Standard (EADGBE)

I went down to the place where I knew she lay waiting

Under the marble and the snow

I said Mother I'm frightened the thunder and the lightning

I'll never come through this alone

She said I'll be with you my shawl wrapped around you

My hand on your head when you go

And the night came on it was very calm, I wanted the night to go on and on

But she said go back, go back to the world

We were fighting in Egypt when they signed this agreement

That nobody else had to die

There was this terrible sound and my father went down

With a terrible wound in his side

He said try to go on take my books take my gun

Remember my son how they lied

And the night comes on it's very calm

I'd like to pretend that my father was wrong

But you don't want to lie, not to the young

We were locked in this kitchen I took to religion

And I wondered how long she would stay

I needed so much to have nothing to touch, I've always been greedy that way

But my son and my daughter climbed out of the water

Crying Papa you promised to play

And they lead me away to the great surprise

It's Papa don't peek, Papa cover your eyes

And they hide, they hide in the world

Now I look for her always I'm lost in this calling

I'm tied to the threads of some prayer

Saying when will she summon me when will she come to me

What must I do to prepare

When she bends to my longing like a willow like a fountain

She stands in the luminous air

And the night comes on it's very calm

I lie in her arms, she says when I'm gone

I'll be yours, yours for a song

Now the crickets are singing, the vesper bells ringing

The cat's curled asleep in his chair

I'll go down to Bill's Bar, I can make it that far

And I'll see if my friends are still there

Yes and here's to the few who forgive what you do

And the fewer who don't even care

And the night comes on, it's very calm

I want to cross over I want to go home

But she says go back, go back to the world