[INTRO upbeat folk intro, fiddle and tin whistle play a simple carol-like riff over guitar, bodhrán and bass, accordion joins on last bar, no vocal yet] [VERSE 1 female lead, storytelling, full band but lightly arranged] Lanterns swinging on the harbour wall Boats lie sleeping in the frost and squall Kids keep watch where the waves break free Saying, “Santa won’t find us by the sea” [CHORUS big Cornish-folk chorus, stomps and claps, gang can double last line] But Santa came over the sea last night Red coat shining in the lighthouse light Not by chimney, not by sky He rode a little red boat where the gulls all cry Santa came over the sea, you see Bringing Christmas to our Cornish quay [VERSE 2 same groove, fiddle answering vocal phrases] Gran left pasties by the old slate stove Dad hung socks where the draughts still rove Then we heard oars on the turning tide And a low deep laugh on the water side [CHORUS repeat main chorus, extra ad-libs and gang “hey!” on last beat] ’Cause Santa came over the sea last night Red coat shining in the lighthouse light Not by chimney, not by sky He rode a little red boat where the gulls all cry Santa came over the sea, you see Bringing Christmas to our Cornish quay [BRIDGE music drops to guitar and bodhrán, whistle soft, vocal more intimate] If you think he only flies above the snow Come down to the harbour when the nor’east blows Where the stars hang low on the inky blue He might row in and sing a tune with you [FINAL CHORUS biggest, full band, strong singalong energy, repeat last line twice] Santa came over the sea last night Red coat shining in the lighthouse light Not by chimney, not by sky He rode a little red boat where the gulls all cry Santa came over the sea, you see Bringing Christmas to our Cornish quay Santa came over the sea, you see Bringing Christmas to our Cornish quay [OUTRO instruments play the chorus riff, fiddle and whistle trading lines, band slows and ends on a held, warm chord]
