This song is so hard to listen to now. I just lost my 25th friend with whom I deployed to Iraq in 2006. The lines "I'm this far from drowning this far from the sea, I remember the living do they think of me?" And "now that I'm staring down at the darkest abyss, I don't know what I want but I'm sure it's not this" absolutely tear me up inside. This is an absolutly amazing cover to this song
In my house there's a framed quote by St. Therese of Lisieux. It says: "The world is thy ship, not thy home". Next to it, there's pictures of my lost loved ones. And now, there will be this prayer of a song to share with them. Thank you.
God damn, that was hard to listen to. I held on pretty well until the ship listed. Then I started crying. You've got a haunting voice, brother. Got me right in the gut.
@@dihydrogenmonoxide7600 luckily, most of us live in a society where one's pain can be healthily dealt with. It's just a shame that so many cling to painful, archaic roles instead of seeking fulfillment in other ways.
This is a very good cover. Of course, the acoustic guitar removes the shanty vibe, but it kinda increases the sadness of the song, especially coupled with your voice.
Didn't expect to find this mere days after discovering the original song. You, my good friend, are helping to fill a hole on youtube. Covers of this song aren't terribly common. Thank you for making this, it's a great listen.
I recently survived a suicide attempt, and have found a new outlook on life, as well as a new appreciation for this beautiful song, so i thank you for this cover edit: if anyone reads this and gets worried, please dont worry! i am doing quite a bit better now :)
I'm so happy to hear about your new outlook on life! Not sure if it means anything but if you're ever in a similar place again, send me a message and I'll help any way I can. Take care!
Hey bro I know it’s been a while since you posted this, but as a random stranger, I hope you’re doing well. Keep on fighting to see the beauty in life my dude!
My favorite version of this song. I've lost so many friends I served with in the army over the last 15 years. I still can't listen to this song with dry eyes. And today, memorial day, is no exception.
The original feels like a melancholy song sung at a bar, and this feels like a lullaby to/from those lost to the waves Got me to cry all over again, beautiful cover
This is such a nice arrangement and execution. I love the little pauses you inserted, they give the song a sort of somber resonance that really fits the song.
I was thinking about how nice an acoustic cover of this song could sound, but this was better than I could have imagined. The harmonies and guitar melody was absolutely beautiful. You managed to capture the mixture of sadness and hope in a way that really distinguishes this from the original version. Thank you for making this.
This is such a beautiful & original cover of an already beautiful song. Really captures the emotion & depth that is easily overlooked with the cheeriness of the original shanty
When I think recording a song is just too hard and I'll never sound like my idols because I can't do percussion or bass guitar, I hear pieces like this and I think "Who needs a band? This dude has one frickin guitar and multiple voice layers and it sounds epic". Thanks for the inspiration. Great cover. Great voice and somehow the dead-inside look in your eyes nails the song visually too.
I know the Longest Johns have categorised their own version as 'Folk' even though it's more akin to a Shanty, but this feels like more spiritually 'Folk' than the original. Love it to death.
Lyrics: Oh, I bid farewell to the port and the land And I paddle away from brave England's white sands To search for my long ago forgotten friends To search for the place I hear all sailors end As the souls of the dead fill the space of my mind I'll search without sleeping 'til peace I can find I fear not the weather, I fear not the sea I remember the fallen, do they think of me? When their bones in the ocean forever will be Plot a course to the night to a place I once knew To a place where my hope died along with my crew So I swallow my grief and face life's final test To find promise of peace and the solace of rest As the songs of the dead fill the space of my ears Their laughter like children, their beckoning cheers My heart longs to join them, sing songs of the sea I remember the fallen, do they think of me? When their bones in the ocean forever will be When at last before my ghostly shipmates I stand I shed a small tear for my home upon land Though their eyes speak of depths filled with struggle and strife Their smiles below say I don't owe them my life As the souls of the dead fill the space of my eyes And my boat listed over and tried to capsize I'm this far from drowning, this far from the sea I remember the living, do they think of me? When my bones in the ocean forever will be Now that I'm staring down at the darkest abyss I'm not sure what I want but I don't think it's this As my comrades call to stand fast and forge on I make sail for the dawn 'til the darkness has gone As the souls of the dead live for'er in my mind As I live all the years that they left me behind I'll stay on the shore but still gaze at the sea I remember the fallen and they think of me For our souls in the ocean together will be I remember the fallen and they think of me For our souls in the ocean together will be
Absolutely beautiful! This perfectly captures the feeling this song gives. The different harmonies gives a different hue to the music, if that makes any sense. I adore the guitar as well. The pacing, while different, is well done and leads the song forward well, but still gives time to appreciate the guitar by itself.
