Stan Rogers - Lock-keeper

lock – keeper
stan rogers
album : from fresh water ( 1984 )

E
you say , “well – met again , lock – keeper!
C#m B A
we’re laden even deeper that the time before
F#m B E
oriental oils and tea brought down from singapore . ”
E
as we wait for my lock to cycle
C#m B A
i say , “my wife has just given me a son . ”
F#m B E
“a son!” you cry , “is that all that you’ve done?”

she wears bougainvillea blossoms
you pluck ’em from her hair and toss ’em in the tide ,
sweep her in your arms and carry her inside .
her sighs catch on your shoulder
her moonlit eyes grow bold and wiser through her tears
and i say , “how could you stand to leave her for a year?”

chorus :
A F#m
“then come with me” you say , “to where the southern cross
B E
rides high upon your shoulder . ”
C#m B
“come with me!” you cry ,
A F#m B
“each day you tend this lock , you’re one day older
C#m B A B
while your blood grows colder . ”
E
but that anchor chain’s a fetter
C#m B A
and with it you are tethered to the foam
F#m B E
and i wouldn’t trade your life for one hour of home .

sure i’m stuck here on the seaway
while you compensate for leeway through the trades;
and you shoot the stars to see the miles you’ve made .
and you laugh at hearts you’ve riven ,
but which of these has given us more love or life ,
you , your tropic maids , or me , my wife .

chorus
ah your anchor chain’s a fetter
and with it you are tethered to the foam ,
and i wouldn’t trade your whole life for one hour of home .

enjoy!

chords are easier transposed to D , capo 2 , dropped D tuning optional .
all songs from stan’s first four albums are tabbed in “songs from fogarty’s cove” ,
but do not include anything from subsequent posthumous albums .