Standard (EADGBE)
The Great Lakes are a diamond on the hand of North America
Brightly shining jewel on the friendship bordering
Freshwater highway coming down from Canada
All along the shoreline, you can hear them sing
Chorus
Sweet mother Michigan, father Superior
Coming down from Mackinac and Sault St. Marie
Blue water Huron, Flow down to Lake Erie-O
Fall to Ontario and run on out to sea
Hearty are the seamen on the ships that load the iron ore
Sailing out of Thunder Bay and bound for Buffalo
Hearty are the fishermen just like their fathers were before
Say they'll bury me at sea come my time to go
(chorus)
Oh the tales the sailors spin of mermaids singing in the wind
the sinking of the Bessemer, the drowning of the crew
Memories of waters crossed of women won and fortunes lost
Are etched upon their faces and their faded old tatoos
Down below the quarter decks the old men mend the fishing nets
Up above the windy bridge the young men curse into the wind
All along the winds of straits(?) the wives and mothers lie awake
Pray on lady of the lake to send them home again
(chorus)
(chorus)