Anaïs Mitchell – Riddles Wisely Expounded (Guitar)

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Artists: Anaïs Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer Song: Riddles Wisely Expounded Album: Child Ballads [Intro] Bb Bb Eb F Bb F Bb F Bb [Verse 1]
                 Bb
There were three sisters in the north

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

               Gm                F
And they lived in their mother's house

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon 

             Bb
There came a man one evening late

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

            Gm              F
And he came knocking at the gate

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon (fill out chord)
[Verse 2]
           Bb
The eldest sister let him in

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

               Gm                 F
And locked the door with a silver pin

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

           Bb
The second sister made his bed

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

              Gm                 F
And laid soft pillows 'neath his head

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

             Bb
The youngest sister, fair and bright

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

          Gm                       F
She lay beside him all through the night

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon (fill out chord)
[Instrumental] Bb Bb Eb F Bb F (2x) [Verse 3]
           Bb
And in the morning, come the day

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

                 Gm                  F
She said, "Young man, will you marry me?"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

              Bb
And he said, "Yes, I'll marry thee

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

           Gm             F
If you can answer this to me"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon (fill out chord)
[Verse 4]
         Bb
"What is greener than the grass?

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

            Gm                F
And what is smoother than the glass?"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

         Bb
"What is louder than a horn?

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

            Gm             F
And what is sharper than a thorn?"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

         Bb
"What is deeper than the sea?

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

            Gm              F
And what is longer than the way?"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon (fill out chord)
[Verse 5] - Minimal. Focus on vocal
        Bb
"Envy's greener than the grass

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

           Gm                F
Flattery's smoother than the glass"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

                 Bb
"Rumor's louder than a horn

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

          Gm             F
Slander's sharper than a thorn"

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

           Bb
"Regret is deeper than the sea

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

            Gm             F
But love is longer than the way"

           Bb             Eb
(Silent line)
[Instrumental] Bb Bb Gm F Bb Eb (2x) (fill out chord) [Verse 6] Forte. Strum Harder.
           Bb
The eldest sister rang the bell

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

            Gm               F
She rang it from the highest hill

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

            Bb
The second sister made the gown

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

             Gm             F
She sewed it of the silk so fine

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

              Bb
The youngest sister, true and wise

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

                Gm           F
They've made of her a lovely bride

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon (fill out chord)
[Verse 7] - Minimal. Focus on Vocal
              Bb
And now fair maids, I bid adieu

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

              Gm                    F
These parting words I'll leave with you

           Bb             Eb
And you'll beguile a lady soon

                 Bb
May you always constant prove

        Bb
Lay the bend to the bonny broom

         Gm              F
Unto the one that you do love
Bb Eb [Outro] Bb Bb Gm F Bb Eb (fill out chord)