Key: D
Introduction:
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Pillary stocks at the gallows tree dock
F#m A E
the crowd grew impatient as the clouds threatened rain
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Elephant arrived at the Constable's side,
F#m A E
with her trunk locked in shackles, and her ankles in chains
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"All rise, all rise, his Honor presides,"
F#m A E
the Judge took the bench to the village brass cavalcade,
F#m A E
Elephant refused to swear the oath, said
F#m
"I don't know anything about truth,
A E
but I know falsehood when I see it,
E F#m A E F#m E
and it looks like this whole world you've made"
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Good of our chaplain to sail Kalispell Bay
F#m A E
And now down on his marrows for this old fool to pray,
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"Lord, for sixty-some years I've surrendered my love,
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to emblems of kindness, and not the kindness they were emblems of,
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Trammels and rings, with the strength of old strings,
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and some hobble skirt spring, by the old problem caught,
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Children, sometimes I think all our thoughts are just things,
F#m A E
and then sometimes think things are just thoughts,"
E
and the rabble rang
Bm A F#m Bm
"Hang! the Elephant must hang! the Elephant must hang!
Bm A F#m Bm
Hang! the Elephant must hang! the Elephant must hang!"
F#m A E F#m
"A thirteen coil knot for the samovar pot!
F#m A E
Scottish Oatcakes in haversacks each to its grave
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This mock trial can no more determine my lot,
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than can driftwood determine the ocean's waves,
E F#m A E F#m
Brandish your ropes and your boards, and your basket-hilt swords,
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but what is there can punish like a conscience ignored?
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Yes, my body did just as you implied,
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while some ghost we'll call 'I' idly watched through its eyes,"
E
and the jury sang,
Bm A F#m Bm
"Hang! the Elephant must hang! the Elephant must hang!
Bm A F#m Bm
Hang! the Elephant must hang! the Elephant must hang!
Bm A F#m Bm
Hang! the Elephant must hang! the Elephant must hang!
Bm A F#m Bm
Hang! the Elephant must hang! the Elephant must hang!"
Bm F#m
I feel it stealing now
Bm F#m
I feel it stealing now
Bm F#m
I feel it stealing now
Bm
All adrift fathoms down