| D | A | |
| Intro |
| D | |
| Outer banks of North Carolina |
| lies a sleepy harbor town |
| generations of old sailors |
| G | |
| dropped their sails and | settled down |
| D | |
| sam he is a young seafarer |
| grandson of a schooner man |
| Catherine is a sail makers' daughter |
| G | |
| today he's gonna | take her hand |
| Chorus 1: |
| A | G | A | G | |
| Calm | waters, | wish them | well |
| Em | F# | G | A | D | |
| his | ships' come | in, | she's put the | wind in his | sails |
| D | |
| Catherine is a canvas painter |
| paints the sun and sand and sea |
| lately she's been painting a portrait |
| G | |
| Sam he is a | dad to be |
| Repeat Chorus 1: |
| D | |
| January brought the fever |
| Sam was right there by her side |
| doctor told him son, I'm sorry, |
| G | |
| but Catherine need your | prayers tonight |
| D | |
| Morning light brought Sam a daughter |
| fever took his better half |
| Sam gave Catherine to the water |
| G | |
| as he held their baby | to his chest |
| Chorus 2: |
| A | G | A | G | |
| Calm | waters, | wished him | well |
| Em | F# | G | A | D | |
| his | ship came | in, but | she took the | wind from his | sails |
| Em | F# | G | A | D | |
| his | ship came | in, but | she took the | wind from his | sails |