Sweet William

[G] [G] [G] [G]

I was[G] born with this [Am]story, it's [Em]older than[C] I
And [G]yet you when you h[Am]ear it yo[Em]u'll know in the [C]sky
In th[G]e wind of your k[Am]nowledge, In the[Em] cut of your [C]jib
That the f[G]ibre of win[Am]d is as [Em]new from my l[C]ip
As was eve[G]r and m[Am]ore and e[Em]ver will [C]be
'til the u[G]nion we [Am]face casts[Em] us finally f[D]ree[C]

[G]

For w[C]e in the l[D]ove of an earth[G]-bidden dance
Stand en[C]thralled of [D]that, which from[G] heaven, perchance
Lets us m[C]ove with the gi[D]fts we were g[G]iven in grace
And smi[C]le in the arm[D]s of Sweet W[Am]illiam's embrace      [G]

[G] [G]

William's wanderings took him abroad
Showed him the lay of the searcher's long road
To the place he stood now 'neath the black laden sky
And the crook of his father had brought fortune nigh
Read the sign where he looked, Not the bull, nor the bear
Nor a burly red lion, or the tortoise and hare

For we in the love of an earth-bidden dance
Stand enthralled of it, which from heaven, perchance
Lets us move with the gifts we were given in grace
And smile in the arms of Sweet William's embrace

The end[G] of the [Am]world was the [Em]name of th[C]e inn
Said fa[G]ir William fa[Am]rewell to the w[Em]orld and its [C]sin
It[G]s sin         [G]

Full [G]balmy was th[Am]e winter air
All we[Em]t with what might d[C]ie
A wis[G]hing well, the oc[Em]ean bear
A mil[Em]lpond in his e[C]yes
A gl[G]ance to see from w[Am]hence he came
For Wi[Em]lliam with a lan[C]dlocked turn
Ve[Am]rmin what he stood[Am] to lose
The s[Am]kin-shot snakes and e[Am]arthy worms

His boots trod soft inside the inn
His greeted all was here
Abrasive lowly nods came back
Then bent toward their beer
They must know I thought Willy now
They've seen me come from miles
The thought was struck as whisky poured
And barmen gave all smiles

Then fol[C]lowed thi[Em]s a cur[D]ious th[Am]ing
The [G]eldest of the host
Sang s[C]oftly whe[Em]re he s[D]at and dr[Am]ank
To [G]love a worthy toast
His s[C]ong was [Em]of a str[D]anger[Am]
Summo[G]ned for his rope
In a[C]ll would [Em]be to s[D]et us f[Am]ree
His s[G]ong was strong and bold,

It went:

For we in the love of an earth-bidden dance
Stand enthralled of that, which from heaven, perchance
Lets us move with the gifts we were given in grace
And smile in the arms of Sweet William's embrace

I was born with this story, it's older than I
And yet you when you hear it you'll know in the sky
In the wind of your knowledge, In the cut of your jib
That the fibre of wind is as new from my lip
As was ever and more and ever will be
'til the union we face casts us finally free