Artist: Bob Dylan
Song: Changing of the Guards
Capo 1
[Verse 1]
Em
Sixteen years,
G D Em
Sixteen banners united over the field
C D
Where a good Shepard grieves.
Em G D
Desperate men, desperate women divided,
Em D C G
Spreading their wings 'neath the falling leaves
[Verse 2]
Em
Fortune calls
G D Em
I stepped forth from the shadows, to the marketplace,
C D Em
Merchants and thieves, hungry for power, my last deal gone down.
G D Em
She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born
C D G
On midsummer's eve, near the tower.
[Verse 3]
Em
The cold-blooded moon
G D
The captain waits above the celebration
Em C D
Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid
Em G D
Whose ebony face is beyond communication.
Em C D G
he captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid.
[Verse 4]
Em
They shaved her head.
G D
She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo.
Em G D
A messenger arrived with a black nightingale.
Em G D
I seen her on the stairs and I couldn't help but follow,
Em D C G
Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil.
[Verse 5]
Em
I stumbled to my feet
G D
I rode past the destruction in the ditches
Em C D
With the stitches still mending 'neath the heart shaped tattoo.
Em G D
Renegade priests and treacherous young witches
Em D C G
Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you.
Em
The palace of mirrors
G D
Where dog solders are reflected,
Em C G
The endless road and the wailing of chimes
Em G D
The empty rooms where her memory is protected
Em D C G
Where the angels' voices whisper to the souls of previous times.
[Verse 6]
Em
She wakes him up
G D
Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking
Em C D
Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rock.
Em G D
She's begging to know what measures he now will be taking.
Em D C G
He's pulling her down and she's clutching on to his long golden locks.
Em
Gentlemen, he said,
G D Em
I don't need your organization, I've shined your shoes,
C D
I've moved your mountains, and marked your cards
Em C D
But Eden is burning, either brace yourself for elimination
Em D C G
Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards
[Verse 7]
Em
Peace will come
G D Em
With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire
C D Em
But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall
G D Em
And cruel death surrenders with it's pale ghosts retreating
D C G
Between the King and Queen of Swords