Fairport Convention - Crazy Man Michael

amazing track written by richard thompson and david swarbrick and sung by sandy
denny on fairport convention’s “liefe & lief” album .

Bm D A Fm
within the fire and out upon the sea
Bm A Bm
crazy man michael was walking
Bm D A Fm
he met with a raven with eyes black as coals
Bm A Bm
and shortly they were A – talking

Fm Bm
“your future , your future , i would tell to you
Fm A
your future , you often have asked me
Bm A Bm Fm
your true love will die by your own right hand
Bm A Bm
and crazy man michael will cursed be”

Bm D A Fm
michael he ranted and michael he raved
Bm A Bm
and beat at the four winds with his fists – oh
Bm D A Fm
he laughed and he cried , he shouted and he swore
Bm A Bm
for his mad mind had trapped him with a kiss – oh

Fm Bm
“you speak with an evil , you speak with a hate
Fm A
you speak for the devil that haunts me
Bm A Bm Fm
for is she not the fairest in all the broad land?
Bm A Bm
your sorceror’s words are to taunt me”

Bm D A Fm
he took out his dagger of fire and of steel
Fm A
and struck down the raven through the heart – oh
Bm D A Fm
the bird fluttered long and the sky it did spin
Fm A Bm
and the cold earth did wonder and start – oh

Fm Bm
“oh , where is the raven that i struck down dead
Fm A
that here’d lie here on the ground – oh?
Bm A Bm Fm
i see but my true love with a wound so red”
Bm A Bm
her lover’s heart it did pound – oh

Bm D A Fm
crazy man michael , he wanders and walks

and talks to the night and the day – oh
Bm D A Fm
but his eyes they are sane and his speech it is clear
Bm A Bm
and he longs to be far away – oh

Fm Bm
michael he whistles the simplest of tunes
Fm A
and asks the wild woods their pardon
Bm A Bm Fm
for his true love is flown into every flower grown
Bm A Bm
and he must be keeper of the garden

chords by coth