Vanguard

© 2008,2009 Naomi Rivkis

Lyrics [pdf]

Dm Am
The l ady, she walks your c ity walls
Dm Am
A f ew scant feet from the f oe
Am Dm Am
Rec entering every br ick that f alls
Em Am
Where y our sentries dare not  go.
Am Em Am
Your g uard has changed shift three t imes since d awn
Dm Am
But s he is forever th ere
F Am
The l ady you named your  city for
Dm Am
As w ise as you think her f air.
Am Dm Am
But the w ay she must walk for  Athens' s ake
F Am Dm
Is w ild and c old and st eep
Am Dm Am
And wh en shall Athena l augh, my l ords?
Am Em Am
And wh en shall At hena sl eep?
Am Dm
  Atlas may hold the w orld on his shoulders
Am F Dm
But s omeone must sh ow him h ow.
Am Dm Em Am
You pr ay to Po seidon for  gentle w aves
Am Em Am
But c arve her to g uide your pr ow.
Am Em G Am
Your j ustices sw ear in her n ame and s ight
Dm Am
To s ee that the right is d one
F Dm F Am
And your ch oristers d ance to the fl ute she m ade
Em F Am
With s ound like the s etting s un.
Am Dm Am
The l oss and the j oy her aulos s ings
F Am Dm
Have b eauty to m ake you w eep
Am Dm Am
But wh en shall At hena l augh, my lords?
Am Em Am
And wh en shall A thena sl eep?
BRIDGE:
F Am
Gr ey-eyed and gold and s hining,
F G Am
She t akes what you  ask in str ide
Em Am
W atching for every w eakening point
Dm Am
Her  owls fly at her s ide
F G Am
And  only they know she w eakens t oo,
F Am
And dr eams of a place to  hide
F Em Am
But  Athens has asked her p atron age
Dm E
And s he is the city's pr ide.
F G Am
L ong you have known, you l and of pr iests
Dm G Am
That g ods have their n eeds like m en.
Am Dm Am
Your w orship and love are m ade their f east
Em F Am
And sm oke from the b easts you s end.
F G Am
But y ou'll never know when your  Lady str ains
F Dm Am
Or f ears she may f ail your tr ust:
F Dm Am
For  Athens that bears her h eart and n ame
F Em Am
She'll f ind all the str ength she m ust.
Am Dm F Am
But  oh, my l ords, what a pr ice she p ays
F Am Dm
For g uarding your k en and k eep,
Am Dm Am F
And wh en may At hena l augh, my l ords?
Am Em Am
And wh en may At hena sl eep?
Am G Em Am
The w eariness r uns...  so d eep.