MEAN MARY - YEAR OF THE SPARROW CHORDS

Tuning: E A D G B E

Mean Mary - Year Of The Sparrow (Album) 2013 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]

A hound bays in the ^Gdistant dark, a ^Fwhippoorwill takes ^Gflight ^CJane is on a^Gnother lark, ^Fpassing ^Gthrough the ^Cnight Like a fox that ^Gflees her cage, ^Fjust because she ^Gcan ^CLike a lady ^Gcome of age, a ^Fwoman ^Gwith a ^Cplan

[Chorus]

She ^Fcomes and ^Cgoes like ^Gsummer ^Crain As ^Fflighty ^Cas a ^Gwhooping crane As ^Frestless ^Cas a ^Gweather ^Cvane Oh, ^Fwherefore ^Gart thou, ^CJane?

[Interlude] C G C [Verse 2]

Going up or ^Ggoing down, ^Fgoing fast and ^Gfar ^CUp a hill or ^Gthrough a town, or ^Fto a ^Gdistant ^Cstar She’ll cut the string and ^Gtake her fling, or ^Fsit and watch the ^Gsky Or ^Cturn her hand to ^Ganything, or ^Fkiss it ^Gall good^Cbye

[Chorus]

She ^Ftakes the ^Cball and ^Gbreaks the ^Cchain ^FPours pre^Ccaution ^Gdown the drain ^FBubbles ^Cover ^Glike cham^Cpagne Oh, ^Fwherefore ^Gart thou, ^CJane?

[Instrumental] (banjo break) [Verse 3]

In the land of ^Gmidnight peril, on the ^Fshore of any^Gwhere That ^Cdreams fly free and ^Gferal, oh, ^Fyou will ^Gfind Jane ^Cthere You might not find the ^Gwords that rhyme to ^Fmake a perfect ^Gsong But ^Cif you find the ^Gtime sometime, ^FJane might ^Gsing a^Clong

[Chorus]

She ^Fcomes and ^Cgoes like ^Gsummer ^Crain As ^Fflighty ^Cas a ^Gwhooping crane As ^Frestless ^Cas a ^Gweather ^Cvane Oh, ^Fwherefore ^Gart thou, ^CJane?

[Chorus]

She’s ^Ffickle ^Cas fi^Gnancial ^Cgain Sells ^Ftrouble ^Clike an ^Gad campaign She ^Ftakes the ^Crisk and ^Grisks the ^Cpain Oh, ^Fwherefore ^Gart thou, ^CJane?

[Interlude] C G C [Verse 4]

Another hound bays ^Gin the night, and ^Fsomeone wonders ^Gwhy ^CDid a prowler ^Gcome in sight, or ^Fdid Jane ^Gjust pass ^Cby? Like a fox that’s ^Gfree of cage, ^Flike a Peter ^GPan ^CLike a lady ^Gcome of age, a ^Fwoman ^Gwith a ^Cplan

[Chorus]

She ^Ftakes the ^Cball and ^Gbreaks the ^Cchain ^FPours pre^Ccaution ^Gdown the drain ^FBubbles ^Cover ^Glike cham^Cpagne Oh, ^Fwherefore ^Gart thou, ^CJane?

[Chorus]

She’s ^Fsweet and ^Cgood and ^Gtrue and ^Csane ^FSimple ^Cas a ^Gdaisy chain ^FSweeter ^Cstill while ^Graising ^Ccane Oh, ^Fwherefore ^Gart thou, ^CJane?

================================================================ Track 2 - Iron Horse CAPO: 3rd Fret [Intro] Am Em Am Em Am [Verse 1] We rode the plains as lovers do

We ^Emraced beneath the summer ^Amsun My dusky eyes met his so blue Our ^Emsoaring spirits breathed as ^Amone

[Verse 2] We blazed our love across the sky

Sur^Emrendered to its ancient ^Amforce Until the day he said goodbye And ^Emclimbed aboard the Iron ^Amhorse

[Chorus]

I heard its challenge, loud and ^Gshrill As we chased it ^Emup the Great Di^Amvide But though my steed had the stronger ^Gwill The iron ^Emhorse

N.C.

had the longer ^Amstride

[Instrumental] Am Em Am Em Am Em Am G Am G Em Am Em Am [Verse 3] Its whistle cut me like a blade

I ^Emloathed its screaming, smoky ^Amcry How could he leave his Indian maid? I’ll ^Emride like wind and ask him ^Amwhy

[Verse 4] Astride my fearless painted dun

I ^Emchose my pace and set my ^Amcourse To catch this demon on the run My ^Emsteed against this iron h^Amorse

