The King Beetle On A Coconut Estate

[Bm]

As the [Bm]moon rose and the hour grew [A]late,
the d[A]ay-help on The Coconut [Bm]Estate
raked [Bm]up the dried leaves that fell dead from the [A]trees,
which they [A]burned in a pile by the l[Bm]ake.

[Bm]Mmm[A]mm[A]mm[Bm]

The [Bm]beetle king summoned his [A]men
and from the [A]top of the rhododendron s[Bm]tem,
"Calling a[Bm]ll volunteers who can carry back [A]here,
the great [A]mystery that's been lit once ag[Bm]ain."

[Bm]Mmm[A]mm[A]mm[Bm]

One b[Bm]eetle emerged from the c[A]rowd
in a f[A]ashionable abdomen, s[Bm]hroud.
Said, "I'm a [Bm]professor, you see, that's no mystery to [A]me.
I'll be b[A]ack soon, successful and p[F#]roud."

But when the b[G]eetle professor ret[Bm]urned,
he crawled on all s[A]ix as his wings had been b[E]urned
and described to the [G]finest detail all he'd l[Bm]earned.
There was neither a [A]light nor a [F#]heat in his w[Bm]ords.

[Bm]Mmm[A]mm[A]mm[Bm]   (x2)

The [Bm]deeply dissatisfied k[A]ing
climbed the [A]same stem to announce the same [Bm]thing.
But in his s[Bm]econd appeal sought to sweeten the [A]deal
with a [A]silver padparadscha r[Bm]ing.

The lieu[Bm]tenant stepped out from the l[A]ine
as he la[A]ssoed his thorax with [Bm]twine,
thinking, "I'm [Bm]stronger and braver and I'll e[A]arn the king's favor.
One [A]day all he has will be [F#]mine."

But for [G]all the lieutenant's con[Bm]ceit,
he too returned s[A]inged and admitting def[E]eat.
"I had no c[G]hoice, please believe, but ret[Bm]reat.
It was bright as the [A]sun, but with ten times the [E]heat
and it cracked like the t[G]hunder and bloodshot my [Bm]eyes.
Though smothered with s[A]ticks, it advanced undet[E]erred.
Carelessly [G]cast an ash cloud to the s[Bm]ky, my lord
like a [A]flock of dark [F#]vanishing b[Bm]irds."

[Bm]Mmm[A]mm[A]mm[Bm]m (x2)

Modulation: [Em] [D] [D] [Em] (x2)

The b[C]eetle king slammed down his f[Em]ist.
"Your flowery desc[D]ription's no better than [A]his!
We sent for the [C]great light and you bring us [Em]this?!
We didn't ask what it s[D]eems like, we asked what it [A]is!"
His majesty's [C]hour at last is drawn n[Em]igh.
The elegant [D]queen took her leave from his s[A]ide.
Without unders[C]tanding, but without asking[Em] why,
she gathered their [D]kids to come bid their good[A]byes.
And the father expl[C]ained, "You've been somewhat dec[Em]eived,
we've all called me your [D]dad, but your true Dad's not [A]me.
I lay next to your m[C]om and your forms were conce[Em]ived.
Your Father's the l[D]ight within all that you [A]see.
He fills up the p[C]onds as He empties the c[Em]louds;
holds without h[D]ands and He speaks without so[A]unds.
He provides us with the [C]cow's waste and coconuts to [Em]eat;
giving one that nice [D]salt taste, and the other is s[A]weet.
Sends the black c[C]arriage the day death shows its f[Em]ace;
thinning our n[D]umbers with kindness and g[A]race.
And just as a fl[C]ower and its fragrance are [Em]one,
so must each of [D]you and your Father bec[A]ome."
"Now distribute my sc[C]epter, my crown, and my t[Em]hrone
and all we've known as w[D]ealth to the poor and al[A]one."
Without further hesi[C]tation, without looking back [Em]home,
the king flew head[D]long into the blazing un[A]known.
And as the s[C]moke king hurled higher and hi[Em]gher,
the troops flying l[D]oops round the telephone w[A]ires;
They said, "Our [C]beloved's not dead, but his highness ins[Em]tead,
has been ut[D]terly c[B]hanged into [Em]fire."

Why not be u[C]tterly changed into f[Em]ire?
Why not be u[D]tterly changed into fi[A]re?
Why not be u[C]tterly changed into f[Em]ire?
Why not be u[D]tterly [B]changed into fi[Em]re? (x2)