Nautical Disaster Guitar Tab

Day For Night Tabs:

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redgreen@io.org (redgreen)
Nautical Disaster (Tragically Hip)


Richard Tarkka posted the chord progression for this song a while ago.  Here
are the lyrics & chords together:

Nautical Disaster                             The Tragically Hip

Em-D-G-D-Em-D-C-D

           Em             D            G
I had this dream where I relished the fray 
        D                Em          D        C       D
and the screaming filled my head all day.  
          Em              D                  G
It was as though I'd been spit here, settled in, 
         D           Em            D          C
into the pocket of a lighthouse on some rocky socket, 
        D                      Em       D
off the coast of France, dear.
         G                   D               Em    D
One afternoon, four thousand men died in the water here 
    C            D                   Em       D         G
and five hundred more were thrashing madly as parasites might 
   D            Em       D       C       D
in your blood.  

               Em              D                 G
Now I was in a lifeboat designed for ten and ten only, 
   D                Em                 D
anything that systematic would get you hated. 
     C                D          Em                D      G     D
It's not a deal nor a test nor a love of something fated-(uh).  
              Em                      D          G
The selection was quick, the crew was picked (in order) 
    D                 Em        D              C         D
and those left in the water got kicked off our pantleg 
       Em                   G       C      D
and we headed for home.

Em     G      C     D

         Em                  D                      G
Then the dream ends when the phone rings, you doing alright 
             D              Em
he said it's out there most days and nights, 
    D      C              D
but only a fool would complain.  
   Em  D             G               D
Anyway Susan, if you like, our conversation 
      Em         D           C       D
is as faint as a sound in my memory, 
         Em         D              G          D    Em    D   C   D
as those fingernails scratching on my hull.


Em    G    C    D  (repeat)

-- 
redgreen@io.org

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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture Failure by Desi Average	#1 by Failure by Design at Nov 16, 1971 at 7:21 AM EST
	its about the battle of Dieppe, where the British army, most of them Canadian, attacked a shore of France. They thought they could surprise attack but they arrived late and un organized and the Germans were waiting for them heavily, and slaughtered them big time. It was the most onesided battle of WWII. The Hip are canadian, in fact there from my hometown and the singer went to my highschool. anyways they wrote this song about a veteren having a dream about his days at Dieppe. Im not a big fan of TTH but this song is so good i give it 10 out of 10 easily. Its a chilling and powerful song

No Picture _Heretic_ Wanna Be	#2 by _Heretic_ at Aug 25, 1973 at 11:48 AM EST
	Yea The Hip def. have such a unique sound that it's hard for some people to get used to, but I think even non-Hip fans have to admit that this song absolutely rocks their socks off. I LOVE IT. I think it's my fav. hip song, altho I've probably said that to like 8 dif. songs. I WANNA MARRY THIS SONG. Gord, I don't know if it's legal over in Canada, but WILL YOU MARRY ME!?

No Picture Senour Average	#3 by Senour Dakota at Jan 13, 1975 at 12:18 AM EST
	This song is not about the Dieppe raid, nor is it "about" any other disaster. It is about a relationship that went bad, and the nautical disaster, occurring in a dream, is a metaphor for the relationship. The metaphorical disaster need not correspond to any real event. Whether it does will always be a matter of debate, as the lyric gives no concrete evidence. Certainly, the disaster is not the Dieppe raid. Dieppe was a military disaster, not a nautical one; the dead died on the beach, not in the water; the total Canadian dead numbered 907 (with 1,946 taken prisoner), not 4,000; the raid took place in the morning, not "one afternoon"; it occured on, not off, the coast of France; and the survivors weren't abandoned. The sinking of the Bismarck is the most popular candidate for the "real" disaster, but few of the facts agree with the song. The Bismarck was sunk some 600 miles from France, in the open ocean; the ship sank in the morning, not in the afternoon; and the crew was just over 2,000, not 4,500. The only fact that agrees is the important one: that the survivors were abandoned, because of concerns that U-Boats lurking in the area might have sunk ships dallying to rescue the survivors. It is very hard to find a nautical disaster that actually did drown 4,500, as few ships carry that many people. (Even the Titanic sinking drowned only 1,500 or so). But there is one candidate: the obscure sinking of the troopship Lancastria in 1940 as it took on Allied troops retreating from France. The Lancastria went down in the afternoon, at anchor off the French port of Ste. Nazaire, and although the exact casualty count isn't known, it is believed that 3,000 to 6,000 drowned because of a lack of lifeboats. The facts correspond very closely, but the sinking is an obscure, little known one, so this could be simple coincidence. One notable fact is that the sinking is obscure because Churchill cast a veil of secrecy over it, including a gag order given to survivors. Whether the disaster in question was the Bismarck or the Lancastria doesn't really matter. Downie could have mixed up the facts around the Bismarck, and he may never have heard of the Lancastria. The only thing that makes the two sinkings interesting is that they suggest alternative interpretations of the song. Very little actually happens in the song. We have our narrator recounting the details of a horrific dream (to a person he addresses as "dear"), and how he was interrupted by a telephone call. This call is apparently from a third party (he said it's out there), although sometimes Downie sings "you," suggesting the caller was the same person he is addressing. Finally, the narrator assures "Susan" (who we have to assume is also the person addressed as "dear") that he barely remembers their conversation -- but by suggesting that the conversation is as faint as his vivid dream, he also suggests that his assurance is false. There isn't enough here to pin a specific meaning on the song. The disaster may represent a breakup, or merely a fight (as "I relished the fray/and the screaming filled my head all day" suggests). The assurance offered Susan may be at her behest (as "if you like" suggests, like Churchill's gag order to the Lancastria's survivors), or it may not. The phone call may be from a third party, in line with the printed lyrics, or from Susan herself, in line with the sung (or at least, heard) lyrics. Perhaps he abandons the survivors by choice, as in the Bismarck sinking, or perhaps because he is incapable of rescuing them all, as in the Lancastria sinking. Regardless, what the lyric leaves us with is the survivor of some relationship disaster assuring his partner (or former partner) that all is forgotten, when clearly it isn't.

