The Oak King
Josh Ritter
Continues after the ad
Key:
E|--------------|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|xRiff: e|E|--------------|---------| B|E|--------------|---------| G|E|--------------|---------| D|E|--------------|---------| A|----------0-2-3-2-0----| E|--0--2--3-----------3--|Slide Prog.: Slide to Em1...Gmaj13...Em2...Em3...Cmaj7...RiffEmB7 Em B7 Em Who is this that rides so lateG D G Between the woods and the gardenD gate?B7 Em B7 Em A father holds a child close,C G B7 Em Barely boy and almost ghostEm G C Son why do you cry and hide yourG (C/G) face?G D G Oh Father, the Oak King is kingD of this place,Em G With a crown made of thistle andC G (C/G) septer of reedsC G Son, there's no Oak King, just theB7 Em wind and the trees (Slide Prog.)Am7 B7 Em My prince, my love, I knew you'd comeContinues after the adAm7 B7 C B7 Now you must join the other onesAm7 B7 Em Cast your blues upon the tideAm7 B7 C B7 Sleep all day, play all nightAm Em Am Oh father, Oh father, don't leaveEm me I prayG D G The Oak King is closer than theD dawn of the dayAm Em Am Than the dawn of the day, TheEm edge of the woodsC G B7 The Oak King is bad and he'llEm take me for goodEm G C Oh son, with his palaces ofG (C/G) silver and goldG D With a queen and his own prettyG D children to holdEm G With his own pretty children, whyC G (C/G) steal you from me?C G B7 What kind of a king would ever beEm such a thief? (Slide Prog.)Am7 B7 Em My prince, my love, I knew you'd comeAm7 B7 C B7 Now you must join the other onesAm7 B7 Em Cast your blues upon the tideAm7 B7 C My daughters will hold you clearB7 through till nightAm Em Oh father, Oh father, scatteredAm Em all along the pathG D The Oak Kings own children in theG D dark as we passAm Em The Oak Kings own children, theyAm Em sing softley and they sighC G They don't seem to care thatB7 Em they're blooming at nightEm G C Oh Son, who would leave a childG (C/G) in this place?G D To the wind and the dark and theG D rain on their facesAm Em Am The rain on their face, mud onEm their feetC G What kind of a King would dressB7 Em his children in leaves? (Slide Prog.)Am7 B7 Em My prince, my love, I knew you would comeAm7 B7 C B7 Now you must join the other onesAm7 B7 Em Oh Father, Oh Father, I must go awayAm7 B7 C B7 The Oak King sings, I must obey (Slide Prog. soft)B7 Em At the edge of the woods and theB7 Em break of the day,G D The father looked down where hisG D son used to lay,B7 Em And in grief and in sorrow, inB7 Em sorrow and grief,C G Wondered what kind of king couldB7 Em ever be such a thief?