Lyrics

Wandering Balladeer

Guitar: capo on 2nd fret except on 6th string (ie drop D tuning); play in D = E

Verse 1
E B D A E
Morning paints the sky the colour of lead, another endless road lies ahead
E B D A E
As your footsteps trace every contour of the land, time draws a line in the sand
Cm D A B
Your thoughts are turning to a life you’ve never known
Cm A B
The love of those that you hold dear
Cm D A B
And you are so distant from those you call your own
Cm A B E
But loneliness is a precious friend to a wandering balladeer
Repeat last line

Verse 2
Your words fall like raindrops in a barren land, but most just soak into the sand.
In every town and city the people’s eyes are dead, staring at the street ahead.
But the people throng to a siren’s song that’s carried on the wind
At truth they’ll only stand and jeer
And as you travel through this world the truth to find
There’s precious few will listen to a wandering balladeer.

Middle 8
E (+ note G#) E (+ note F#) E E(+ note D#) E(+ note C#)
Some are born as leaders, some are born for hire
E (+ note G#) E (+ note F#) E E(+ note D#) E(+ note C#)
Some are raised to stand and gaze, some to walk the wire
B Cm B Cm
Some are born as conscripts, some to volunteer
B Cm A B E
Fate’s decree is a precious fee to a wandering Balladeer
Cm A B E
Fate’s decree is a precious fee to a wandering Balladeer

Verse 3
Laying down your burden to rest your feet again, the dark sky threatens rain.
And as the first few droplets start to freeze your blood, you know the end will be a flood.
The dumb man tells a silent tale that the deaf man can’t hear
The blind man’s not a prophet nor a seer
But you can see the future in an empty glass of beer
And the precious past is a looking glass to a wandering balladeer.

Copyright Kevin O'Regan 2009