No Picture Ŧøn¥ Average	#4 by Ŧøn¥ PiNeDa at Jan 31, 1976 at 4:29 AM EST
	Yea The Hip def. have such a unique sound that it's hard for some people to get used to, but I think even non-Hip fans have to admit that this song absolutely rocks their socks off. I LOVE IT. I think it's my fav. hip song, altho I've probably said that to like 8 dif. songs. So true. My friend hates the Hip with a passion(I know it is absurd) but the other day I got him to confess that he likes Nautical Disaster, New Orleans is Sinking, and Hundredth Meridian.

No Picture Aleksandar Average	#5 by Aleksandar Radošević at May 1, 1977 at 9:45 PM EST
	Good stuff. I can't say that the Hip are my favorites, but this is a good one. "our conversation is as faint as a sound in my memory, /as those fingernails scratching on my hull" crazy, crazy stuff. Good music, good lyrics.

No Picture Super Average	#6 by Super Q at Sep 14, 1980 at 7:28 AM EST
	I won't go too deep other than this is my favourite Hip song, maybe favourite song ever. The guitar and lyrics are so dark and dreary, you almost feel your drowning in them as the lyrics suggest. Anyway, heard it live a couple of times, the better version made it to Live Between Us from Detroit, MI. Gord adds lyrics at the end, but it seems to work. Ended the show with it. Fantastic.

No Picture Basstard Professional	#7 by Basstard at Apr 30, 1981 at 7:57 PM EST
	THIS SONG IS ABOUT DIEPPE!!!! I was at "Another Roadside Attraction" in the summer of 1993 and Gord (I quote) said "This song goes out to the greatest Canadian Killer of all time.... Sir Winston Churchhill" when introducing this song. I think it was one of the first times they played the song as the album (this song was on) didn't get released until later on in the fall.

No Picture The Four String Lead Player	#8 by The Four String Mother Fucker at Dec 28, 1982 at 11:39 AM EST
	"the other problems in his life are much more significant than the conversation between him and Susan." I think you misinterpreted this. The narrator compares the faintness of this conversation to his fallen comrades' desperate fingernails scratching on his own hull. You have to imagine that this horrible scene of carnage sticks out in his memory, and his conversation with 'susan' (generic woman name) is as vivid as that is. Contrary to what fsfwannabe said, I think these two images are the most significant ones in his life.

No Picture dylan Average	#9 by dylan markus at Apr 17, 1985 at 4:10 PM EST
	well, if you get the live version, gord starts it off saying this, "i'm turning this song into a movie, staring peter o'toole as the lighthouse attendant, and jodie foster in the role of susan, its called the nurse patient" could refer to an old man telling his story to his attendee,

No Picture black Rhythm Player	#10 by black rose at Dec 11, 1987 at 4:18 PM EST
	This song simply rocks! And I don't just mean rocks in a "yeah, it's good" sense -- these boys know how to rock out. The vocals are great, and they have two guitars. I'm not doing the song justice. Just go check it out!

No Picture D.J Wanna Be	#11 by D.J Mortensen at Jan 8, 1990 at 2:47 PM EST
	The protagonist in this song is using a metaphor to a harrowing shipwreck to reflect that the other problems in his life are much more significant than the conversation between him and Susan. I tend to think that he feels that he's being pulled away from something important by her interruption.

No Picture jordan Wanna Be	#12 by jordan at Aug 23, 1991 at 9:39 PM EST
	I think this song is about what it's like to have to end a relationship with someone to save yourself. Sometimes, no matter how much you care about someone or want the relationship to work, the cold, hard facts are that it's not going to work.

No Picture Jordan Wanna Be	#13 by Jordan Ivory-Marcotte at Jan 4, 1993 at 3:33 PM EST
	This is the best Tragically Hip song. It is about the invasion at Dieppe, where so many lives, mostly Canadian lives, were lost. This is one of my favourite songs of all time. My hat goes of to the Hip for doing this song.

