The riddle (1984) (video)

Instrumental intro = first CHORUS

G A Bm C

1. I got two strong arms, blessings of Babylon,

Am F Em F#m

time to carry on and try for sins,

G A Bm C C#m - G#m Am C

and false alarms, so to America the brave wise men say ....

Em D G A

Near a tree by the river there’s a hole in the ground,

Em D C G

where an old man of Aran goes around and around.

Em D G A

And his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night,

Em D C G

for a strange kind of fashion, there’s a wrong and a right,

Am C D Em - D

but he’ll never, never fight over you.

G A Bm C

2. I got plans for us, nights in the scullery,

Am F Em F#m

and days instead of me, I only know what

G A Bm C C#m - G#m

to discuss, oh, for anything but light,

Am D Em - D

wise men fighting over you.

G A Bm C

3. It’s not me you see, pieces of valentine

Am F Em F#m

with just a song of mine, to keep from burning

G A Bm C C#m - G#m Am C

history, seasons of gasoline and gold, wise men fold.

Em D G A

Near a tree by the river there’s a hole in the ground,

Em D C G

where an old man of Aran goes around and around.

Em D G A

And his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night,

Em D C G

for a strange kind of fashion, there’s a wrong and a right,

Am C D

but he’ll never, never fight over you.

(orig. moves up half a note to capo 3rd here)

D G - F# B7 E D

+ I got time to kill, sly looks in corridors, without a plan of yours,

C# A E

a nightbird sings on Bluebird Hill,

B7 D G - C Am C

thanks to the calling of the wild, wise men’s child.

+ Em - D - G - A - Em - D - C - G

+ Em - D - G - A - Em - D - C - G - Am - C

D Em D G A

Near a tree by the river there’s a hole in the ground,

Em D C G

where an old man of Aran goes around and around.

Em D G A

And his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night,

Em D C G

for a strange kind of fashion, there’s a wrong and a right,

Am C

but he’ll never, never fight.

D Em D G A

Near a tree by the river there’s a hole in the ground,

Em D C G

where an old man of Aran goes around and around.

Em D G A

And his mind is a beacon in the veil of the night,

Em D C G

for a strange kind of fashion, there’s a wrong and a right,

Am C D C

but he’ll never, never fight over you !

Am C D Em

No, he’ll never, never fight over you !

(orig. = capo 2nd) (Nik Kershaw)