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Year Of The Sparrow Full Album by Mean Mary
Year Of The Sparrow Full Album
Tuning: E A D G B E
1. Wherefore Art Thou, Jane
2. Iron Horse
3. Sierra Leone
4. Dance of the Thistledown
5. Death And The Maiden
6. The Sparrow And The Hawk
7. Memphis Moon
8. The Safebreaker''s Daughter
9. Good Time Gal
10. Sweet Jezebel
Track 1 - Wherefore Art Thou, Jane
CAPO: 2nd Fret
[Intro]
C G C G C G F G C
[Verse 1]
G F G
A hound bays in the distant dark, a whippoorwill takes flight
C G F G C
Jane is on another lark, passing through the night
G F G
Like a fox that flees her cage, just because she can
C G F G C
Like a lady come of age, a woman with a plan
[Chorus]
F C G C
She comes and goes like summer rain
F C G
As flighty as a whooping crane
F C G C
As restless as a weather vane
F G C
Oh, wherefore art thou, Jane?
[Interlude]
C G C
[Verse 2]
G F G
Going up or going down, going fast and far
C G F G C
Up a hill or through a town, or to a distant star
G F G
She’ll cut the string and take her fling, or sit and watch the sky
C G F G C
Or turn her hand to anything, or kiss it all goodbye
[Chorus]
F C G C
She takes the ball and breaks the chain
F C G
Pours precaution down the drain
F C G C
Bubbles over like champagne
F G C
Oh, wherefore art thou, Jane?
[Instrumental]
(banjo break)
[Verse 3]
G F G
In the land of midnight peril, on the shore of anywhere
C G F G C
That dreams fly free and feral, oh, you will find Jane there
G F G
You might not find the words that rhyme to make a perfect song
C G F G C
But if you find the time sometime, Jane might sing along
[Chorus]
F C G C
She comes and goes like summer rain
F C G
As flighty as a whooping crane
F C G C
As restless as a weather vane
F G C
Oh, wherefore art thou, Jane?
[Chorus]
F C G C
She’s fickle as financial gain
F C G
Sells trouble like an ad campaign
F C G C
She takes the risk and risks the pain
F G C
Oh, wherefore art thou, Jane?
[Interlude]
C G C
[Verse 4]
G F G
Another hound bays in the night, and someone wonders why
C G F G C
Did a prowler come in sight, or did Jane just pass by?
G F G
Like a fox that’s free of cage, like a Peter Pan
C G F G C
Like a lady come of age, a woman with a plan
[Chorus]
F C G C
She takes the ball and breaks the chain
F C G
Pours precaution down the drain
F C G C
Bubbles over like champagne
F G C
Oh, wherefore art thou, Jane?
[Chorus]
F C G C
She’s sweet and good and true and sane
F C G
Simple as a daisy chain
F C G C
Sweeter still while raising cane
F G C
Oh, wherefore art thou, Jane?
Track 2 - Iron Horse
CAPO: 3rd Fret
[Intro]
Am Em Am Em Am
[Verse 1]
We rode the plains as lovers do
Em Am
We raced beneath the summer sun
My dusky eyes met his so blue
Em Am
Our soaring spirits breathed as one
[Verse 2]
We blazed our love across the sky
Em Am
Surrendered to its ancient force
Until the day he said goodbye
Em Am
And climbed aboard the Iron horse
[Chorus]
G
I heard its challenge, loud and shrill
Em Am
As we chased it up the Great Divide
G
But though my steed had the stronger will
Em N.C. Am
The iron horse had the longer stride
[Instrumental]
Am Em Am Em Am Em Am G Am G Em Am Em Am
[Verse 3]
Its whistle cut me like a blade
Em Am
I loathed its screaming, smoky cry
How could he leave his Indian maid?
