mewithoutYou – The King Beetle On A Coconut Estate (Guitar)

       Bm                          A
As the moon rose and the hour grew late,

     A                      Bm
the day-help on The Coconut Estate

      Bm                                          A
raked up the dried leaves that fell dead from the trees,

           A                        Bm
which they burned in a pile by the lake.

Bm A A Bm
Mmmmmmm

    Bm                       A
The beetle king summoned his men

             A                        Bm
and from the top of the rhododendron stem,

          Bm                               A
"Calling all volunteers who can carry back here,

          A                              Bm
the great mystery that's been lit once again."

Bm A A Bm
Mmmmmmm

     Bm                      A
One beetle emerged from the crowd

      A                    Bm
in a fashionable abdomen, shroud.

             Bm                                       A
Said, "I'm a professor, you see, that's no mystery to me.

         A                         F#
I'll be back soon, successful and proud."

              G                  Bm
But when the beetle professor returned,

                   A                         E
he crawled on all six as his wings had been burned

                     G                       Bm
and described to the finest detail all he'd learned.

                    A           F#           Bm
There was neither a light nor a heat in his words.

Bm A A Bm
Mmmmmmm   (x2)

    Bm                   A
The deeply dissatisfied king

            A                              Bm
climbed the same stem to announce the same thing.

            Bm                                 A
But in his second appeal sought to sweeten the deal

       A                    Bm
with a silver padparadscha ring.

        Bm                           A
The lieutenant stepped out from the line

        A                     Bm
as he lassoed his thorax with twine,

               Bm                            A
thinking, "I'm stronger and braver and I'll earn the king's favor.

    A                      F#
One day all he has will be mine."

        G                       Bm
But for all the lieutenant's conceit,

                 A                      E
he too returned singed and admitting defeat.

           G                             Bm
"I had no choice, please believe, but retreat.

                     A                           E
It was bright as the sun, but with ten times the heat

                         G                       Bm
and it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes.

                       A                       E
Though smothered with sticks, it advanced undeterred.

           G                         Bm
Carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky, my lord

       A             F#         Bm
like a flock of dark vanishing birds."

Bm A A Bm
Mmmmmmmm (x2)

     C                            Em
The beetle king slammed down his fist.

                  D                        A
"Your flowery description's no better than his!

                C                            Em
We sent for the great light and you bring us this?!

                       D                           A
We didn't ask what it seems like, we asked what it is!"

              C                      Em
His majesty's hour at last is drawn nigh.

            D                              A
The elegant queen took her leave from his side.

              C                          Em
Without understanding, but without asking why,

                   D                          A
she gathered their kids to come bid their goodbyes.

                   C                               Em
And the father explained, "You've been somewhat deceived,

                         D                            A
we've all called me your dad, but your true Dad's not me.

                    C                           Em
I lay next to your mom and your forms were conceived.

                   D                        A
Your Father's the light within all that you see.

                 C                       Em
He fills up the ponds as He empties the clouds;

               D                            A
holds without hands and He speaks without sounds.

                        C                           Em
He provides us with the cow's waste and coconuts to eat;

                     D                             A
giving one that nice salt taste, and the other is sweet.

                 C                                Em
Sends the black carriage the day death shows its face;

              D                         A
thinning our numbers with kindness and grace.

                C                          Em
And just as a flower and its fragrance are one,

                D                      A
so must each of you and your Father become."

                     C                        Em
"Now distribute my scepter, my crown, and my throne

                        D                       A
and all we've known as wealth to the poor and alone."

                    C                            Em
Without further hesitation, without looking back home,

                  D                       A
the king flew headlong into the blazing unknown.

            C                             Em
And as the smoke king hurled higher and higher,

                   D                         A
the troops flying loops round the telephone wires;

                C                                       Em
They said, "Our beloved's not dead, but his highness instead,

           D      B           Em
has been utterly changed into fire."

            C                    Em
Why not be utterly changed into fire?

            D                     A
Why not be utterly changed into fire?

            C                    Em
Why not be utterly changed into fire?

            D      B              Em
Why not be utterly changed into fire? (x2)