep out every night…”) Dmaj7b5 Eb6 F6 Fdim C F C Fdim F#dim G7 Edim C F C e|-8-^10^8--5-1-------------1-----------------------------------------------1-----| B|-8----------3----6--9-1---1--1---------------------------------3-------1--1--1--| G|-8----------2----5--7-0-- 2--0--------------3--4^3--X------------------0--2--0--| D|-8----------3----6--9-2---3--2-1-2-1-2~-1-2-2-------3----------3---2---2--3--2--| A|-----------------5--8-3---3--3--------------4-----4-5--5-4-3-2-2---2---3--3--3--| E|---------------------------------------------------------------3---4------------| “Then one morning…”the silence broke, As beset by a sea high-horned in waves I awoke, To find no remnants of that paradise, What laid about me, were a changed, unfriendly land, Spoken verse, phase 2 (mostly like Chorus) @15:32 CW tutorial C9/E F F Fdim C G7 C Dmaj7 D9 G A A D9 G D7 e|--0---1----------1---------------------------------------------------7-6-5-3------| B|--3b--1-1-3------1-2-3-3/6----1--1--1---------/6-5----5--3--------5--5-5-5-3------| G|--3---2----3-1-2-2-------5----0-----0---------/5---5--5--4--5--4--5--5-5-5-4--5---| D|--2---3----------3-2-3-3/6----2--3--2-------2-/6------4--0--7--5--4--4-4-4-5--4---| A|-----------3-------------5----3--2--3---3-4---/5----0-0--0--0--0--0-----------5---| E|---------------------------------3------------------------------------------------| From beyond the compass' reach, I sings this song of water an' dune, Of wonders strange, Out of the gloom, there came a sound like cryin' in the night, My blue ruined eyes I thought lied, A woman draggin' up, out of that squawlin' tide... ...D7 G e|----------3-5-6-7--10-7^10^7-/5-/3~--| B|--3-4-5------------------------------| G|--5----------------------------------| D|--4----------------------------------| A|--5----------------------------------| E|--------3----------------------------| Thumb [Chorus @11:44 CW tutorial] C9/E F F/C Dm7 Fdim Bb Bbdim C Fdim F#dim Edim e|--0----1--1-----------------------------------------------------| B|--3b---1--1---/6--5--9----------------1-------------------------| G|--3----2--2---/5----/7----9-----------0--------------3--4^3--X--| D|--2----3------/6-----9---10--9-7--5-3-2-1-2-1-2~-1-2-2-------3--| A|----------3---/5----/8----7--8--------3--------------4-----4-5--| E|--0-----------------------8-10----------------------------------| On a desert isle, Oh-de-lee-oh-oh-de-lay-ee, tired an' beat, Writin' “Help” in letters fifteen feet, [Chorus] Edim G7 Edim C F C e|-----------------------------1---------| B|--------------------------1--1--1------| G|--0--5--------------------0--2--0------| D|--3--3---------3--3-------2--3--2------| A|--5--5-5-4-3-2-2--2-------3-----3------| E|---------------3--4--------------------| Out on the beach, beside an o-o-ocean. [Chorus] C9/E F F Fdim C G7 C F F# E G7 C F G C G7 e|--0---1----------1-------------------------------------------1-0-----------------| B|--3b--1-1-3------1-2-3-3/6----1--1--1-------------0-2-3---1--3b-3-1-3-3-1---3----| G|--3---2----3-1-2-2-------5----0-----0------------3--------0--2----2-4---0--------| D|--2---3----------3-2-3-3/6----2--3--2---1-/2-/3-------3---2--3----------2---3----| A|-----------3-------------5----3--2--3---3-/4-/5-------2---3-------------3---2----| E|---------------------------------3--------------------3-------------3-------3----| Thumb Woe is me, a cryin baby bouncin' on my knee, In a little grass shack built for three, Out on a Desert Isle.

On A Desert Isle

Save this song

On A Desert Isle

Save this song