Wow - great cover of one of my favorite TLJ songs. I like this, the guitar and your vocals take the song in a slightly different direction. It shows how much you liked this song, real emotion going on here.
I had to take a moment after hearing this. Such a beautiful and solemn take on an already beautiful and solemn song. Tickles my melancholy bone real good.
This is incredible. I’ve been listening to this song non stop on Spotify and your version is incredible. Can’t believe I stumbled upon this. Made my lockdown so much more bearable thanks for the wonderful content
bro a listen Bones in the ocean so many times, but is my first time i involuntary cry lol, your cover is so good i hope TLJ have listen your version of Bones in the ocean
This song popped into my playlist and after heating it I am in Awe. I even listened to the Original version but this by far more magnificent. Thank You for the post 😊
This is an amazing cover - gives off Simon and Garfunkel vibes if I may say. I absolutely love The Longest Johns' original but yours is amazingly beautiful in a different way.
Woow, man! Just found your channel and must say - i admire your guitar skills but i just love, love your voice. Beautiful. You got a new subscriber. Thank you so much. Greetings from Croatia.
Here's the chords I used: tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the-longest-johns/bones-in-the-ocean-chords-2553855 My tuning is half a step down (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, eb) instead of half a step up as the tab suggests. The finger picking pattern is first pluck the root note of the chord (this is either the 2nd or 1st string depending on what chords you're playing), then the 4th string, 2nd, 4th, 3rd. Listen to the song a couple times to get the cadence of the picking and that should be all the info you need. Best of luck!
This song makes me regret the day I go on Xbox and see all my friends haven’t been online months or possible years. I don’t want to lose the only people who make me happy now.
*Get it on Spotify/iTunes⇒* distrokid.com/hyperfollow/johnnewell/bones-in-the-ocean
Thank you so much for all the kind comments!
@GRACE SMITH yep! You can find the Apple music link at the same link above!
@Ethan Perry The picking pattern is root, 4th, 2nd, 4th, 3rd.
@@JohnNewell 2nd as the root for low, and then 2nd highest..?
This song is so hard to listen to now. I just lost my 25th friend with whom I deployed to Iraq in 2006. The lines "I'm this far from drowning this far from the sea, I remember the living do they think of me?" And "now that I'm staring down at the darkest abyss, I don't know what I want but I'm sure it's not this" absolutely tear me up inside.
This is an absolutly amazing cover to this song
Are all Johns born with "Sea shanties" abilities?
They are in fact, some of them just never unlock their gift.
Leave her Johnny... Leave her..
Search longest Johns
Bruh, that's what I was talking about
Leave her Johnny
Those other 4 guys look exactly like you, thats crazy....good song
He made a cloning machine making this the highest budget music video
woah, they look like each other maybe he time travelled and brought them cool
maybe he has that many identical brothers idk
Thats the johns. He has a ship named John and all the crew's name is John
I can feel the dissapointmeny
This gave me survivors guilt for something I never experienced.
In my house there's a framed quote by St. Therese of Lisieux. It says: "The world is thy ship, not thy home". Next to it, there's pictures of my lost loved ones. And now, there will be this prayer of a song to share with them. Thank you.