[Chorus]

I heard its challenge, loud and ^Gshrill As we chased it ^Emup the Great Di^Amvide But though my steed had the stronger ^Gwill The iron ^Emhorse

N.C.

had the longer ^Amstride

[Instrumental] Am Em Am Em Am Em Am G Am G Em Am Em Am [Chorus]

It roared its challenge loud and ^Gshrill As it laboured ^Emup the Great Di^Amvide Though I had the stronger ^Gwill The iron ^Emhorse

N.C.

had the longer ^Amstride

[Verse 5] Through the thunder of its blare

I ^Emyelled my fury at the ^Ambeast Wasted words lost in the air As it ^Emroared its way forever ^Ameast

And the iron horse’s speed increased ================================================================ Track 3 - Sierra Leone [Verse 1]

I ^Cfound an old ^Gletter caught ^Cunder a ^Gstone By the ^Csea in the ^Glee of the ^Fcliffs, all a^Glone Its ^Cpages were ^Amtattered from ^Emwhere it had ^Fblown To ^Dmland from the ^Chand of a ^Gsailor, un^Cknown ^FThere by the ^Ccoast of Si^Gerra Le^Cone

[Verse 2]

"Dear Friend", it ^Gread, "I have ^Cmissed you, you ^Gknow When you ^Cwalked and you ^Gtalked with me ^Fso long a^Ggo I ^Cshoved you a^Amside as I ^Emrushed to and ^Ffro ^DmFriend, my old ^Cfriend, who ^Gnever let ^Cgo" ^F ^C ^G ^C ^Am

[Chorus]

^EmFriend, my old ^Ffriend, who looked out for ^Cme Through squalls and long ^Fhauls, while I sailed the ^Gsea I ^Amneed your ^Gwatchful ^Ceye at the ^Fprow I know that ^Cyou know, I’m ^Amkneeling here ^Cnow

[Interlude] C [Verse 3]

My ^Cship hugs the ^Grocks, and the ^Cgale’s my back ^Gdoor ^CLashing and ^Gsmashing and ^Fwaging its ^Gwar My ^Ccrew man the ^Amlifeboat, please ^Emsee them a^Fshore All ^Dmtold, it won’t ^Chold even ^Gone person ^Cmore ^FHere by Si^Cerra Le^Gone’s rocky ^Cfloor

[Verse 4]

Forgive my neg^Glect, old ^Cfriend, it was my ^Gloss I ^Cwait for my ^Gfate as the ^Fship starts to ^Gtoss I ^Cfeel the cold ^Amwaters, I ^Emsee the dark ^Fmoss Will I ^Dmsail through this ^Cgale or to ^Gheaven on a ^Ccross? ^F ^C ^G ^C ^Am

[Chorus]

^EmFriend, my old ^Ffriend, who looked out for ^Cme Through squalls and long ^Fhauls, while I sailed the ^Gsea ^AmI’ll take the ^Gwheel if ^Cyou’ll ride the ^Fbow You know that ^CI know, you’re ^Amstanding here ^Cnow

[Interlude] C [Verse 5]

As I ^Cstood on the ^Grocks of Si^Cerra Le^Gone By the ^Csea, the blue ^Gsea of Si^Ferra Le^Gone ^CClose by the ^Amspot where the ^Emletter had ^Fblown And ^Dmthought for ^Cnaught of the ^Gsailor, un^Cknown ^FThere by the ^Ccoast of Si^Gerra Le^Cone

[Verse 6]

Then I saw old ^Gletters carved ^Cinto the ^Gstone By the ^Csea, the blue ^Gsea of Si^Ferra Le^Gone '^CThank you, old ^AmFriend', just ^Emthose words, a^Flone Carved ^Dmthere like a ^Cprayer by a ^Gsailor, un^Cknown ^FHere on the ^Ccoast of Si^Gerra Le^Cone ^FHere by the ^Chand of a ^Gsailor, un^Cknown

================================================================ 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]

The Maiden weighed anchor at her ^Glast port of ^Amcall ^G ^Am Jenny ran down the docks, ^Glate for the ^AmBall ^G ^Am Her father yelled, "Jenny, be ^Gback by mid^Amnight ^G ^Am For the Maiden, she ^Gsails in the ^Emmorning’s half-^Amlight" ^G ^Am

[Verse 2]

She didn’t turn back, just ^Gwaved her ^Amhand ^G ^Am ^CAlready ^Ghearing the ^Emdrums of the ^Amband ^G ^Am They were washing the streets with ^Gwhiskey and ^Amwine ^G ^Am When she reached the ^GBall, the ^Emclock struck ^Amnine ^G ^Am

