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Shepherd
Chords
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1/90
Sound:
Step 1 / 90Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
Tuning: Standard
Capo: 6th fret
I think the song is the same riff, over and over, G C Dsus2 C C G, with complex transitions between
them.
Below is the the riff, with the chords listed above. You just keep playing that throughout the song.
Below that are the lyrics with the chords changes marked. Good luck!
Riff:
Transition G Transition C Trans Dsus2
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------0---|
B|-----------------------------0---------------------------0h1-----1p0-----------3---3-|
G|-------0-------------0---0-----0---0-------0-----------------0-------0---0---2-------|
D|-2/4-4---4\2-0-----0-------0-----0---2/4-4---4\2-0-----0-------2-------2---0---------|
A|---------------0h2---------------------------------0h2---3---------------------------|
E|-----------------------3-------------------------------------------------------------|
Trans C Transition C Transition G
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------0h1-----1p0---------------------------0h1-----1p0------------------------------0----|
G|-2p0---0-----0-------0---0-------0-----------------0-------0---0-------0--------------0--0---|
D|-----4---------2-------2---2/4-4---4\2-0-----0-------2-------2---2/4-4---4\2-0----0----0--0--|
A|---------3-------------------------------0h2---3-------------------------------0h2-----------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-------|
Said the shepherd to his wGife,
The crop of hay is cut and dCried.
I’ll bDsus2ail it up and bring it Cin,
Before the coming storm bCegins.
Go, she said, and beat the Gstorm,
And then there is another cChore.
Dsus2Today the baby will be bCorn,
You’ll take me to the hosCpital.
Said the shepherd, if it’s Gtrue,
'Twere better if I stayed with Cyou.
Dsus2I’d rather let the harvest Cgo,
And hasten to the hoCspital.
Nay, she told him, I’ll be Gfine,
We both have laboring to Cdo.
Dsus2You do yours and I’ll do miCne,
And the babe will wait 'til the work is tChrough.
Instrumental (*same riff)
G C Dsus2 C C G
The shepherd rode the yelloGw rows,
The clouds above and the field bCelow.
Dsus2Until the bails had all been tiCed,
Then home returned to find his wCife.
The sweat was wet upon her Gbrown,
Her breath it cameth labCouredly.
And Dsus2then the rain was coming Cdown,
Upon the field of yellow Chay.
Said the shepherd, it’s no Guse,
The rain will surely win the Crace.
‘Twere bDsus2etter if we let it Cfall,
And hurry to the hospiCtal.
Go, she said, and work with hGaste,
And bring the bails into the Cbarn.
Dsus2Else the crop will go to Cwaste,
And the babe will wait ‘til the work is dCone.
Instrumental (*same riff)
G C Dsus2 C C G
The shepherd drove into the stormG,
And to and from the yellow baCrn.
'Til haDsus2lf the bails were Csafely in,
Then went to find his wife agCain.
How many times her name he caGlled,
And no replying would she makCe.
Her Dsus2breath it cameth not at Call,
She would not rise from where she lCay.
Instrumental (*same riff)
G C Dsus2 C C G
The storm was o’er within the Ghour,
The shepherd saw the sun come oCut.
The Dsus2shepherd’s wife saw ne’er aCgain,
He buried her and the babe wiCthin.
He turned the seed into the gGround,
He brought the flock to feed thCereon.
He Dsus2held the cleaver and the Cplow,
And the shepherd’s work was nCever done.
All chords in this song (3)
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Shepherd
by Anaïs Mitchell
Chords in this song · guitar
G
C
Dsus2
Tuning: Standard
Capo: 6th fret
I think the song is the same riff, over and over, G C Dsus2 C C G, with complex transitions between
them.
Below is the the riff, with the chords listed above. You just keep playing that throughout the song.
Below that are the lyrics with the chords changes marked. Good luck!
Riff:
Transition G Transition C Trans Dsus2
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------0---|
B|-----------------------------0---------------------------0h1-----1p0-----------3---3-|
G|-------0-------------0---0-----0---0-------0-----------------0-------0---0---2-------|
D|-2/4-4---4\2-0-----0-------0-----0---2/4-4---4\2-0-----0-------2-------2---0---------|
A|---------------0h2---------------------------------0h2---3---------------------------|
E|-----------------------3-------------------------------------------------------------|
Trans C Transition C Transition G
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------0h1-----1p0---------------------------0h1-----1p0------------------------------0----|
G|-2p0---0-----0-------0---0-------0-----------------0-------0---0-------0--------------0--0---|
D|-----4---------2-------2---2/4-4---4\2-0-----0-------2-------2---2/4-4---4\2-0----0----0--0--|
A|---------3-------------------------------0h2---3-------------------------------0h2-----------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3-------|
G
Said the shepherd to his wife,
C
The crop of hay is cut and dried.
Dsus2 C
I’ll bail it up and bring it in,
C
Before the coming storm begins.
G
Go, she said, and beat the storm,
C
And then there is another chore.
Dsus2 C
Today the baby will be born,
C
You’ll take me to the hospital.
G
Said the shepherd, if it’s true,
C
'Twere better if I stayed with you.
Dsus2 C
I’d rather let the harvest go,
C
And hasten to the hospital.
G
Nay, she told him, I’ll be fine,
C
We both have laboring to do.
Dsus2 C
You do yours and I’ll do mine,
C
And the babe will wait 'til the work is through.
Instrumental (*same riff)
G C Dsus2 C C G
G
The shepherd rode the yellow rows,
C
The clouds above and the field below.
Dsus2 C
Until the bails had all been tied,
C
Then home returned to find his wife.
G
The sweat was wet upon her brown,
C
Her breath it cameth labouredly.
Dsus2 C
And then the rain was coming down,
C
Upon the field of yellow hay.
G
Said the shepherd, it’s no use,
C
The rain will surely win the race.
Dsus2 C
‘Twere better if we let it fall,
C
And hurry to the hospital.
G
Go, she said, and work with haste,
C
And bring the bails into the barn.
Dsus2 C
Else the crop will go to waste,
C
And the babe will wait ‘til the work is done.
Instrumental (*same riff)
G C Dsus2 C C G
G
The shepherd drove into the storm,
C
And to and from the yellow barn.
Dsus2 C
'Til half the bails were safely in,
C
Then went to find his wife again.
G
How many times her name he called,
C
And no replying would she make.
Dsus2 C
Her breath it cameth not at all,
C
She would not rise from where she lay.
Instrumental (*same riff)
G C Dsus2 C C G
G
The storm was o’er within the hour,
C
The shepherd saw the sun come out.
Dsus2 C
The shepherd’s wife saw ne’er again,
C
He buried her and the babe within.
G
He turned the seed into the ground,
C
He brought the flock to feed thereon.
Dsus2 C
He held the cleaver and the plow,
C
And the shepherd’s work was never done.
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About Shepherd Tab by Anaïs Mitchell
Learn how to play Shepherd by Anaïs Mitchell with free guitar tab, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Shepherd chords”, “Shepherd guitar chords”, or “Anaïs Mitchell Shepherd chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Shepherd chords and for experienced players who want accurate Shepherd lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, Dsus2, B, D, A.
FAQ — Shepherd by Anaïs Mitchell
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The tab for "Shepherd" show the original chord names (including G, C, Dsus2, B, D, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.