It's so wonderful to find such pure talent that is so beautifully natural and polished like this
This is so nice, thank you!
@@JohnNewell Hi Gabe Newell!
@@JohnNewell Please add lyrics also, it'll help the non-native English speakers
@@bvllseye4068 I've added them now! Click the CC button to see them. Thanks for the suggestion!
God damn, that was hard to listen to. I held on pretty well until the ship listed. Then I started crying. You've got a haunting voice, brother. Got me right in the gut.
You had me in the first half. Haha thanks for the kind words
Men have no feelings they said.
This view exists because historically men have had to push down their feelings to get shit done
@@dihydrogenmonoxide7600
luckily, most of us live in a society where one's pain can be healthily dealt with. It's just a shame that so many cling to painful, archaic roles instead of seeking fulfillment in other ways.
@@zuresei change takes time, and some need more time than others, and unfortunately some revert back to older ways instead of going forward
@@zuresei Those archaic roles are infact the NATURAL roles which helped the civilizations to flourish
@@bvllseye4068 It takes balls to speak truth.
This is a very good cover. Of course, the acoustic guitar removes the shanty vibe, but it kinda increases the sadness of the song, especially coupled with your voice.
Agreed, this is a song of the same lyrics rather than a shanty. Just trying a different spin on it.
It becomes a simon and garfunkel type vibe for me
Tbf it isn’t really a sea shanty in many ways. I can’t see sailers singing this while they work. It would probably decrease motivation haha
@@caluminnes579eh it gets me moving faster
Didn't expect to find this mere days after discovering the original song. You, my good friend, are helping to fill a hole on youtube. Covers of this song aren't terribly common. Thank you for making this, it's a great listen.
Pov: The boys were never there
Youre singing along with the voices in your head
its like the sweater that some people think is purple or blue or whatever - it makes sense now
Your channel is underrated, and should have more subs
I appreciate that! Though I only upload a few times a year, just do this for fun.
I recently survived a suicide attempt, and have found a new outlook on life, as well as a new appreciation for this beautiful song, so i thank you for this cover
edit: if anyone reads this and gets worried, please dont worry! i am doing quite a bit better now :)
I'm so happy to hear about your new outlook on life! Not sure if it means anything but if you're ever in a similar place again, send me a message and I'll help any way I can. Take care!
it'll get better bro
Hey bro I know it’s been a while since you posted this, but as a random stranger, I hope you’re doing well. Keep on fighting to see the beauty in life my dude!
@@dayk6399i'm still here and kicking, had some low points since then, but yeah im doing better
play this at my funeral or else im not dying
Yes.
now thats the ultimate compliment to a song
Nobody play this song when he's around, we'll get the first Ever immortal human lmaooo
@@jerrypog6688 second*** the queen's the first one
**plays another song**
This guy: " OI YA LITTLE SHIT
Brings a tear to my eye. May you have fair winds and following seas.
My favorite version of this song. I've lost so many friends I served with in the army over the last 15 years. I still can't listen to this song with dry eyes. And today, memorial day, is no exception.
This cover actually made me cry, it reminds me of my fallen family singing this song to me. Thank you for this, I needed this.
The original feels like a melancholy song sung at a bar, and this feels like a lullaby to/from those lost to the waves
Got me to cry all over again, beautiful cover
This is such a nice arrangement and execution. I love the little pauses you inserted, they give the song a sort of somber resonance that really fits the song.
I was thinking about how nice an acoustic cover of this song could sound, but this was better than I could have imagined. The harmonies and guitar melody was absolutely beautiful. You managed to capture the mixture of sadness and hope in a way that really distinguishes this from the original version.
Thank you for making this.
this is beautiful
Thank you so much!
@@JohnNewell seriously dude this is criminally underrated.
