Subject: CHANGING OF THE GUARDS by Bob Dylan
Intro: G D C G D C G D C D G
G D Em
Sixteen years,
Am-C G D Em
Sixteen banners united over the fields
C D
While the good shepherd grieves
Em Am-C G D
Desperate men, desperate women divided,
Em C D G
Spreading their wings 'neath the falling leaves.
G D Em
Fortune calls.
Am-C 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.
Am-C G D Em
She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born,
C D G
On midsummer's eve, near the tower.
Interlude G D C, G D C, G D C D G
G D Em
The cold-blooded moon.
Am-C G D
The captain waits above the celebration
Em C D
Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid
Em Am-C G D
Whose ebony face is beyond communication.
Em C D G
The captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid.
G D Em
They shaved her head.
Am- C G D
She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo.
Em C D
A messenger arrived with a black nightingale.
Em Am-C G D
I seen her on the stairs and I couldn't help but follow,
Em C D G
Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil.
(Interlude)
G D Em
I stumbled to my feet.
Am-C G D
I rode past destruction in the ditches
Em C D
With the stitches still mending 'neath a heart-shaped tattoo.
Em Am-C G D
Renegade priests and treacherous young witches
Em C D G
Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you.
G D Em
The palace of mirrors
Am- C G D
Where dog soldiers are reflected,
Em C D
The endless road and the wailing of chimes,
Em Am-C G D
The empty rooms where her memory is protected,
Em C D G
Where the angels' voices whisper to the souls of previous times.
(Interlude)
G D Em
She wakes him up
Am -C G D
Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking
Em C D
Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks
Em Am-C G D
She's begging to know what measures he now will be taking
Em C D G
He's pulling her down and she's clutching on to his long golden locks.
G D Em
Gentlemen, he said,
Am-C 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 Am-C G D
But Eden is burning, either get brave for elimination
Em C D G
Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards.
(Interlude)
G D Em
Peace will come
Am-C G D Em
With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire
C D Em
But will offer no reward when her false idols fall
Am-C G D Em
And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating
C D G
Between the King and the Queen of Swords.
(Interlude)
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The above is solely MY INTERPRETATION of this great song, in a format aimed at learning guitarists.
No attempt has been made to copy or reproduce the artist's or publisher's sheet music for the song,
if such exists.
It can be used for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. To play the song as it should be played, you should
purchase the official sheetmusic for the song. You should also purchase and listen to the song to learn
the rhythm and timing of the song - this is essential if you wish to play the song with any degree of accuracy
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