The chords are relative to capo 7th to make the guitar sound more like the mandolin its played on.



C C C C

C (x32010@1)            Dm (xx0231@1)        Am (x02210@1)      FI (133211@1)was born with this story, it's older than I
    C (x32010@1)               Dm (xx0231@1)     Am (x02210@1)             FAnd (133211@1)yet you when you hear it you'll know in the sky
     C (x32010@1)             Dm (xx0231@1)            Am (x02210@1)         FIn (133211@1)the wind of your knowledge, In the cut of your jib
          C (x32010@1)        Dm (xx0231@1)    Am (x02210@1)         FThat (133211@1)the fibre of wind is as new from my lip
          C (x32010@1)    Dm (xx0231@1)     Am (x02210@1)     FAs (133211@1)was ever and more and ever will be
          C (x32010@1)     Dm (xx0231@1)      Am (x02210@1)         G (320003@1)F'til (133211@1)the union we face casts us finally free

C (x32010@1)F (133211@1)       G (320003@1)            CFor (x32010@1)we in the love of an earth-bidden dance
        F (133211@1)         G (320003@1)             CStand (x32010@1)enthralled of that, which from heaven, perchance
         F (133211@1)            G (320003@1)          CLets (x32010@1)us move with the gifts we were given in grace
       F (133211@1)          G (320003@1)         Dm (xx0231@1)       F (133211@1)         CAnd (x32010@1)smile in the arms of Sweet William..mmmm's embrace

CC

William's wanderings took him abroad
Showed him the lay of the searcher's long road
To the place he stood now 'neath the black laden sky
And the crook of his father had brought fortune nigh
Read the sign where he looked, Not the bull, nor the bear
Nor a burly red lion, or the tortoise and hare

For we in the love of an earth-bidden dance
Stand enthralled of it, which from heaven, perchance
Lets us move with the gifts we were given in grace
And smile in the arms of Sweet William's embrace
  
       C (x32010@1)     Dm (xx0231@1)          Am (x02210@1)      FThe (133211@1)end of the world was the name of the inn
       C (x32010@1)          Dm (xx0231@1)           Am (x02210@1)         FSaid (133211@1)fair William farewell to the world and its sin
  C (x32010@1)           CIts (x32010@1)sin

C (x32010@1)         DmFull (xx0231@1)balmy was the winter air
      Am (x02210@1)               FAll (133211@1)wet with what might die
     C (x32010@1)              DmA (xx0231@1)wishing well, the ocean bear
     Am (x02210@1)          FA (133211@1)millpond in his eyes
    C (x32010@1)               DmA (xx0231@1)glance to see from whence he came
      Am (x02210@1)            FFor (133211@1)William with a landlocked turn
  Dm (xx0231@1)              DmVermin (xx0231@1)what he stood to lose
     Dm (xx0231@1)                 DmThe (xx0231@1)skin-shot snakes and earthy worms

His boots trod soft inside the inn
His greeted all was here
Abrasive lowly nods came back
Then bent toward their beer
They must know I thought Willy now
They've seen me come from miles
The thought was struck as whisky poured
And barmen gave all smiles

F (133211@1)     Am (x02210@1)   G (320003@1)    AmThen (x02210@1)followed this a curious thing
    CThe (x32010@1)eldest of the host
      F (133211@1)      Am (x02210@1)   G (320003@1)      AmSang (x02210@1)softly where he sat and drank
   C (x32010@1)To love a worthy toast
     F (133211@1)     Am (x02210@1)    G (320003@1)  AmHis (x02210@1)song was of a stranger
     CSummoned (x32010@1)for his rope
    F (133211@1)      Am (x02210@1)   G (320003@1)    AmIn (x02210@1)all would be to set us free
     CHis (x32010@1)song was strong and bold,

It went:

For we in the love of an earth-bidden dance
Stand enthralled of that, which from heaven, perchance
Lets us move with the gifts we were given in grace
And smile in the arms of Sweet William's embrace

I was born with this story, it's older than I
And yet you when you hear it you'll know in the sky
In the wind of your knowledge, In the cut of your jib
That the fibre of wind is as new from my lip
As was ever and more and ever will be
'til the union we face casts us finally free

Tabbed by Jon