CHANGING OF THE GUARDS by Bob Dylan
Intro: Ab
Fm
Sixteen years,
Ab Eb Fm
Sixteen banners united over the fields
Db Eb
While the good shepherd grieves
Fm Ab Eb
Desperate men, desperate women divided,
Fm Db Eb Ab
Spreading their wings 'neath the falling leaves.
Fm
Fortune calls.
Ab Eb Fm
I stepped forth from the shadows, to the marketplace,
Db Eb Fm
Merchants and thieves, hungry for power, my last deal gone down.
Ab Eb Fm
She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born,
Db Eb Ab
On midsummer's eve, near the tower.
(Interlude)
Fm
The cold-blooded moon.
Ab Eb
The captain waits above the celebration
Fm Db Eb
Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid
Fm Ab Eb
Whose ebony face is beyond communication.
Fm Db Eb Ab
The captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid.
Fm
They shaved her head.
Ab Eb
She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo.
Fm Db Eb
A messenger arrived with a black nightingale.
Fm Ab Eb
I seen her on the stairs and I couldn't help but follow,
Fm Db Eb Ab
Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil.
(Interlude)
Fm
I stumbled to my feet.
Ab Eb
I rode past destruction in the ditches
Fm Db Eb
With the stitches still mending 'neath a heart-shaped tattoo.
Fm Ab Eb
Renegade priests and treacherous young witches
Fm Db Eb Ab
Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you.
Fm
The palace of mirrors
Ab Eb
Where dog soldiers are reflected,
Fm Db Eb
The endless road and the wailing of chimes,
Fm Ab Eb
The empty rooms where her memory is protected,
Fm Db Eb Ab
Where the angels' voices whisper to the souls of previous times.
(Interlude)
Fm
She wakes him up
Ab Eb
Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking
Fm Db Eb
Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks.
Fm Ab Eb
She's begging to know what measures he now will be taking
Fm Db Eb Ab
He's pulling her down and she's clutching on to his long golden locks.
Fm
Gentlemen, he said,
Ab Eb Fm
I don't need your organization, I've shined your shoes,
Db Eb
I've moved your mountains and marked your cards
Fm Ab Eb
But Eden is burning, either get brave for elimination
Fm Db Eb Ab
Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards.
(Interlude)
Fm
Peace will come
Ab Eb Fm
With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire
Db Eb Fm
But will offer no reward when her false idols fall
Ab Eb Fm
And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating
Db Eb Ab
Between the King and the Queen of Swords.
Fm Ab Eb
Fm...
The "Interlude" (that the sax plays) is:
Ab Eb Db Ab
E -6-8-9-8-8~----6-6~----4-4~--(repeat 3 times)---||-6p4-4---4~--||
B ------------------------------------------------||-------6-----||
G ------------------------------------------------||-------------||
D ------------------------------------------------||-------------||
A ------------------------------------------------||-------------||
E ------------------------------------------------||-------------||
One word of note: It is much easier to play this song with a capo on the
first fret (i.e. play Em G D Em C D... while the 1st fret is fretted). This
makes it more easier and does not make the guitar sound too choppy.
Enjoy!
