Michael Martin Murphey – Dancing In The Meadow (Guitar)

         Em         D            C
When the snowfields thaw and the stream beds crawl

       Bm            Em
To the waterfall and river

     Em      D           C
I'll turn my face to the bright green space

       Bm              Em
Of the mother, my life-giver

   D              G
No man has made a ring of jade

     Bm                Em
Like green corn in the husk

   D               G
No man could own a turquoise stone

   Bm               Em
As deep blue as the dusk

   Em   D              C
So come away from your working day

    Bm                 Em
And laugh and let your head go-

    Em    D        C
And bring along an old-time song

    Bm             Em
For dancing in the meadow ...

      Em      D          C
Leave your bedside for a moonlight ride

          Bm              Em
Where the midnight air is warmer

      Em           D             C
We'll sing for the quail and the cotton tail

    Bm                Em
Who still escapes the farmer

D                      G
Deep plum thickets and bramble bush

          Bm              Em
Where the quiet creatures hide

    D            G
Are part of me-a mystery 

      Bm            Em
which I accept with pride

   Em     D        C
If I must stay and lay all day

       Bm            Em
Like a March hare in hedgerow

         Em       D          C
When the hunter's gone, it's all night long

    Bm             Em
For dancing in the meadow ...

         Em       D        C
When the summer's over and come October

        Bm             Em
and the evening air is crisper, 

       Em       D            C
In the mist and smoke by the twisted oak

     Bm                     Em
I'll listen to the branches whisper

     D                 G
Barn dancers reel, the furrowed field

     Bm                Em
Must yield and quickly turn

D                G
Harvest gone the hoot owl song

   Bm              Em
Is one we now must learn

         Em    D    C
Singing, "Who, who, who are you?" 

     Bm               Em
and, "If it's you who said so?"

     Em       D          C
"Who could it be?" "It's only me"

    Bm             Em
I'm dancing in the meadow ...

         Em      D            C
When the seasons pass and the hour glass

    Bm              Em
Has all too quickly shattered

       Em     D     C
You'll lay me low beneath the snow

    Bm          Em
And wonder if I mattered

     D                 G
Late in the night your hair gone white

     Bm              Em
Will surely stand on end;

       D                G
You'll hear me sing, my banjo ring

    Bm                Em
The voice of your old friend

   Em      D          C
If you get brave, run to my grave

    Bm               Em
And holler, "Are you dead?" "No!"

Em     D         C
No tombstone can cover my bones

    Bm             Em
I'm dancing in the meadow