[Verse 1]
Em Sixteen years,
GDEm Sixteen banners united over the field
CD Where a good Shepard grieves.
EmGD Desperate men, desperate women divided,
EmDCG Spreading their wings 'neath the falling leaves
 [Verse 2]
Em Fortune calls
GDEm I stepped forth from the shadows, to the marketplace,
CDEm Merchants and thieves, hungry for power, my last deal gone down.
GDEm She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born
CDG On midsummer's eve, near the tower.
 [Verse 3]
Em The cold-blooded moon
GD The captain waits above the celebration
EmCD Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid
EmGD Whose ebony face is beyond communication.
EmCDG he captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid.
 [Verse 4]
Em They shaved her head.
GD She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo.
EmGD A messenger arrived with a black nightingale.
EmGD I seen her on the stairs and I couldn't help but follow,
EmDCG Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil.
 [Verse 5]
Em I stumbled to my feet
GD I rode past the destruction in the ditches
EmCD With the stitches still mending 'neath the heart shaped tattoo.
EmGD Renegade priests and treacherous young witches
EmDCG Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you.
Em The palace of mirrors
GD Where dog solders are reflected,
EmCG The endless road and the wailing of chimes
EmGD The empty rooms where her memory is protected
EmDCG Where the angels' voices whisper to the souls of previous times.
 [Verse 6]
Em She wakes him up
GD Forty-eight hours later, the sun is breaking
EmCD Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rock.
EmGD She's begging to know what measures he now will be taking.
EmDCG He's pulling her down and she's clutching on to his long golden locks.
Em Gentlemen, he said,
GDEm I don't need your organization, I've shined your shoes,
CD I've moved your mountains, and marked your cards
EmCD But Eden is burning, either brace yourself for elimination
EmDCG Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards
 [Verse 7]
Em Peace will come
GDEm With tranquility and splendor on the wheels of fire
CDEm But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall
GDEm And cruel death surrenders with it's pale ghosts retreating
DCG