Josh Ritter - Silver blade

^EmOh, I have a silver blade, The^D edges sharp, the handle bone. A ^Ampretty thing of silver made, ^CNow it's the only thing I own. ^EmOnce I knew a lordling fine. I ^Dheard him whistle as he rode. And^Am I was bold to call him mine. Th^Ce shoes upon his horse were gold.

^EmOne look in my eyes and he, ^DBid me climb onto his horse. An^Amd asked if I'd his lady be, And^C go away for ever more? He^Em spoke of love songs at each kiss, And^D I who was a young girl then, Was^Am promissed every young girls bliss, ^CGot up and rode away with him. He ^Emled me through his castle tall, With^D promises and jewels until, He ^Amled me through his castle hall, And ^Ctook my clothes and worked his will. And ^Emwhen he had and I lay there, ^DFrom my head with a silver blade, He ^Amcut a lock of my cold black hair, And ^Cbid me dress and go my way.

But I^Em marked well the silver blade, And ^Dwhere he laid it when he did, And ^Amwhen his back was turned away, I ^Cburried it beneath his ribs. I ^Emused the dagger as a spade, ^DWhere the thorns and lilacs grow. I ^Amcut the ground into a grave, ^CIn a place even God don't know. And^Em every evening I returned, ^DTo the place for him I chose, ^AmUntil his skin had turned to worms, W^Cild dogs scattered his bones. And ^Emall I have of what I was, ^DIs the memory of a maid, ^AmWho mistook a thief for love, ^CBut who gained a silver blade.

Silve^Emr bl^Dade^Am. ^C Em D Am C Em D Am C