Em Am
I’ll ride like wind and ask him why
[Verse 4]
Astride my fearless painted dun
Em Am
I chose my pace and set my course
To catch this demon on the run
Em Am
My steed against this iron horse
[Chorus]
G
I heard its challenge, loud and shrill
Em Am
As we chased it up the Great Divide
G
But though my steed had the stronger will
Em N.C. Am
The iron horse had the longer stride
[Instrumental]
Am Em Am Em Am Em Am G Am G Em Am Em Am
[Chorus]
G
It roared its challenge loud and shrill
Em Am
As it laboured up the Great Divide
G
Though I had the stronger will
Em N.C. Am
The iron horse had the longer stride
[Verse 5]
Through the thunder of its blare
Em Am
I yelled my fury at the beast
Wasted words lost in the air
Em Am
As it roared its way forever east
And the iron horse’s speed increased
Track 3 - Sierra Leone
[Verse 1]
C G C G
I found an old letter caught under a stone
C G F G
By the sea in the lee of the cliffs, all alone
C Am Em F
Its pages were tattered from where it had blown
Dm C G C
To land from the hand of a sailor, unknown
F C G C
There by the coast of Sierra Leone
[Verse 2]
G C G
"Dear Friend", it read, "I have missed you, you know
C G F G
When you walked and you talked with me so long ago
C Am Em F
I shoved you aside as I rushed to and fro
Dm C G C F C G C Am
Friend, my old friend, who never let go"
[Chorus]
Em F C
Friend, my old friend, who looked out for me
F G
Through squalls and long hauls, while I sailed the sea
Am G C F
I need your watchful eye at the prow
C Am C
I know that you know, I’m kneeling here now
[Interlude]
C
[Verse 3]
C G C G
My ship hugs the rocks, and the gale’s my back door
C G F G
Lashing and smashing and waging its war
C Am Em F
My crew man the lifeboat, please see them ashore
Dm C G C
All told, it won’t hold even one person more
F C G C
Here by Sierra Leone’s rocky floor
[Verse 4]
G C G
Forgive my neglect, old friend, it was my loss
C G F G
I wait for my fate as the ship starts to toss
C Am Em F
I feel the cold waters, I see the dark moss
Dm C G C F C G C Am
Will I sail through this gale or to heaven on a cross?
[Chorus]
Em F C
Friend, my old friend, who looked out for me
F G
Through squalls and long hauls, while I sailed the sea
Am G C F
I’ll take the wheel if you’ll ride the bow
C Am C
You know that I know, you’re standing here now
[Interlude]
C
[Verse 5]
C G C G
As I stood on the rocks of Sierra Leone
C G F G
By the sea, the blue sea of Sierra Leone
C Am Em F
Close by the spot where the letter had blown
Dm C G C
And thought for naught of the sailor, unknown
F C G C
There by the coast of Sierra Leone
[Verse 6]
G C G
Then I saw old letters carved into the stone
C G F G
By the sea, the blue sea of Sierra Leone
C Am Em F
''Thank you, old Friend'', just those words, alone
Dm C G C
Carved there like a prayer by a sailor, unknown
F C G C
Here on the coast of Sierra Leone
F C G C
Here by the hand of a sailor, unknown
Track 4 - Dance of the Thistledown
(Banjo Instrumental)
Track 5 - Death And The Maiden
CAPO: 3rd Fret
[Intro]
Am F Am C G Am
[Verse 1]
G Am G Am
The Maiden weighed anchor at her last port of call
G Am G Am
Jenny ran down the docks, late for the Ball
G Am G Am
Her father yelled, "Jenny, be back by midnight
G Em Am G Am
For the Maiden, she sails in the morning’s half-light"
[Verse 2]
G Am G Am
She didn’t turn back, just waved her hand
C G Em Am G Am
Already hearing the drums of the band
G Am G Am
They were washing the streets with whiskey and wine
G Em Am G Am
When she reached the Ball, the clock struck nine
[Verse 3]
G Am G Am
She wore a mask made from black-feathered doves
G Am G Am
A crimson dress and long black gloves
C G Am G C G
She kicked off her shoes and danced on her toes
Am C Em Am G Am
With her hair blowing wherever night winds chose
[Chorus]
G C G C G
She saw an angel, a devil, a cat and a clown
C G Am G Am G
A bird with no wings and a king with no crown
Am G C G C G
Dancers flowed like water on the square
Am G Em Am
Then parted like waves and a man stood there
[Interlude]
Am F Am C G Am G Am
[Verse 4]
G Am G Am
He wore a plain black mask like a second skin
G Am G Am
It covered his face from forehead to chin
G Am G Am
Oh, she could taste in the wind, the salt of the sea
G Em Am G Am
And his eyes were as blue and his manner as free
[Verse 5]
G Am G Am
He said, "Jenny, as always, you’re lovely, my dear
C G Em Am G Am
As for me, I’ve aged another sad year"
G Am G Am
With a plead in his voice and a need in his stance
G Em Am G Am
"Jenny Mackay, honour me with a dance"
[Verse 6]
G Am G Am
She didn’t know how he knew her name
G Am G Am
But something inside her lit like a flame
C G Am G C G
And it seemed that this moment was destined to be
Am C Em Am G Am
So she danced with him there, on the square, by the sea
[Chorus]
G C G C G
She was drunk, drunk, drunk by the moon
C G Am G Am
Had they danced for hours or just that one tune?