This is such a beautiful & original cover of an already beautiful song. Really captures the emotion & depth that is easily overlooked with the cheeriness of the original shanty
This song has always made me teary, but your cover absolutely did me in 🥺😭
When I think recording a song is just too hard and I'll never sound like my idols because I can't do percussion or bass guitar, I hear pieces like this and I think "Who needs a band? This dude has one frickin guitar and multiple voice layers and it sounds epic". Thanks for the inspiration. Great cover. Great voice and somehow the dead-inside look in your eyes nails the song visually too.
I love how you switched it over to a minor key. It honestly makes it really haunting.
I know the Longest Johns have categorised their own version as 'Folk' even though it's more akin to a Shanty, but this feels like more spiritually 'Folk' than the original.
Love it to death.
I recently fell in love with this song, this does it justice
Lyrics:
Oh, I bid farewell to the port and the land
And I paddle away from brave England's white sands
To search for my long ago forgotten friends
To search for the place I hear all sailors end
As the souls of the dead fill the space of my mind
I'll search without sleeping 'til peace I can find
I fear not the weather, I fear not the sea
I remember the fallen, do they think of me?
When their bones in the ocean forever will be
Plot a course to the night to a place I once knew
To a place where my hope died along with my crew
So I swallow my grief and face life's final test
To find promise of peace and the solace of rest
As the songs of the dead fill the space of my ears
Their laughter like children, their beckoning cheers
My heart longs to join them, sing songs of the sea
I remember the fallen, do they think of me?
When their bones in the ocean forever will be
When at last before my ghostly shipmates I stand
I shed a small tear for my home upon land
Though their eyes speak of depths filled with struggle and strife
Their smiles below say I don't owe them my life
As the souls of the dead fill the space of my eyes
And my boat listed over and tried to capsize
I'm this far from drowning, this far from the sea
I remember the living, do they think of me?
When my bones in the ocean forever will be
Now that I'm staring down at the darkest abyss
I'm not sure what I want but I don't think it's this
As my comrades call to stand fast and forge on
I make sail for the dawn 'til the darkness has gone
As the souls of the dead live for'er in my mind
As I live all the years that they left me behind
I'll stay on the shore but still gaze at the sea
I remember the fallen and they think of me
For our souls in the ocean together will be
I remember the fallen and they think of me
For our souls in the ocean together will be
Absolutely beautiful! This perfectly captures the feeling this song gives. The different harmonies gives a different hue to the music, if that makes any sense. I adore the guitar as well. The pacing, while different, is well done and leads the song forward well, but still gives time to appreciate the guitar by itself.
Wow - great cover of one of my favorite TLJ songs. I like this, the guitar and your vocals take the song in a slightly different direction. It shows how much you liked this song, real emotion going on here.
probably my favorite rendition of the song. thank you very much
I can’t explain why this song makes me cry so hard
Never have I heard a cover that has brought tears to my eyes. I thank you my friend for sharing and hope to see more in the future
Awesome voice mate!
Not going to lie, whenever I hear anyone sing this song onion cutting ninjas appear out of nowhere xD
I had to take a moment after hearing this. Such a beautiful and solemn take on an already beautiful and solemn song. Tickles my melancholy bone real good.
Excellent! So proud John.
This is incredible. I’ve been listening to this song non stop on Spotify and your version is incredible. Can’t believe I stumbled upon this. Made my lockdown so much more bearable thanks for the wonderful content
heart-wrenchingly gorgeous
I come back to this every so often. This is easily one of the best covers of this song on the internet. Bravo, sir.
very beautiful
This sounds great!
oh my god, your voice is gorgeous
i know i left this comment yesterday but genuinely. Release more folk music.
this cover gives the song a much more somber feel
absolutely fucking beautiful
bro a listen Bones in the ocean so many times, but is my first time i involuntary cry lol, your cover is so good i hope TLJ have listen your version of Bones in the ocean
How the heck do you have only 549 subs? This is beautifully done!
Edit: make that 550 subs. You just earned one more : )
I'm so glad you put this on Spotify. Your version of this is one of my favorite songs ever
wow, thank you so much!