[Verse 3]

She wore a mask made from ^Gblack-feathered ^Amdoves ^G ^Am A crimson dress and ^Glong black ^Amgloves ^G ^Am She ^Ckicked off her ^Gshoes and ^Amdanced on her ^Gtoes ^C ^G With her ^Amhair blowing ^Cwherever ^Emnight winds ^Amchose ^G ^Am

[Chorus]

She saw an angel, a ^Gdevil, a ^Ccat and a ^Gclown ^C ^G A ^Cbird with no ^Gwings and a king with no ^Amcrown ^G ^Am ^G ^AmDancers ^Gflowed like ^Cwater on the ^Gsquare ^C ^G Then ^Amparted like ^Gwaves and a ^Emman stood ^Amthere

[Interlude] Am F Am C G Am G Am [Verse 4]

He wore a plain black mask like a ^Gsecond ^Amskin ^G ^Am It covered his face from ^Gforehead to ^Amchin ^G ^Am Oh, she could taste in the wind, the ^Gsalt of the ^Amsea ^G ^Am And his eyes were as ^Gblue and his ^Emmanner as ^Amfree ^G ^Am

[Verse 5]

He said, "Jenny, as always, you’re ^Glovely, my ^Amdear ^G ^Am As for ^Cme, I’ve ^Gaged a^Emnother sad ^Amyear" ^G ^Am With a plead in his voice and a ^Gneed in his ^Amstance ^G ^Am "Jenny Mac^Gkay, honour ^Emme with a ^Amdance" ^G ^Am

[Verse 6]

She didn’t know how he ^Gknew her ^Amname ^G ^Am But something inside her ^Glit like a ^Amflame ^G ^Am And it ^Cseemed that this ^Gmoment was ^Amdestined to ^Gbe ^C ^G So she ^Amdanced with him ^Cthere, on the ^Emsquare, by the ^Amsea ^G ^Am

[Chorus]

She was drunk, ^Gdrunk, ^Cdrunk by the ^Gmoon ^C ^G Had they ^Cdanced for ^Ghours or just that one ^Amtune? ^G ^Am She could have danced, ^Gdanced, ^Cdanced all ^Gnight ^C ^G But the ^AmMaiden must ^Gsail in the ^Emmorning’s half-^Amlight

[Interlude] Am F Am C G Am G Am [Verse 7]

He said, "Jenny Mackay, does it ^Gbring you ^Amjoy ^G ^Am To dance with the man you ^Gtried to de^Amstroy?" ^G ^Am Then he took off his mask, and she ^Gtook in a ^Ambreath ^G ^Am It was Captain Le^Groux of the ^Emship known as ^AmDeath ^G ^Am

[Verse 8]

The clock struck 12, he ^Gstood stone ^Amstill ^G ^Am He said, "^COne fateful ^Gnight off the ^Emcoast of Bra^Amzil ^G ^Am The pirate ship, Maiden, came ^Glooking for ^Amme ^G ^Am Captain Mac^Gkay and his ^Emdaughter, Jen^Amny" ^G ^Am

[Verse 9]

"I’d danced with you once at this ^GBal Mas^Amque ^G ^Am I never knew then you were ^GJenny Mac^Amkay ^G ^Am You ^Cburned half my ^Gship, took the ^Amlives of my ^Gcrew ^C ^G And ^Amthere on my ^Cdeck, tried to ^Emtake my life ^Amtoo" ^G ^Am

[Chorus]

"The cannons ^Gblazed and the ^Cwaves grew ^Ghigher ^C ^G There was ^Cblood in the ^Gsky and the sea was on ^Amfire ^G ^Am Never a^Ggain will ^Csuch a night ^Gbe ^C ^G As when ^AmDeath and the ^GMaiden ^Emdanced in the ^Amsea"

[Interlude] Am F Am C G Am G Am [Verse 10]

"A shot from my pistol ^Gbloodied your d^Amress ^G ^Am You fell in my arms with a ^Glady’s fi^Amnesse ^G ^Am Then ran your cold steel from my ^Gforehead to ^Amchin" ^G ^Am And said to me ^Gsoftly, "I’ll ^Emsee you a^Amgain" ^G ^Am

[Verse 11]

She touched her hand to the ^Gscar on his ^Amface ^G ^Am For a ^Gsecond it faded ^Emleaving no ^Amtrace ^G ^Am Then she kissed him one ^Gtime, like her ^Emlips were a ^Ambrand ^G ^Am Then ^Gslipped from his grasp, like ^Emwater through ^Amsand ^G ^Am

