Changing Of The Guards Chords

Capo on the first fret
 
 
G   D     Em
Sixteen years,
Am7     G/D           D                 Em
Sixteen banners united over the field
               C                  D
Where the good shepherd grieves.
                 Em   Am7        G/D           D
Desperate men, desperate women divided,
                        Em                    C   D     G
Spreading their wings 'neath the falling leaves.
 
 
G   D      Em
Fortune calls.
Am7         G/D                 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.
Am7               G/D               D                      Em
She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born,
                           C     D           G
On midsummer's eve, near the tower.
 
 
G            D          Em
The cold-blooded moon.
       Am7      G/D                     D
The captain waits above the celebration
                  Em                 C     D
Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid
                    Em   Am7 G/D            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.
             Am7             G/D          D
She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo.
                     Em                 C      D
A messenger arrived with a black nightingale.
                           Em      Am7 G/D                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.
 
 
G             D         Em
I stumbled to my feet.
   Am7           G/D                   D
I rode past destruction in the ditches
               Em                                       C      D
With the stitches still mending 'neath a heart-shaped tattoo.
               Em       Am7 G/D                 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
Am7         G/D              D
Where dog soldiers are reflected,
                  Em              C         D
The endless road and the wailing of chimes,
                Em       Am7        G/D        D
The empty rooms where her memory is protected,
                Em                                       C       D     G
Where the angels' voices whisper to the souls of previous times.
 
 
      G        D     Em
She wakes him up
          Am7           G/D                 D
Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking
                     Em                    C           D
Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks.
                          Em      Am7 G/D                  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,
Am7      G/D                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                   Am7            G/D     D
But Eden is burning, either brace yourself for elimination
                    Em                                                 C     D     G
Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards.
 
 
G       D    Em
Peace will come
Am7          G/D          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
Am7 G/D             D                          Em
And cruel death surrenders with its pale ghost retreating
                   C                D      G
Between the King and the Queen of Swords.
 
 
Repeat all verse chords to fade.
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