[NOTES] I had to take a few liberties to make this work for the acoustic guitar. First, this is obviously
in a different key from the key she sings it in. In addition, the artist's versions are very
languid and mournful, which works with her piano accompaniment. But I think the guitar version should be
played at a slightly less plodding tempo, like the slowest blues songs. Finally, the lyric
"My ear attends to you" is correct and makes much more sense than the oft-cited "My attends to you,"
which I believe can be ascribed to mis-hearings of her Australian accent.
[STRUM PATTERN]: Slow downward, simple quarter note on each chord, follow by about a full beat of rest.
[VERSE]
G
My ear
Am
Attends to you,
Dm
as a mother hears
Am
while her children sleep.
[BRIDGE]
G
Now look:
Am
See how they're dreaming?
Dm
The black reciter reads
Am
while the children dream.
G D
Don't go
Am
So deep in slumber,
Em
Where you'll shy.
Am C G
Know you'll wander in sleep.
Am D
Don't you fly too far away.
[BRIDGE 2]
G Am
Some men die
C Am
without crying--
Dm Am G
Suffering so long and alone.
C Em Am
Softly, children, dry your eyes.
C G
Gently, children, be wise.
[VERSE 2]
G
My ear attends to you,
Am
as a mother hears
Dm
all her children's fears.
G
So don't cry;
Am
all will wash away
G
when we pray.
Am
Soon, soon, soon, soon, soon.
Am C
So if it's okay, I'll wait with you a while.
G
The sun begins to shine.
[BRIDGE 3]
C Em
Oh, look: Your wings are broken,
Dm Am G
But never a lie was spoken.
C Am Em
The murdered thing is love, you see--
Am G
Drifting on a lake of memory.
C Am C
Now sleep. Close your eyes and have no fear;
G
A wide blue sky is very near.
[VERSE 3]
G
My ear
Am
Attends to you,
Dm
As a mother hears
Am
All her children's fears.
[RESOLUTION]
G
So don't cry;
Dm
All will wash away
G
When we pray.
[OUTRO] (Strum each x3 in waltz (3/4) time)
G Em Am C
G (Strum once slowly)