[Chorus]

Now the Maiden she ^Gsails with ^Cghosts on her ^Gdecks ^C ^G She’ll sail for^Cever, this ^Gworld or the ^Amnext ^G ^Am Searching for ^GDeath be^Clow and a^Gbove ^C ^G But ^Amone night a ^Gyear, Jenny ^Emdances her ^Amlove

[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]

Got a ^Ammidnight feelin’ since this afternoon ^G My ^Amsoul needs the healin’ of the Memphis moon ‘Cause ^Gwhen the ^Dmnight comes down with a thudding crash My ^Amjeans become a gown with a silver sash ^G

[Chorus]

A ^E7hoot owl sounds its ^Ameerie rhyme I ^E7guess it’s been around for a ^Amlong, long time And ^E7while it sings its^Am haunting tune I’m gonna ^D7dance by the light ^E7of the^F ^E7Memphis ^Ammoon

[Interlude] Am G Am G [Verse 2]

^AmDark waters swell to a riverboat’s cry ^G The ^Amstars all yell, and the willows sigh ^G ^DmDeep as death, oh, the Mighty Mississip’ Just ^Amrollin’ along like she’s takin’ a trip ^G

[Chorus]

^E7Makin’ her rounds in her^Am muddy shoes ^E7Dressin’ in browns, but ^Amsingin’ in blues ^E7 Midnight fever’s gonna^Am hit me soon I’m gonna ^D7dance by the light ^E7of the^F ^E7Memphis ^Ammoon

[Instrumental]] Am G Am G Am [Bridge] Time dances slow to the rhythm of my feet

^AmThe moon hangs low over Beale Street

[Chorus]

A ^E7hoot owl sounds its ^Ameerie rhyme I ^E7guess it’s been around for a ^Amlong, long time And ^E7while it sings its ^Amhaunting tune I’m gonna ^D7dance by the light ^E7of the^F ^E7Memphis ^Ammoon

[Outro] Am G Am ================================================================ Track 8 - The Safebreaker's Daughter [Verse 1]

^GIn a dream I ^Chad, ^Dall the rich were ^Gkind And business not so ^Cbad, and ^Djustice not so ^Gblind And, no, we needed ^Cmore, ‘cause you ^Dreaped just what you ^Gsowed No one knockin’ at your ^Cdoor sayin’, you ^Dowed more than you ^Gowed

[Chorus]

Oh, the banker’s ^Cboy, the ^Gboss’s ^Dson They’re ^Ghoarding all the ^Ctreasures their ^Ddaddy’s ^Gwon And they think the vault won’t ^Cbreak, come ^Ghell or high ^Dwater They ^Galways under^Cestimate the ^Dsafebreaker’s ^Gdaughter They always under^Cestimate the ^Dsafebreaker’s ^Gdaughter

[Interlude] G D/F# C G C G D G G D/F# C G D G [Verse 2]

Well, they took the land a^Cway from the ^Dfarmer’s ^Gdaughter And they took away the ^Cclay from the ^Dson of the ^Gpotter And with no drop of ^Cshame in their ^Dwheelin’ dealin’ ^Geyes So when the morning ^Ccame, all she ^Dleft them were their ^Glies

[Chorus]

[Interlude]

^GDum de da da ^Cdum, ^Gdum de da da ^Dda da ^GDum de da da ^Cdum, da ^Ddum de da da ^Gdum ^GDum de da da ^Cdum, ^Gdum de da da ^Dda da ^GDum de da da ^Cdum, da ^Ddum de da da ^Gdum

[Verse 3]

Well, they took the rights a^Cway from the ^Dchildren of the ^Gfree They said that gold to^Cday is worth ^Dmore than liber^Gty They didn’t think she’d ^Cfind the ^Dstash they were stock^Gpiling She found the safe, be^Chind a ^Dpicture of them ^Gsmiling

[Chorus]

Oh, the banker’s ^Cboy, the ^Gboss’s ^Dson They’re ^Ghoarding all the ^Ctreasures their ^Ddaddy’s ^Gwon And they think the vault is ^Csafe, but she’s ^Gsmarter than they ^Dthought her They ^Galways under^Cestimate the ^Dsafebreaker’s ^Gdaughter They always under^Cestimate the ^Dsafebreaker’s ^Gdaughter

[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]