Wonderful....thank you so much!
How hasnt this blown up?! So good!
This is the most awesome I've ever heard you sing John this song suits you to a tee what a beautiful beautiful job you did on this
the time i heard this song, i listened to it for about 4 hours and cried the whole time. great cover my man!
I like the song very much, the sounding of the guitar and your voice has a really nice timbre.
My ears are happy,
You truly made my day.
Literally moved me to tears. Thank you, this is beautiful
i almost started bawling so many times. you did an awesome job, it was a great way to discover your work
Beautiful
this is so underrated. Subscribed!
This is stunning.
name a cover that didn't need to exist more than this one
This song popped into my playlist and after heating it I am in Awe. I even listened to the Original version but this by far more magnificent.
Thank You for the post 😊
It's just like country and shanties all together! You did it!
Sounds fresh!
You gave new life to this song, I love it. Thank you.
Absolutely incredible, and the extra effort shows. I love that it's on spotify, too!
This is an amazing cover - gives off Simon and Garfunkel vibes if I may say. I absolutely love The Longest Johns' original but yours is amazingly beautiful in a different way.
Man, really like this one. Awesome job.
Actually made me cry. Beautiful cover 💙
Lovely cover!
This is a beautiful rendition. One of the best Ive heard. You really nailed the atmosphere of the song.
Amazing cover bro
beautiful!
I'm not crying you're crying!
Better than the original in my opinion. incredible.
Here before 1 million views, you're doing great, keep up the good work friend
Woow, man! Just found your channel and must say - i admire your guitar skills but i just love, love your voice. Beautiful. You got a new subscriber. Thank you so much. Greetings from Croatia.
Such a beautiful song
Incredible 😄
I like it in the lower key here it's nice
I freaking love this, you did a stellar job!
This is going right to my playlist
I’ve listening to this song for so long now I sang along
Best cover
Can’t wait for more videos like that, it’s great !!!
Love this - I think it captures the tone of the song perfectly. I'd love to have the tune to sing over to my son at bedtime. :)
This man’s voice is beautiful 😄
good stuff man. never stop making these
This is simply beautiful
Hi friend, would you be willing to share the chords you used? I’d like to give your cover a shot on a guitar. You created a wonderful piece of art
Here's the chords I used: tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/the-longest-johns/bones-in-the-ocean-chords-2553855
My tuning is half a step down (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, eb) instead of half a step up as the tab suggests.
The finger picking pattern is first pluck the root note of the chord (this is either the 2nd or 1st string depending on what chords you're playing), then the 4th string, 2nd, 4th, 3rd.
Listen to the song a couple times to get the cadence of the picking and that should be all the info you need.
Best of luck!
From what I gathered, it's A, G, B, D, G, A (for the strings, of course.)
@@gangrenousgandalf2102 if playing Am or C chord: A, _ , D, B, D, G. The _ being a 1/6 rest. If playing a G or F chord: E, _ D, B, D, G.
Incredibly moving well played
Beautiful! Still I don't agree on every changes you´ve made. But still! Great!
I love it.
I was going three survivors guilt and this made me feel better
This song makes me regret the day I go on Xbox and see all my friends haven’t been online months or possible years. I don’t want to lose the only people who make me happy now.
I think this is my favorite cover of this song ❤️❤️
My great great grandfather was a whaler captain. I can't wait to talk about it with him and his crew one day.
I love what you did with this song! Thank you!
I'd love this on spotify!
@@JohnNewell yeah I totally understand. Maybe you could upload it to soundcloud?
Hey Zach, this is now on Spotify if you want to check it out: open.spotify.com/album/0VqJsnGScYs43JxWPBULbC
@@JohnNewell holy crap you did it! This is awesome John. I really appreciate this. I will be listening while doing school work :)
So relaxing , Thank you sir
This is beautyful
Reminds me of Gregory Alan Isakov. Great job man.