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The Silver Ships Of Andilar

Townes Van Zandt
Version1
90

Chords in this song

Strum
D-DU-UDU
Of  those that sailed the silver ships
   Bflat
 from Andilar I am the last
 The deeds that rang our youthful  dreams
 it seems  shall go undone
 North for the shores of Valinor
   Bflat
 our bows and crimson sails were made
 Our captains were strong, our lances  long
 and our liege  the holy king
 The hills did turn from green to blue
 and vanish as on the decks we watched
 But every thought in that noble company
 was forward bound
 To the lifeless plains of Valinor
 where reigns the dark and frozen one
 And with tongues afire and glorious eyes
 we pledged our mission be
 The clime from mild to bitter ran
 the wind from fair to fierce did blow
 Oath and prayer did turn to thoughts
 of homes left far behind
 Longed every man for some glimpse of land
 and the host that did await us there
 But each new day brought only a sea
 and sky of ice and gray
 Thanks give no word can drag you through
 those endless weeks our ships did roll
 Thanks give you cannot see those sails
 and faces bleach and draw
 Ice we drank and leather did chew
 for the oceans are unwholesome there
 The dead that slid into the seas
 did freeze before our eyes
 Then a wind did fling the ships apart
 each one to go her separate way
 The sky did howl, the hull did groan
 for how long I do not know
 And what men were left when the winds had ceased
 grew dull and low of countenance
 For soldiers denied their battle plain
 on comrades soon must turn
 So one by one we died alone
 some by hunger, some by steel
 Bodies froze where they did fall
 their souls unsanctified
 Until only another and I were left
 then just before his flame did fail
 We shone ourselves brothers-in-arms
 to serve the holy king
 Perhaps this shall reach Andilar
 although I know not how it can
 For once again he's hurled his wind
 upon the silver prow
 But if it should my words are these
 arise young men fine ships to build
 And set them north for Valinor
 'neath standards proud as fire

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Readable chord sheet for The Silver Ships Of Andilar by Townes Van Zandt

[Dm]Of those that sailed the silver ships
    [G]    Bflat  [C]      [Dm]
from Andilar I am the last
The deeds that rang our y[F]outhful dreams
it se[C]ems shall go und[Dm]one
North for the shores of Valinor
     [Gm]      Bflat    [C]         [Dm]
our bows and crimson sails were made
Our captains were strong, our [F]lances long
and our l[C]iege the holy k[Dm]ing

The hills did turn from green to blue
and vanish as on the decks we watched
But every thought in that noble company
was forward bound
To the lifeless plains of Valinor
where reigns the dark and frozen one
And with tongues afire and glorious eyes
we pledged our mission be

The clime from mild to bitter ran
the wind from fair to fierce did blow
Oath and prayer did turn to thoughts
of homes left far behind
Longed every man for some glimpse of land
and the host that did await us there
But each new day brought only a sea
and sky of ice and gray

Thanks give no word can drag you through
those endless weeks our ships did roll
Thanks give you cannot see those sails
and faces bleach and draw
Ice we drank and leather did chew
for the oceans are unwholesome there
The dead that slid into the seas
did freeze before our eyes

Then a wind did fling the ships apart
each one to go her separate way
The sky did howl, the hull did groan
for how long I do not know
And what men were left when the winds had ceased
grew dull and low of countenance
For soldiers denied their battle plain
on comrades soon must turn

So one by one we died alone
some by hunger, some by steel
Bodies froze where they did fall
their souls unsanctified
Until only another and I were left
then just before his flame did fail
We shone ourselves brothers-in-arms
to serve the holy king

Perhaps this shall reach Andilar
although I know not how it can
For once again he's hurled his wind
upon the silver prow
But if it should my words are these
arise young men fine ships to build
And set them north for Valinor
'neath standards proud as fire

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