^GShe don’t keep a ^Cdime and no ^Gbribe has ever ^Dbought her She re^Gmembers all the ^Cthings her ^Ddaddy ^Gtaught her You can’t lock her ^Cout, or ^Gput the chains a^Dbout her Oh, ^Gshe won’t be de^Cnied, the ^Dsafebreaker’s ^Gdaughter

[Outro] (repeat and fade to end)

^GDum de da da ^Cdum, ^Gdum de da da ^Dda da ^GDum de da da ^Cdum, da ^Ddum de da da ^Gdum ^GDum de da da ^Cdum, ^Gdum de da da ^Dda da ^GDum de da da ^Cdum, da ^Ddum de da da ^Gdum

================================================================ 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

Where ^Emalligators slink, mosquitoes drink (G) And wild things love to grow (F#) Em It was past midnight, I had one headlight And my ^Amgas pedal on the floor I was ^Emtired of watching clocks and taking hard knocks And ^Amlocking my ^B7dreams in a ^Emdrawer

[Verse 2]

Up a^Ehead in the night, a deer took flight As ^Amwarm rain started to fall Heard m^Emy tires squeal as I jerked the wheel And drove ^Amstraight into an ^B7oak tree ^Emwall

My head in a daze, I escaped through a maze

Of ^Ambusted steel and glass In ^Emsilk pantyhose with holes in the toes I started ^Amrunning through the ^B7tall wet ^Emgrass

[Chorus]

I saw a ^Chouse all alone, as ^B7bare as a bone Like ^Amsomeone had thrown it a^Emway It ^Creeked of smoke and ne^B7glect That choked ^Ammemories of a better ^B7day I ^Amstood at the door, ^Dsoaked to my core And ^Emfeeling just a little insane When the ^Amdoor opened wide, a ^Cman stood inside And said, "^B7Come 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]

His ^Emeyes were dark like the eyes of a shark (G)(F#) And his face was neither young nor old I ^Empaused 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 But I be^Amgan to shiver and shake He gave me^Em a coat of fur, a smile demure And a ^Amplate full of ^B7devil’s food ^Emcake

[Verse 4]

Oh, he sat ^Edown on a chair like a lion in his lair And ^Amlit up a thin cigar With an ^Emair of conceit, reached down by his feet And ^Ampicked up a ^B7red gui^Emtar

He ran his hand down the strings like his fingers were wings

And a ^Amstrange silence fell He ^Emsaid, "This is my story, my life and my glory Oh, ^Amthis is my ^B7sweet ^EmJezebel"

[Chorus]

^CJezebel was slim with ^B7ebony trim And I^Am stared in wonder and ^Emawe Her ^Cneck was inlaid with ^B7pearl and jade And ^AmI couldn’t find one single ^B7flaw He ^Amstarted to play, and I ^Dstarted to pray As that ^Emfire burned hotter than hell And I could ^Amfeel a hole burning ^Cclear through my soul As I ^B7listened 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

And I ^Amfound myself lost in her spell Of ^Emmurder and lies, deceit and disguise Was the ^Amsong of, ^B7oh, sweet Jeze^Embel

Like a siren of the sea, she sang it to me

And ^Ameach note was calling my name And the ^Emharder I fought, the closer I got To ^Amstanding in that ^B7red-hot ^Emflame

[Chorus]

A ^Cfaint morning glow, through a ^B7dusty window Washed^Am over me like a ^Emflood And the ^Csong of a sparrow came ^B7straight as an arrow Through ^Amthat guitar, red as ^B7blood There was ^Amfear and surprise in those ^Dcold shark eyes As I ^Emreached for sweet Jezebel And the ^Amflames leapt higher as ^Cstraight in the fire I threw that ^B7guitar 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

My ^Emcar smelled of smoke from the rain that had choked (G)(F#) The fire that flamed from the crash I ^Emjumped from my seat, away from that heat And ^Amkneeled on that rain-soaked ground I ^Emprayed till I cried, till the fear in my died And on that^Am lonely ^B7road I was ^Emfound

[Verse 7] Oh, never again will I be taken in

By a ^Amstranger in the night I ^Emtake the path narrow and the song of a sparrow Leads me ^Amstraight into the ^B7arms of the ^Emlight But some^Amtimes in the dark I see the ^Deyes of a shark And I’m ^Emlost in a dream for a spell Be^Amfore I can wake, I eat ^Cdevil’s food cake And ^B7hear again, sweet Jezebel N.C. Em Hear again, sweet Jezebel

[Outro] C F#dim7 D7/F# C F#dim7 C D7/F# Em ================================================================

Mean Mary - Year of the sparrow