Chord transcription by Mikayel Abazyan mikayelabazyan@yahoo.com
Playing tips
The chords with added notes, like Em(+d), simply show how melody progresses through
the harmony, if the way of saying it is correct. I could leave the first line with
just Em chord, but I considered it not enough for such a beautiful passages. Hope
this transcript, as well as the others, will help readers to feel the melody, but
in any way refer to the original version once again (because you are already
familiar with it since you are reading this, aren't you?).
Asus4 0 0 2 2 3 0
Em(+d) 0 2 2 0 3 x
Em(+c) 0 0 2 2 1 x
Emsus4 0 2 2 2 0 0
(The Emperor)
INTRO: Em Asus4 Em
Em(+d)/e Em(+c)/c Em/b Emsus4/a Em/e G/b F/a Em/g
Stan - ding in the space that holds the silent lace of night
F/f Em/e
away from you
Em(+d) Em(+c) Em Emsus4 Em G F Em
You think that you can hold the searing, molten gold between
F F/a G/b C
your fingers
C/g D/f# E F/a G/b C
but it slips through, tea - ring tendons as it goes,
C/g D/f# E F/a G/b
exposing the white of a knu - ckle:
C C/g D/f# Em
flesh-and-metal forming letters in the mould.
Em/e Asus4/a Em/e
Cradling your gun, after choosing the ones you think should die;
lying on the hill, crawling over the windowsill into your
living-room
They stare out, glass-eyed aimless heads, bodies torn by vultures.
You are the man whose hands are rank with the smell of death.
{ Em Asus4 Am G } These chords and notes are played together twice
{ e d c b d c b c a b c g a b a g }
{ Em Asus4 Am G } { Em Asus4 Am G }
{ e d c b d c b c a b c g a b a g } { e d c b d c b c a b c g a b a g}
Saviour of the Fallen, Protector of the Weak,
{ Em Asus4 Am G } { Em Asus4 Am G }
{ e d c b d c b c a b c g a b a g } { e d c b d c b c a b c g a b a g}
Friend of the Tall Ones, Keeper of the Peace!
Em F G Am
Ah, but it is the only way you know.
Looking out to sea, a flattened plane of weeds which bear no living
You crush life in your fist as your heart is kissed by the lips of death
Ghosts betray you, ghosts betray you,
in the night they steal your eye from its socket
and the ball hangs fallen on your cheek.
Complaining tongues are stilled;
a thousand mouths are filled with rusting metal.
Your face a shade of green, somehow you try to speak
through all the garbage in your mouth
but it won't come out and you cannot frame the words
as your stepson throws your fame into the flames
and you are burned.
Saviour of the Fallen, Protector of the Weak,
Friend of the Tall Ones, Keeper of the Peace!
Ah, but it is the only way you know.
(The Room)
BRIDGE: The bridge starts with drums, next bass and organ enter, and then Fripp guitar solo goes.
The main sequence for this bridge, as well as for the next four lines is {a b E, a b a D E}.
a b E a b a D E
Live by sword and you shall die so,
a b E a b a D E
all your power shall come to nought,
a b E a b a D E
every life you take is part of your own:
a b E a b a D E
death, not power, is what yo - u've bought.
SOLO: Built on the above section chords, it continues in { a b E a b d(low) D E }, and towards the end it ends up with
{ a b E a b d d c# d c# d c# d c# }, and finally { d c# E a b d(low) D Em }.
Em(+d)/e Em(+c)/c Em/b Emsus4/a Em/e G/b F/a Em/g
Crin - ging in your room as ("now" in the album) the outriders of doom
F/f Em/e
step on the ("your" in the album) threshold;
Em(+d)/e Em(+c)/c Em/b Emsus4/a Em/e G/b F/a Em/g
beg - ging for your life as the impartial knife
F F/a G/b C
sinks in your screaming flesh
C/g D/f# E F/a G/b C
with- out malice, mere-ly taking murder's toll.
C C/g D/f# E F/a G/b Em
You must pay the price of hate and that price is your soul.
{ same section in curly brackets as above } x3
Em F G Am Am G F F Em
Live in peace or die forever in your war-room.