D         G       Bm/F#           Em     Em/D  Em/C#
I sat me down to write a simple story
       C           G/B          Am   Am7/G
Which maybe in the end became a song
    D/F#     Dm/F     C/E               Ebdim
In trying to find the words which might begin it
   Em         Em/F# Em/G#  Am                 Am/B   C    D
I found these were  the   thoughts I'd brought a-   long

[Verse 2]
D           G      Bm/F#           Em     Em/D   Em/C#
At first I took my weight to be an anchor
   C              G/B               Am   Am7/G
I gathered up my fears to guide me round
    D/F#     Dm/F  C/E          Ebdim
But then I clearly saw my own delusion
     Em      Em/F# Em/G   Am             Am/B  C    D
And found my strugg-les   further bogged me   down

[Verse 3]
D            G      Bm/F#           Em     Em/D Em/C#
In starting out I thought to go exploring
     C           G/B              Am   Am7/G
And set my foot upon the nearest road
    D/F#    Dm/F     C/E      Ebdim
In vain I looked to find the promised turning
     Em  Em/F# Em/G  Am         Am/B  C     D
But only saw   how   far I was from  home

[Bridge]
    D             D7/C               G/B       C G/B C G/B
In searching I forsook the paths of learning
 D           D7/C               G/B            C G/B C G/B
And sought instead to find some pirate's gold
    D             D7/C              G/B     C G/B C G/B
In fighting I did hurt those dearest to me
 C              G/B             Am     Am7/G
Still no hidden truths could I unfold

[Instrumental/Organ Solo]
D/F#  Dm/F  C/E  Ebdim
Em Em/F# Em/G Am Am/B  C  D

[Verse 4]
D         G      Bm/F#           Em     Em/D Em/C#
I sat me down to write a simple story
       C           G/B           Am   Am7/G
Which maybe in the end became a song
    D/F#     Dm/F     C/E        Ebdim
The words have all been writ by one before me
     Em      Em/F# Em/G   Am           Am/B C     D
We're taking turns in   trying to pass them on
B7/D#       Em              Am       Am7/D     G   N.C.
Oh,  we're taking turns in trying to pass them on

[Coda] (piano chords and rests as indicated)
D        D/C       G/B       Am
/ } / }   / } / }   / } / }   / } / }

(band enters; continue to fade)
D        D/C       G/B       Am/C
/  / /   / / / /   / / / /   / / / /