Decemberists - Crane Wife Parts 1 2 3

* crane wife 1 *

intro

G

verse 1

it was a cold night
Em
and the snow lay around
i pulled my coat tight
C
against the falling down
and the sun was all
G Em
and the sun was all down
and the sun was all
C G
and the sun was all down

verse 2

i Am a poor man
Em
i haven’t wealth nor fame
i have my two hands
C
and a house to my name
and the winter’s so
G Em
and the winter’s so long
and the winter’s so
C D
and the winter’s so long

chorus

and all the stars were crashing ’round
G
as i laid eyes on what i’d found

verse 3

it was a white crane
Em
it was a helpless thing
upon a red stain
C
with an arrow its wing
and it called and cried
G Em
and it called and cried so
and it called and cried
C D
and it called and cried so

chorus

and all the stars were crashing ’round
G
as i laid eyes on what i’d found
Em C
my crane wife , my crane wife
G
my crane wife , my crane wife

verse 4

now i helped her
Em
and i dressed her wounds
and how i held her
C
beneath the rising moon
and she stood to fly
G Em
and she stood to fly away
and she stood to fly
C D
she stood to fly away

chorus

and all the stars were crashing ’round
G
as i laid eyes on what i’d found
Em C
my crane wife , my crane wife
G
my crane wife , my crane wife

G Em C G
da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da
G Em C G
da da da da da da da da da da da da da da da

D Bm D G D Bm D G D Bm D G D A# D G D Bm D G D A# D G

* crane wife 2 *

intro

D

verse 1

C G D
my crane wife arrived at my door in the moonlight
C G D
all star – bright and tongue tied i took her in

verse 2

D C G D
we were married and bells rang sweet for our wedding
C G D
and our bedding was ready when we fell in

chorus

Em A Em
sound the keening bell and see it’s painted red
A G
soft as fontanel , the feathers in the thread
A C G
when all i ever meant to do was to keep you
D G D C D
my crane wife , my crane wife , my crane wife

verse 3

C G D
we were poorly , our fortunes fading hourly
C G D
and how she vowed me she could bring it back

verse 4

D C G D
but i was greedy i was vain and i forced her to weaving
C G D
on cold loom in closed room with down wove

chorus

Em A Em
sound the keening bell and see it’s painted red
A G
soft as fontanel , the feathers in the thread
A C G
when all i ever meant to do was to keep you
D G D C D
my crane wife , my crane wife , my crane wife

outro

Em F
there’s a bend in the wind and it rakes at my heart
Em F
there is blood in the thread and it rakes at my heart

G C G C G C G C G C
rakes at my heart , heart , heart , heart , heart

G C G C

G C G C G C G C
heart , heart , heart , heart , heart , heart , heart , heart

D
my crane wife

* crane wife 3 *

intro

( D A G ) x2

verse 1

D A G
and under the boughs unbound
D A G
all clothed in a snowy shroud
D A G
she had no heart so hardened
D A G
all under the boughs unbound

( D A G ) x2

verse 2

D A G
each feather it fell from skin
D A G
till threadbare she grew thin
D A G
how where my eyes so blinded
D A G
each feather it fell from skin

chorus

D A G
and i will hang my head hang my head low
D A G
and i will hang my head hang my head low

( D A G ) x2

verse 3

D A G
the gray sky looked bitter stained
D A G
a rain cloud and crane on wing
D A G
all out beyond horizons oh
D A G
a gray sky a bitter stain

chorus

D A G
( and i will hang my head hang my head low ) x7

outro

( D A G ) x4
intro

( D A G ) x2

verse 1

D A G
and under the boughs unbound
D A G
all clothed in a snowy shroud
D A G
she had no heart so hardened
D A G
all under the boughs unbound

( D A G ) x2

verse 2

D A G
each feather it fell from skin
D A G
till threadbare she grew thin
D A G
how where my eyes so blinded
D A G
each feather it fell from skin

chorus

D A G
and i will hang my head hang my head low
D A G
and i will hang my head hang my head low

( D A G ) x2

verse 3

D A G
the gray sky looked bitter stained
D A G
a rain cloud and crane on wing
D A G
all out beyond horizons oh
D A G
a gray sky a bitter stain

chorus

D A G
( and i will hang my head hang my head low ) x6

outro

( D A G ) x4