G C G C G
She could have danced, danced, danced all night
Am G Em Am
But the Maiden must sail in the morning’s half-light
[Interlude]
Am F Am C G Am G Am
[Verse 7]
G Am G Am
He said, "Jenny Mackay, does it bring you joy
G Am G Am
To dance with the man you tried to destroy?"
G Am G Am
Then he took off his mask, and she took in a breath
G Em Am G Am
It was Captain Leroux of the ship known as Death
[Verse 8]
G Am G Am
The clock struck 12, he stood stone still
C G Em Am G Am
He said, "One fateful night off the coast of Brazil
G Am G Am
The pirate ship, Maiden, came looking for me
G Em Am G Am
Captain Mackay and his daughter, Jenny"
[Verse 9]
G Am G Am
"I’d danced with you once at this Bal Masque
G Am G Am
I never knew then you were Jenny Mackay
C G Am G C G
You burned half my ship, took the lives of my crew
Am C Em Am G Am
And there on my deck, tried to take my life too"
[Chorus]
G C G C G
"The cannons blazed and the waves grew higher
C G Am G Am
There was blood in the sky and the sea was on fire
G C G C G
Never again will such a night be
Am G Em Am
As when Death and the Maiden danced in the sea"
[Interlude]
Am F Am C G Am G Am
[Verse 10]
G Am G Am
"A shot from my pistol bloodied your dress
G Am G Am
You fell in my arms with a lady’s finesse
G Am G Am
Then ran your cold steel from my forehead to chin"
G Em Am G Am
And said to me softly, "I’ll see you again"
[Verse 11]
G Am G Am
She touched her hand to the scar on his face
G Em Am G Am
For a second it faded leaving no trace
G Em Am G Am
Then she kissed him one time, like her lips were a brand
G Em Am G Am
Then slipped from his grasp, like water through sand
[Chorus]
G C G C G
Now the Maiden she sails with ghosts on her decks
C G Am G Am
She’ll sail forever, this world or the next
G C G C G
Searching for Death below and above
Am G Em Am
But one night a year, Jenny dances her love
[Outro] (fade to end)
Am G Am G Am G Am G Am G Am G
Track 6 - The Sparrow And The Hawk
(Banjo Instrumental)
Track 7 - Memphis Moon
CAPO: 3rd Fret
[Intro]
Am G Am G
[Verse 1]
Am G
Got a midnight feelin’ since this afternoon
Am
My soul needs the healin’ of the Memphis moon
G Dm
‘Cause when the night comes down with a thudding crash
Am G
My jeans become a gown with a silver sash
[Chorus]
E7 Am
A hoot owl sounds its eerie rhyme
E7 Am
I guess it’s been around for a long, long time
E7 Am
And while it sings its haunting tune
D7 E7 F E7 Am
I’m gonna dance by the light of the Memphis moon
[Interlude]
Am G Am G
[Verse 2]
Am G
Dark waters swell to a riverboat’s cry
Am G
The stars all yell, and the willows sigh
Dm
Deep as death, oh, the Mighty Mississip’
Am G
Just rollin’ along like she’s takin’ a trip
[Chorus]
E7 Am
Makin’ her rounds in her muddy shoes
E7 Am E7
Dressin’ in browns, but singin’ in blues
Am
Midnight fever’s gonna hit me soon
D7 E7 F E7 Am
I’m gonna dance by the light of the Memphis moon
[Instrumental]]
Am G Am G Am
[Bridge]
Time dances slow to the rhythm of my feet
Am
The moon hangs low over Beale Street
[Chorus]
E7 Am
A hoot owl sounds its eerie rhyme
E7 Am
I guess it’s been around for a long, long time
E7 Am
And while it sings its haunting tune
D7 E7 F E7 Am
I’m gonna dance by the light of the Memphis moon
[Outro]
Am G Am
Track 8 - The Safebreaker''s Daughter
[Verse 1]
G C D G
In a dream I had, all the rich were kind
C D G
