Richard Shindell - The Courier Chords

CAPO: 2nd Fret



INTRO: Em  C

            Em    C
I am a courier
                Em    C
Crawling in the dirt 
                      D
Toward the front line
                  Em
As the crow flies
                     C
A note stashed in my shirt
                   Em     C
From the Prince of Wales
              Em     C 
Far above the field
                  D
With his marshals
                     Em
And their chain-mail
                       C      G
Their banners taut and high


                           D           Em
I did not ask him what the note said
                      C
He did not offer to explain
                           D         C
It's not my job to ask the questions
                  Em  C
I'm just the courier
                  Em  C
I'm just the courier


                      Em    C
A flare shot leaves a scar
               Em    C
Burning in the dark
               D
On my forearms
                        Em
Through the barbed wire
                     C
Another fifty yards
                 Em     C
Crouching in the trench
              Em    C
Clutching bayonets
                D
A hundred men
                  Em
All knee-to-chest
               C        G
A hundred marionettes


                              D           Em
I am the string pulled by the sure hand
                   C
Animating what was still
                   D         C
I am invisible and faithful
            Em   C
I am a courier
            Em   C
Just a courier


INSTRUMENTAL: Em  C  Em  C  D  Em  C  


                       Em    C
The Captain breaks the seal
                  Em    C
Quickly reads the note
                 D
On your feet boys
                    Em
Make you peace boys
                    C
Pass those letters down
             Em    C
To this courier
                Em    C
Guardian of the word
                    D
Hand him all you've seen
                    Em
Hand him all you've heard
                 C        G
Hand him all the pearls


                            D           Em
And I'll go back to where I came from
                       C
I will deliver each by hand 
                          D        C
I take this as a point of honour
            Em   C
To be a courier
            Em   C
To be a courier
            Em   
To be a courier