The ballad of Saint Anne’s reel    (video)

 

                    G

1. He was stranded in some tiny town

          C                          G

    on fair Prince Edward Island,

                                                       D

    awaiting for a ship to come and find him.

         C                             G

    A one horse place, a friendly face,

               G                 C

    some coffee and a tiny trace,

        G                    D                     G

    of fiddlin’ in the distance far behind him.

 

         G

2. A dime across the counter then,

         C                 G

    a shy hello, a brand new friend,

                                                                D

    a walk along the street in the wintry weather,

        C                      G

    a yellow light, an open door,

                G                                   C

    and a welcome friend, there's room for more,

       G                                D                   G

    soon they're standing there inside together.

 

                           D

    He said, I've heard that tune before somewhere,

              C                          G

    but I can’t remember when,

               D

    was it on some other friendly shore ?

                   C                  Em

    Or did I hear it on the wind ?

                   G                 D

    Was it written on the sky above ?

                    C                       G

    I think I heard it from someone I loved,

              C                    D                                  G

    but I never heard it sound so sweet since then.

 

+  G - C - G    - G - C - D - G     - G - C - D - G      - G - C - D - G

 

               G

3. Well, how his feet begin to tap,

        C                         G

    a little boy says, I'll take your hat,

                                                               D

    he's caught up in the magic of her smile.

             C                       G

    And leap the heart inside him went,

            G                    C

    and off across the floor he sent

            G                   D                   G

    his clumsy body graceful as a child.

 

                    D

    There's magic in the fiddlers arm,

                   C                G

    there's magic in this town,

                  D

    there's magic in the dancer’s feet,

                   C                           Em

    and the way they put them down.

         G                  D

    Smiling people everywhere,

      C                                  G

    boots and ribbons, and locks of hair,

             C                                D                        G

    and laughter and old blue suits and Easter gowns.

 

+  G - C - G    - G - C - D - G     - G - C - D - G      - G - C - D - G

 

                    G

4. Well, the sailor's gone, the room is bare,

           C             G

    the old piano sitting there,

                                                             D

    someone's hat just hanging on the rack.

          C                           G

    An empty chair, the wooden floor,

             G                            C

    that feels the touch of shoes no more,

      G                     D                        G

    waiting for the dancers to come back.

 

                  D

    And the fiddle's in the closet

                    C                      G

    of some daughter in the town,

             D

    the strings are broke and the bow is gone,

                   C                       Em

    and the case is buttoned down.

           G                 D

    But often on December nights,

                     C                           G

    when the air is cold and the wind is right,

                     C                 D                            G

    there's a melody that passes through this town.

 

+  D - G - D   - D - G - A - D   - D - G - A - D   - D - G - A - D (2x)

 

    (The Dubliners)