-Josh Ritter-
-The Oak King-
--------------
This song has four different voices going on. First you have the narrator, then
you have the Father trying to save his dying son. Up next is the dying son. Then
we hear The Oak King come in, tempting the boy away from life.
Em1: x|10|9|0|0|x
Gmaj13: x|9|7|0|0|x
Em2: x|7|5|0|0|x
Em3: x|5|4|0|0|x
Cmaj7: x|3|2|0|0|x
Riff:
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|-----------------------|
D|-----------------------|
A|----------0-2-3-2-0----|
E|--0--2--3-----------3--|
Slide Prog.: Slide to Em1...Gmaj13...Em2...Em3...Cmaj7...Riff
Who is this that rides so late
Between the woods and the garden gate?
A father holds a child close,
Barely boy and almost ghost
()
Son why do you cry and hide your face?
Oh Father, the Oak King is king of this place,
()
With a crown made of thistle and septer of reeds
Son, there s no Oak King, just the wind and the trees
(Slide Prog.)
My prince, my love, I knew you d come
Now you must join the other ones
Cast your blues upon the tide
Sleep all day, play all night
Oh father, Oh father, don t leave me I pray
The Oak King is closer than the dawn of the day
Than the dawn of the day, The edge of the woods
The Oak King is bad and he ll take me for good
()
Oh son, with his palaces of silver and gold
With a queen and his own pretty children to hold
()
With his own pretty children, why steal you from me?
What kind of a king would ever be such a thief?
(Slide Prog.)
My prince, my love, I knew you d come
Now you must join the other ones
Cast your blues upon the tide
My daughters will hold you clear through till night
Oh father, Oh father, scattered all along the path
The Oak Kings own children in the dark as we pass
The Oak Kings own children, they sing softley and they sigh
They don t seem to care that they re blooming at night
()
Oh Son, who would leave a child in this place?
To the wind and the dark and the rain on their faces
The rain on their face, mud on their feet
What kind of a King would dress his children in leaves?
(Slide Prog.)
My prince, my love, I knew you would come
Now you must join the other ones
Oh Father, Oh Father, I must go away
The Oak King sings, I must obey
(Slide Prog. soft)
At the edge of the woods and the break of the day,
The father looked down where his son used to lay,
And in grief and in sorrow, in sorrow and grief,
Wondered what kind of king could ever be such a thief?
(Slide Prog.)