Changing of the Guards Chords & Lyrics by Bob Dylan

Changing of the Guards

guitar chords lyrics

Bob Dylan

I wanted to submit the best way to play this song.


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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