Sir Galahad
By Josh Ritter
This is based on a 10/6/10 show at McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ. The lyrics (from
same show) were found on the Chimney Smoke blog and were transcribed by the author. The
are taken from the video and are most likely correct.
http://chimneysmoke.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/galahad-lyrics-new-song-by-josh-ritter/
The song is picked with a quick pattern (hear and watch him perform the song on Chimney Smoke)
Capo 2nd fret (he has played it open in concert as well)
All chords are relative to the capo
There are two progressions
C F, C G C
Am G C F, C G C
C
The angel of the Holy Grail
F
saw Galahad come riding
C G C
So he took the Holy Grail off the shelf.
C
And inside the holy chapel made for
F
Holy Grail hiding the angel
C G C
Could be seen to smile to himself.
Am G
"If you're the great Sir Galahad
C F
From now on," said the angel
C G C
"May all angels call me blessed of my race."
Am G
"If you're not the great Sir Galahad
C F C
I'll warn you, keep on riding and if you are
G C
I pray you'll let me see your face."
C
Galahad took off his helmet, said
F
"Good angel look upon me.
C G C
Fear not, for I bring tidings of great joy.
C
For long years the grail you've guarded, now
F
You get to let me drink it, how
C G C
Happy must be angels thus employed."
CFCGC
C
"All the favors you shower upon
F
Me, a simple angel," said the
C G C
Angel, "your magnificence abounds.
C
Take your boots off great Sir Galahad,
F
For by your astounding beauty whatever
C G C
Ground you stand on turns to holy ground."
C
Galahad took off his boots, and he
F
Watched the ground quite closely
C G C
And the angel smiled to himself again.
C
He said, "I can't believe I'm asking, but
F
Sir Galahad please tell me, what is
C G C
It that makes you want to go to heaven?
Am G
In heaven there's no lamb chops,
C F
Queen Guinevere's for hand jobs,
C G C
Marijuana, Kenny Rogers, or Ecstasy.
Am G
No pillaging, no rape, perhaps
C F
you've come by some mistake to me
C G C
this seems more error than knight errantry.
CFCGC x2
C
Yes, and what about the stable boys,
F
I know you think they're handsome
C G C
and some of them, they think you're awful handsome too.
C
And, sitting up in heaven, you'll still
F
think about them often, when you're an
C G C
angel thinking's all that you can do."
Am G
At this, Sir Galahad got angry,
C F
"Angel," he said, "don't you tempt me.
C G C
I wish to go to heaven and not to hell.
Am G
So when stable boys look lonesome,
C F
When the women call me handsome,
C G C
I'll hold me virtue very firmly by myself."
C
"I guarantee you'll hold it often,"
F
said the angel. "Oh one more thing, before you
C G C
drink the wine, please take your armor off.
C
I gotta carry you to heaven,
F
And despite what you'd imagine,
C G C
I have trouble bearing heavy things aloft."
CFCGC x2
C
Sir Galahad stood naked
F
In a pile of his armor,
C G C
His boots and helmet scattered all around.
C
His perfect lips, they sipped the grail,
F
His perfect heart commenced to fail,
C G C
His perfect body fell upon the ground.
Am G
The angel lit a cigarette.
C F
When he was sure Galahad was dead,
C G C
He picked all of his clothes up off the floor.
Am G
Then I put on his boots and armor
C F
I laid his body on the altar
C G C
Put his helmet on and I headed for the door.
