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Rake

Townes Van Zandt
Version1
90

Chords in this song

Strum
D-DU-UDU
 Well, I  used to wake
 and run  with the moon
 I lived  like a rake and a young man
 I covered  my lovers
 with flowers  and wounds
 my laughter  the devil would frighten.
 My sun,  she would come
 and beat  me back down
 but every  cruel day had its nightfall
 I'd welcome  the stars
 with whinin'  guitars
   full of fire and forgetful
 My body was sharp
 my dark hair clean
 and outraged my joyful companion
 and whisperin' women
 how sweet did they seem
 kneelin' for me to command them
 And time was like water
 but I was the sea
 I wouldn't have noticed it passing
 except for the turning
 of night into day
 and turning of day into cursing
 And you look at me now
 don't think I don't know
 what all your eyes are saying
 Does he want us to believe
 these ravings and lies
 they're just tricks that his brain's been aplayin'?
 A lover, the women
 he can't hardly stand
 he trembles, is bent and is broken
 I fall on his true
 but I say to you
 hold your tongues until after I've spoken
 I was taken my pride
 and the pleasure I'd known
 I laughed and said I'd be forgiven
 but my laughter turned round
 eyes blazin' and saying
 friend, we're holding the weapon
 I buried my face
 but it spoke once again
 night to the day we're a-binding
 and now the dark hair's
 like fire on my skin
 and even the moonlight is blinding

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Readable chord sheet for Rake by Townes Van Zandt

Well, [Dm]I used to wake
and [F]run with the moon
I [G]lived like a rake and a young man
I [Dm]covered my lovers
with [F]flowers and wounds
my [G]laughter the devil would frighten.

My [F]sun, she would [G]come
and [C]beat me back [Dm]down
but [C]every cruel day had its [Dm]nightfall
I'd [F]welcome the [G]stars
with [C]whinin' guit[Dm]ars
 [C]   full of fire and for[Dm]getful

My body was sharp
my dark hair clean
and outraged my joyful companion
and whisperin' women
how sweet did they seem
kneelin' for me to command them

And time was like water
but I was the sea
I wouldn't have noticed it passing
except for the turning
of night into day
and turning of day into cursing

And you look at me now
don't think I don't know
what all your eyes are saying
Does he want us to believe
these ravings and lies
they're just tricks that his brain's been aplayin'?

A lover, the women
he can't hardly stand
he trembles, is bent and is broken
I fall on his true
but I say to you
hold your tongues until after I've spoken

I was taken my pride
and the pleasure I'd known
I laughed and said I'd be forgiven
but my laughter turned round
eyes blazin' and saying
friend, we're holding the weapon

I buried my face
but it spoke once again
night to the day we're a-binding
and now the dark hair's
like fire on my skin
and even the moonlight is blinding

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