Townes Van Zandt – The Silver Ships Of Andilar (Guitar)

Capo 4

Key

Versions (3)

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Chords

Note: G* Stay in the Am shape but to hammer the 3rd fret of the low E string for a G note. Separately the Am chord has a alternating hammer on with the middle finger. [Intro] G* Am Am Am G* Am Am Am G* [Verse 1]

Am
Well, of those that sailed the silver ships

     Dm   F              Am
From Andilar, I am the last

                             C
And the deeds that rang our youthful dreams

    G                Am
It seems shall go undone

Am
Well, north for the shores of Valinor

Dm            F                  Am
Our bows and crimson sails were made

                                     C
And our captains were strong and our lances long

        G              Am
And our liege the holy king

[Verse 2]

Am
Well, the hills did turn from green to blue

    Dm        F                Am
And vanish as on the decks, we watched

                          C      G
But every thought in that noble company

            Am
Was forward bound

Am
To the lifeless plains of Valinor

      Dm         F               Am
Where reigns the dark and frozen one

                           C
And with tongues afire and glorious eyes

G                      Am G*
We pledged our mission be

[Verse 3]

Am
Well the clime from mild to bitter ran

        Dm         F                   Am
And the winds from fair to fierce, did blow

                    C
Oath and prayer did turn to thoughts

   G                Am
Of homes left far behind

Am
Longed every man for some glimpse of land

        Dm      F              Am
And the host that did await us there

                 C
But each new day brought only a sea

    G                Am G*
And sky of ice and gray

[Verse 4]

Am
Thanks give, no words can drag you through

      Dm      F                    Am
Those endless weeks, our ships did roll

                         C
Thanks give, you cannot see those sails

    G                Am
And faces bleach and draw

Ice we drank and leather did chew

        Dm     F               Am
For the oceans are unwholesome there

        C
And the dead that slid into the seas

G                     Am
Did freeze before our eyes

[Verse 5]

Am
Then a wind did fling the ships apart

Dm          F               Am
Each one to go her separate way

                             C
And the sky did howl and the hull did groan

    G                  Am
For how long, I do not know

Am
And what men were left when the winds had ceased

     Dm       F              Am
Grew dull and low of countenance

                         C
For a soldier denied his battle plain

G                      Am
On a comrade soon must turn

[Verse 6]

Am
And so one by one, we died alone

        Dm      F       Am
Some by hunger, some by steel

               C
And the bodies froze where they did fall

            G          Am
Their souls un-sanctified

Until only another and I were left

     Dm   F                    Am
Then just before his flame did fail

                        C
We were shone ourselves brothers-in-arms

G                 Am  G*
To serve the holy king

[Verse 7]

Am
Well, perhaps this shall reach Andilar

Dm       F                 Am
Although I know not how it can

                C
For once again, he's hurled his wind

G                 Am
Upon the silver prow

But if it should, my words are these

 Dm      F                        Am
"Arise, young men, fine ships to build

    C
And set them north for Valinor

 G                        Am
'Neath standards proud as fire"