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The song consists of 10 parts, alternating between the chord structure written below.
Cm-Ab-Eb-Bb
Cm-Bb-Gm
Cm-Ab-Eb-Bb
Cm-F-Cm
Eb-Bb-Gm
Cm-Gm
Cm-Ab-Eb-Bb
Cm-F-Cm
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[Verse 1]
Cm Ab Eb Bb
Cold blows the wind today my love,
Cm Bb Gm
and gently drops the rain.
Cm Ab Eb Bb
I only had but one true love,
Cm F Cm
and in cold grave she was lain.
[Verse 2]
Eb Bb Gm
I do as much for my true love,
Cm Gm
as any young man may.
Cm Ab Eb Bb
I'll sit and mourn all on the grave
Cm F Cm
for a twelfth-month and a day.
[Verse 3]
Cm Ab Eb Bb
When the twelfth month and one day was past,
Cm Gm
the ghost began to speak:
Cm Ab Eb Bb
"Why sittist here all on my grave,
Cm F Cm
and will not let me sleep?"
[Verse 4]
Eb Bb Gm
"There is one thing that I want sweetheart,
Cm Eb Bb
there is one thing that I crave,
Cm F Eb Bb
And that is a kiss from your lily white lips
Cm F Cm
that I'll go from your grave."
[Verse 5]
Cm Ab Eb Bb
"My lips they are as cold as clay,
Cm Gm
my breath smells earthy strong.
Cm Ab Eb Bb
And if you kiss my cold clay lips,
Cm F Cm
your time will not be long.
[Verse 6]
Eb Bb Gm
Go fetch me water from the desert,
Cm Ab Eb Bb
and blood from out of stone.
Cm F Eb Bb
Go fetch me milk from a fair maid's breast,
Cm F Cm
that a young man never had known".
[Verse 7]
Cm Ab Eb Bb
'Twas down in yonder garden green,
Cm Gm
of where we used to walk.
Cm Ab Eb Bb
The finest flower that ever I saw,
Cm F Cm
is withered to a stalk.
[Verse 8]
Eb Bb Gm
The stalk is withered and dry sweetheart,
Cm Ab Eb Bb
the flower will ne'er return.
Cm F Eb Bb
And since I lost my own true love,
Cm F Cm
what can I do but mourn?
[Verse 9]
Cm Ab Eb Bb
"When shall we meet again sweetheart?
Cm Gm
When shall we meet again?"
Cm Ab Eb Bb
"When the oaken leaves that fall from the trees
Cm F Cm
are green and spring out again".
[Verse 10]
Eb Bb Gm
The stalk is withered and dried my love,
Cm Ab Eb Bb
So will our hearts decay.
Cm F Eb Bb
So make yourself content my love,
Cm F Cm
Til God calls you away.