No Picture Gabe Professional	#14 by Gabe Hawkins at Dec 7, 1994 at 9:34 AM EST
	I THINK IS DEFINETELY ABOUT THE END OF A CATASTROPHIC RELATIONSHIP. THE LIFE BOAT IS HIM TRYNG TO SURVIVE THE RELATIOSHIP AND GETTING ASHORE TO GET OVER IT. I had this dream where I relished the fray and the screaming filled my head all day. HE IS/WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED. AS WHEN YOU ARE FINISHING A RELATIONSHIP. ASKING ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS AND RECALLING HURTFULL CONVERSATIONS TRYING TO FIND HIDDEN MEANINGS TO HELP HIM UNDERSTAND THE BAD BREAKUP. It was as though I had been spit here, settled in into the pocket of a lighthouse on some rocky socket, off the coast of France, dear. FINALLY HAS FOUND PEACE ASHORE - LIGHTHOUSE MIGHT BE A REFERENCE TO REASON - REGAINING REASON - THE BOAT WAS SAVED One afternoon, four thousand men died in the water here and five hundred more were thrashing madly as parasites might in your blood. 4000 MEN DIED IN THE WATER - 4000 ILLUSIONS THAT YOU HAD ABOUT HER AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP. THEY DROWNED. 500 HUNDRED MORE ARE IN THE WATER - AGONIZING - FIGHTING TO GET BACK ON THE BOAT. HIS IS FIGHTING TO KEEP THEM OFF THE BOAT TO LET THEM DROWN TOO BUT HAS DIFFICULTY DOING IT Now I was in a lifeboat designed for ten and ten only, anything that systematic would get you hated. It's not a deal not a test nor a love of something fated. (Death) The selection was quick, the crew was picked and those left in the water were kicked off our pant leg and we headed for home. THE REMAINING ILLUSIONS ONLY THE IMPORTANT ONES WERE SELECTED TO SURVIVE TO GET HIM THORUGH THE BREAKAGE. I.E. SENSE OF WORTH, NONE OF THE ONES OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WOULD PULL HIM BACK TO IT. HEADED FOR HOME - REGAINED REASON WILL TO LIVE. Then the dream ends when the phone rings, you're doing alright he said it's out there most days and nights,but only a fool would complain. Anyway Susan, if you like, our conversation is as faint as a sound in my memory, as those fingernails scratching on my hull. HE IS TALKING TO SUSAN IN HIS HEAD (HIS GIRLFRIEND)- TRYING TO CONVICE HIMSELF THAT GETTING OUT OF THAT DESTRUCTIVE RELATION WAS THE SMARTEST THING. BUT IS STILL FEELS THOSE FEELINGS – HE IS OK BUT STILL TROUBLED – RECOVERING – THE ILLUSIONS ARE TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE BOAT.

No Picture Mauro Wanna Be	#15 by Mauro Leon at Sep 20, 1996 at 6:51 AM EST
	Few believe that the song is about a single theme, but it seems that one theme may be about the raid on Dieppe during World War II. Dieppe was a daylight, pre-D-day raid of a German held port on the coast of France. In the assault, carried out by Canadian troops, nearly 4000 men were killed out of a force of about 4800. The lyrics to "Nautical Disaster" are extremely close to these facts. Gord Downie himself has alluded to the fact that the song is one long metaphor for a failed relationship, but the literal meaning has ties to Dieppe.

No Picture Zack Wanna Be	#16 by Zack Volm at Sep 10, 1997 at 10:52 AM EST
	This is a great song...It's about a bad relationship where the nautical disaster is the metaphor...whatever anybody think it means, it's still a great song.

No Picture ` niki * Average	#17 by ` niki * at Sep 5, 1999 at 1:16 AM EST
	The Hip are wicked. Canada is the best country ever. This is my fav Hip song and I love it. I was told it was about the Titanic but it being about the Battle of Dieppe makes a lot more sense. The lyrics and music and superb.

No Picture Mike Average	#18 by Mike Murphy at Mar 18, 2001 at 5:59 AM EST
	This song is creepily amazing. I don't know how else to put it. The lyrics are frighteningly visual, and the aggression of the music and guitar just adds to the dark sense of the song. The way the song ends off with a quiet guitar riff just adds to the total sense of eerieness. Very well melded song between the lyrics and tune. And yes, there is no doubt about whether this song has references to the battle of Dieppe or not - TTH said it did, so it does. What else could a Canadian band talk about that is even close to this?

No Picture Max Average	#19 by Max Benton at Feb 10, 2005 at 10:58 AM EST
	Well, whatewver it is about, one things can be certain. Canadian Bands know how to sing it. I think that because Canadians are often not required to sing about Love as part of their contracts it generates such an odd tpye of music. Most of it humourous, but some, if not most, are downright political or estranged. The Canadian who should be noted for sheer poetic genius is Leonard Cohen. Though, the Hip, and Gord, reach deep into me and define a sense of who I am as a Canadian. We know we are American jokes. We seem cowardly or whiney. But we are honourable, honest and resolute. We know that to act out of fear is to make mistakes. I could go on forever. Sufficed to say this song hits deep inside you.