And business not so bad, and justice not so blind
C D G
And, no, we needed more, ‘cause you reaped just what you sowed
C D G
No one knockin’ at your door sayin’, you owed more than you owed
[Chorus]
C G D
Oh, the banker’s boy, the boss’s son
G C D G
They’re hoarding all the treasures their daddy’s won
C G D
And they think the vault won’t break, come hell or high water
G C D G
They always underestimate the safebreaker’s daughter
C D G
They always underestimate the safebreaker’s daughter
[Interlude]
G D/F# C G C G D G G D/F# C G D G
[Verse 2]
C D G
Well, they took the land away from the farmer’s daughter
C D G
And they took away the clay from the son of the potter
C D G
And with no drop of shame in their wheelin’ dealin’ eyes
C D G
So when the morning came, all she left them were their lies
[Chorus]
C G D
Oh, the banker’s boy, the boss’s son
G C D G
They’re hoarding all the treasures their daddy’s won
C G D
And they think the vault won’t break, come hell or high water
G C D G
They always underestimate the safebreaker’s daughter
C D G
They always underestimate the safebreaker’s daughter
[Interlude]
G C G D
Dum de da da dum, dum de da da da da
G C D G
Dum de da da dum, da dum de da da dum
G C G D
Dum de da da dum, dum de da da da da
G C D G
Dum de da da dum, da dum de da da dum
[Verse 3]
C D G
Well, they took the rights away from the children of the free
C D G
They said that gold today is worth more than liberty
C D G
They didn’t think she’d find the stash they were stockpiling
C D G
She found the safe, behind a picture of them smiling
[Chorus]
C G D
Oh, the banker’s boy, the boss’s son
G C D G
They’re hoarding all the treasures their daddy’s won
C G D
And they think the vault is safe, but she’s smarter than they thought her
G C D G
They always underestimate the safebreaker’s daughter
C D G
They always underestimate the safebreaker’s daughter
[Instrumental]]
G D/F# C G C G D G G D/F# C G D G
G D/F# C G C G D G G D/F# C G C D
[Bridge]
G C G D
She don’t keep a dime and no bribe has ever bought her
G C D G
She remembers all the things her daddy taught her
C G D
You can’t lock her out, or put the chains about her
G C D G
Oh, she won’t be denied, the safebreaker’s daughter
[Outro] (repeat and fade to end)
G C G D
Dum de da da dum, dum de da da da da
G C D G
Dum de da da dum, da dum de da da dum
G C G D
Dum de da da dum, dum de da da da da
G C D G
Dum de da da dum, da dum de da da dum
Track 9 - Good Time Gal
(Banjo Instrumental}
Track 10 - Sweet Jezebel
CAPO: 4th Fret
## NOTE: Notes in parentheses( ) are single-note Bass Walk-Downs ##
[Intro]
Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#) Em (G)
[Verse 1]
(F#) Em
In Louisian’, where swamp is land
(G)(F#)
And cotton falls like snow
Em
Where alligators slink, mosquitoes drink
(G)
And wild things love to grow
(F#) Em
It was past midnight, I had one headlight
Am
And my gas pedal on the floor
Em
I was tired of watching clocks and taking hard knocks
Am B7 Em
And locking my dreams in a drawer
[Verse 2]
E
Up ahead in the night, a deer took flight
Am
As warm rain started to fall
Em
Heard my tires squeal as I jerked the wheel
Am B7 Em
And drove straight into an oak tree wall
My head in a daze, I escaped through a maze
Am
Of busted steel and glass
Em
In silk pantyhose with holes in the toes
Am B7 Em
I started running through the tall wet grass
