Mewithoutyou - The King Beetle On A Coconut Estate

intro : Bm ( 2 measures )

Bm A
as the moon rose and the hour grew late ,
A Bm
the day – help on the coconut estate
Bm A
raked up the dried leaves that fell dead from the trees ,
A Bm
which they burned in a pile by the lake .

Bm A A Bm
mmmmmmm

Bm A
the beetle king summoned his men
A Bm
and from the top of the rhododendron stem ,
Bm A
“calling all volunteers who can carry back here ,
A Bm
the great mystery that’s been lit once again . ”

Bm A A Bm
mmmmmmm

Bm A
one beetle emerged from the crowd
A Bm
in a fashionable abdomen , shroud .
Bm A
said , “i’m a professor , you see , that’s no mystery to me .
A Bm
i’ll be back soon , successful and proud . ”

G Bm
but when the beetle professor returned ,
A E
he crawled on all six as his wings had been burned
G Bm
and described to the finest detail all he’d learned .
A Bm
there was neither a light nor a heat in his words .

Bm A A Bm
mmmmmmm ( x2 )

Bm A
the deeply dissatisfied king
A Bm
climbed the same stem to announce the same thing .
Bm A
but in his second appeal sought to sweeten the deal
A Bm
with a silver padparadscha ring .

Bm A
the lieutenant stepped out from the line
A Bm
as he lassoed his thorax with twine ,
Bm A
thinking , “i’m stronger and braver and i’ll earn the king’s favor .
A Bm
one day all he has will be mine . ”

G Bm
but for all the lieutenant’s conceit ,
A E
he too returned singed and admitting defeat .
G Bm
“i had no choice , please believe , but retreat .
A E
it was bright as the sun , but with ten times the heat
G Bm
and it cracked like the thunder and bloodshot my eyes .
A E
though smothered with sticks , it advanced undeterred .
G Bm
carelessly cast an ash cloud to the sky , my lord
A Bm
like a flock of dark vanishing birds . ”

Bm A A Bm
mmmmmmmm ( x2 )

modulation : Em D D Em ( x2 )

C Em
the beetle king slammed down his fist .
D A
“your flowery description’s no better than his!
C Em
we sent for the great light and you bring us this?!
D A
we didn’t ask what it seems like , we asked what it is!”
C Em
his majesty’s hour at last is drawn nigh .
D A
the elegant queen took her leave from his side .
C Em
without understanding , but without asking why ,
D A
she gathered their kids to come bid their goodbyes .
C Em
and the father explained , “you’ve been somewhat deceived ,
D A
we’ve all called me your dad , but your true dad’s not me .
C Em
i lay next to your mom and your forms were conceived .
D A
your father’s the light within all that you see .
C Em
he fills up the ponds as he empties the clouds;
D A
holds without hands and he speaks without sounds .
C Em
he provides us with the cow’s waste and coconuts to eat;
D A
giving one that nice salt taste , and the other is sweet .
C Em
sends the black carriage the day death shows its face;
D A
thinning our numbers with kindness and grace .
C Em
and just as a flower and its fragrance are one ,
D A
so must each of you and your father become . ”
C Em
“now distribute my scepter , my crown , and my throne
D A
and all we’ve known as wealth to the poor and alone . ”
C Em
without further hesitation , without looking back home ,
D A
the king flew headlong into the blazing unknown .
C Em
and as the smoke king hurled higher and higher ,
D A
the troops flying loops round the telephone wires;
C Em
they said , “our beloved’s not dead , but his highness instead ,
D A
has been utterly changed into fire . ”

C Em
why not be utterly changed into fire?
D Em
why not be utterly changed into fire?
C Em
why not be utterly changed into fire?
D Em
why not be utterly changed into fire? ( x2 )