Steeleye Span – Mistletoe Bough (Guitar)

                           Bb
The mistletoe bough in the olden time

    C                  Am
Was honoured in many a sacred rhyme

   Dm                      C      G
By bards and by singers of high degree

     Bb           C            Am      Dm
When cut from its place on the old oak tree

   F           C     Dm          C
By white-robed Druid with golden knife

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For they thought it a magical Tree of Life

    Dm                 C    G
And many a promise and holy vow

          Bb       C            Am        Dm
They were solemnly sworn on the mistletoe bough

                           Bb
The mistletoe bough in the Norseman's lay

     C                    Am
Told ever of horrors, and love's dismay

         Dm                  C        G
When the old blind god, by a sportive blow

     Bb          C         Am       Dm
Laid Balder, the beautiful sun god, low

      F        C             Dm       C
Thenceforth it was deemed an accursed thing

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But love out of sorrow could victory bring

        Dm                 C       G
And the tears of Freja are shining now

         Bb      C             Am        Dm
Like the orient, pearls on the mistletoe bough

                           Bb
The mistletoe bough on the festive throng

      C                   Am
Looks down amid echoes of mirthful song

      Dm                         C           G
Where hearts they make music, as old friends meet

      Bb              C           Am       Dm
Whose pulse keeps the time to the dancer's feet

    F             C        Dm            C
And eyes they are brighter with looks of love

     Dm      C           Bb        Am
Than gems outshining the lamps up above

    Dm              C          G
And who is she that will not allow

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A kiss that's claimed under the mistletoe bough?