Nov202020

Sam Smith – The Lighthouse Keeper Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
C  F  C
C  F  C
C  F  C
C  F  C

[Verse 1]
                 C
Build yourself a boat, babe
F             C
Make yourself a sail
F              Am
Float into the ocean
   F C
To nowhere
F                  C
Yeah, I see you're looking
F             C
Looking for a sign
F             Am
Praying for a beacon
   F          C
So here's the light

[Pre-Chorus]
   D7        Fm      C
My arms will be wide open
        D7     Fm    C       G
For the moment you arrive, arrive

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[Chorus]
C
When you set sail on your journey
                 D    G
And happiness is far away
C
Love will guide you 'til the morning
                     D     G
Lead your heart down to the bay
C
Don't resist the rain and storm
     F               D       G
I'll never leave you lost at sea
C      F       E          Am
I will be your lighthouse keeper
F                G       C
Bring you safely home to me
C      F       E          Am
I will be your lighthouse keeper
F                G       C
Bring you safely home to me

[Verse 2]
                   C
Yeah, I see you're lonely
F         C
Going in alone
F           Am
Fire up the engine
F         C
Stoke the coal
F             C
Floating on a feeling
F                 C
Fighting with the tide
F              Am       F         C
Hope you'll be home for Christmas time

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Pre-Chorus]
   D7        Fm      C
My arms will be wide open
        D7     Fm    C       G
For the moment you arrive, arrive

[Chorus]
C
When you set sail on your journey
                 D    G
And happiness is far away
C
Love will guide you 'til the morning
                     D     G
Lead your heart down to the bay
C
Don't resist the rain and storm
     F               D       G
I'll never leave you lost at sea
C      F       E          Am
I will be your lighthouse keeper
F                G       C
Bring you safely home to me
C      F       E          Am
I will be your lighthouse keeper
F                G       C
Bring you safely home to me

[Outro]
C  F  E  Am
F  F G  C

How to play The Lighthouse Keeper: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for The Lighthouse Keeper by Sam Smith on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

The Lighthouse Keeper by Sam Smith sits in C major (no sharps or flats), and you need 8 chords to play it: C, F, Am, D7, Fm, G, D and E.

Listen for G – C – F – E (V – I – IV – III in C major): the song comes back to it again and again. In solfa, that is soh – doh – fah – mi. Once these 4 changes are comfortable, most of the song is done.

Good to know: on guitar, F and Fm need a barre or movable shape. Take the change into them slowly at first; piano and ukulele players have it easier.