Josh Ritter - The torch committee

Good ^Emevening, may we say again How ^Gpleased we are that you've come in The ^Amday was long, your bed was soft Still ^Cthere's some names we're crossing off It ^Emsays here by your file you Have ^Gbeen so loyal, brave, and true We ^Amneed not fret, you need not fear And ^Cso we come to why you're here

The ^Emtorch committee now confirms The ^Gtruth of rumors lately heard That ^Amthere come monsters in our midst ^CWell-disguised and carefully hid ^EmAnywhere and anyone The ^Groot of every evil done But ^Amyou will help us root them out The ^Ctorch committee has no doubt

We ^Emsee your hands and legs are tied In ^Gclearest breach of by-law five And ^Amleft here in this little room In ^Cclearest breach of by-law two And ^Emthough you know that we take pains The ^Gprocess of the law remains All ^Amtechnicalities aside You'll ^Csee our hands are also tied

For ^Emus, the job brings only pain To ^Gsee you naked in these chains To ^Amsee you naked where you stand ^CWhere so many others have Imag^Emine how it feels each day To ^Gsend so many men a way But ^Amsee we've got a job and we Must ^Cdot each "i" and cross each "t"

^EmSomething's horribly amiss How e^Glse could you be on our list Still ^Amwe all know directive twelve All ^Cthose so named must prove themselves To ^Emhungry mob and angry crowd ^GYoung men making families proud By ^Ammeans not meant for light of day We ^Cwish there was a softer way

^EmWait, suppose that we untie Your ^Ghands to sign upon this line To ^Ampledge that you have always been A ^Cpatriot and citizen ^EmPlease ignore the legalese ^GLawyers (am I right?) now see Why ^Amwe're so happy that you came Appen^Cdix three and list of names

^EmPardon us but we can't help But ^Glaugh, if you could see yourself Rel^Amax, it's always strange to see The ^Cnames on each appendix three ^EmBrothers, fathers, sons, and wives The ^Gones with whom you've shared your life ^AmMothers, daughters, sisters, friends ^CPatriots and citizens

^EmChildren playing in the street ^GStrangers whom you chance to meet The ^AmGod to whom you chance to pray The ^Cgirl with whom you choose to stay We ^Emknow the monsters, know their names By ^Gwhich they go and which they've changed And ^Amevery whisper that we've heard We've ^Cread their poison, every word ^EmHow we wish that we could say That ^Geach of them will walk away But ^Amsadly it's the awful truth It's ^Cthem or us, it's them or you

So ^Emput your finger to the names The ^Gonly cure for fear is blame In ^Amdoing so, you're doing good There's^C many called who never would Who ^Emstuck by what they thought was right Who ^Gdisappeared by dark of night Who ^Amdisappeared into the breeze ^CLeft no family left to grieve

^EmThere, now see, that wasn't bad ^GAs you leave, you can be glad That^Am you have done your little part To ^Cfight the monsters in the dark But ^Emhave a care, the night is cold ^GTake a torch before you go And ^Amwe will keep you safe and warm That's ^Cwhat the torch committee's for