[Chorus]
C B7
I saw a house all alone, as bare as a bone
Am Em
Like someone had thrown it away
C B7
It reeked of smoke and neglect
Am B7
That choked memories of a better day
Am D
I stood at the door, soaked to my core
Em
And feeling just a little insane
Am C
When the door opened wide, a man stood inside
B7
And said, "Come in out of the rain"
N.C. Em
Said, "Come in out of the rain"
[Interlude]
Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#)
[Verse 3]
Em
His eyes were dark like the eyes of a shark
(G)(F#)
And his face was neither young nor old
Em
I paused for a beat before moving my feet
(G)
And crossing that wide threshold
(F#) Em
It was a summer night and a fire burned bright
Am
But I began to shiver and shake
Em
He gave me a coat of fur, a smile demure
Am B7 Em
And a plate full of devil’s food cake
[Verse 4]
E
Oh, he sat down on a chair like a lion in his lair
Am
And lit up a thin cigar
Em
With an air of conceit, reached down by his feet
Am B7 Em
And picked up a red guitar
He ran his hand down the strings like his fingers were wings
Am
And a strange silence fell
Em
He said, "This is my story, my life and my glory
Am B7 Em
Oh, this is my sweet Jezebel"
[Chorus]
C B7
Jezebel was slim with ebony trim
Am Em
And I stared in wonder and awe
C B7
Her neck was inlaid with pearl and jade
Am B7
And I couldn’t find one single flaw
Am D
He started to play, and I started to pray
Em
As that fire burned hotter than hell
Am C
And I could feel a hole burning clear through my soul
B7
As I listened to sweet Jezebel
N.C. C
I listened to sweet Jezebel
[Instrumental]
C F#dim7 D7/F# C F#dim7 C
Em F#dim7 F Em F#dim7 Em C B7 Em
[Verse 5]
She sang about sin and places she’d been
Am
And I found myself lost in her spell
Em
Of murder and lies, deceit and disguise
Am B7 Em
Was the song of, oh, sweet Jezebel
Like a siren of the sea, she sang it to me
Am
And each note was calling my name
Em
And the harder I fought, the closer I got
Am B7 Em
To standing in that red-hot flame
[Chorus]
C B7
A faint morning glow, through a dusty window
Am Em
Washed over me like a flood
C B7
And the song of a sparrow came straight as an arrow
Am B7
Through that guitar, red as blood
Am D
There was fear and surprise in those cold shark eyes
Em
As I reached for sweet Jezebel
Am C
And the flames leapt higher as straight in the fire
B7
I threw that guitar back to hell
N.C. Em
I threw that guitar back to hell
[Interlude]
Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#) Em (G)(F#) Em (G)
[Verse 6]
(F#) Em
An unholy scream cut through my dream
(G)(F#)
And I woke with my head on the dash
Em
My car smelled of smoke from the rain that had choked
(G)(F#)
The fire that flamed from the crash
Em
I jumped from my seat, away from that heat
Am
And kneeled on that rain-soaked ground
Em
I prayed till I cried, till the fear in my died
Am B7 Em
And on that lonely road I was found
[Verse 7]
Oh, never again will I be taken in
Am
By a stranger in the night
Em
I take the path narrow and the song of a sparrow
Am B7 Em
Leads me straight into the arms of the light
Am D
But sometimes in the dark I see the eyes of a shark
Em
And I’m lost in a dream for a spell
Am C
Before I can wake, I eat devil’s food cake
B7
And hear again, sweet Jezebel
N.C. Em
Hear again, sweet Jezebel
[Outro]
C F#dim7 D7/F# C F#dim7 C D7/F# Em
--------------