Now playing

Changing Of The Guards

Chords

5.024 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

   [Verse 1]
EmSixteen years
Sixteen Gbanners Dunited over the Emfield
Where the Cgood shepherd Dgrieves
Desperate Emmen, desperate Gwomen Ddivided
Spreading their Emwings 'neath Cfalling Dleaves
   [Verse 2]
Fortune Emcalls
I stepped Gforth from the Dshadows to the marketEmplace
Merchants and Cthieves, hungry for Dpower, my last deal gone Emdown
She's smelling Gsweet like the Dmeadows where she was Emborn
On midsummer's Ceve Dnear the Gtower
   [Verse 3]
The cold-blooded Emmoon
The captain Gwaits above the Dcelebration
Sending his Emthoughts to a Cbeloved Dmaid
Whose ebony Emface is Gbeyond communiDcation
The captain is Emdown but still believing that his Clove will Dbe reGpaid
   [Bridge]
Em
   [Verse 4]
EmThey shaved her head
She was Gtorn between Jupiter and DApollo
A messenger Emarrived with a Cblack nightinDgale
I seen her on the Emstairs and I Gcouldn't help but Dfollow
Follow her Emdown past the fountain where they Clifted Dher Gveil
   [Verse 5]
I stumbled to my Emfeet
I rode past Gdestruction in the Dditches
With the Emstitches still mending beneath a Cheart-shaped Dtattoo
Renegade Empriests and Gtreacherous young Dwitches
Were Emhanding out the flowers that I'd Cgiven to Dyou
   [Verse 6]
The palace of Emmirrors
Where dog Gsoldiers are Dreflected
The endless Emroad and the Cwailing of Dchimes
The empty Emrooms where her Gmemory is Dprotected
Where the Emangel's voices whisper to the Csouls Dof previous Gtimes
   [Verse 7]
She wakes him Emup
Forty-eight hours Glater the sun is Dbreaking
Near broken Emchains, mountain Claurel and rolling Drocks
She's begging to Emknow what Gmeasures he now will be Dtaking
He's pulling her Emdown and she's clutching on to his Clong gDolden Glocks
   [Bridge]
Em
   [Verse 8]
EmGentlemen, he said
GI don't need your Dorganization,
I've shined your Emshoes, I've moved your Cmountains and marked your Dcards
But Eden is Emburning either brace Gyourself for Delimination
Or else your Emhearts must have the courage for the Cchanging Dof the Gguards
   [Verse 9]
Peace will Emcome
With Gtranquillity and Dsplendor on the wheels of Emfire
But will bring us Cno Dreward when her false idols Emfall
And cruel Gdeath sDurrenders with its
EmPale ghost retreating,Between the CKing and the DQueen of GSwords
   [Outro]
    G      D      CFade Out

All chords in this song (4)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Changing Of The Guards

by Patti Smith

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

Sixteen years

G D Em

Sixteen banners united over the field

C D

Where the good shepherd grieves

Em G D

Desperate men, desperate women divided

Em C D

Spreading their wings 'neath falling leaves

[Verse 2]

Fortune calls

G D Em

I stepped forth from the shadows to the marketplace

C D Em

Merchants and thieves, hungry for power, my last deal gone down

G D Em

She's smelling sweet like the meadows where she was born

C D G

On midsummer's eve near the tower

[Verse 3]

The cold-blooded moon

G D

The captain waits above the celebration

Em C D

Sending his thoughts to a beloved maid

Em G D

Whose ebony face is beyond communication

Em C D G

The captain is down but still believing that his love will be repaid

[Bridge]

[Verse 4]

They shaved her head

G D

She was torn between Jupiter and Apollo

Em C D

A messenger arrived with a black nightingale

Em G D

I seen her on the stairs and I couldn't help but follow

Em C D G

Follow her down past the fountain where they lifted her veil

[Verse 5]

I stumbled to my feet

G D

I rode past destruction in the ditches

Em C D

With the stitches still mending beneath a heart-shaped tattoo

Em G D

Renegade priests and treacherous young witches

Em C D

Were handing out the flowers that I'd given to you

[Verse 6]

The palace of mirrors

G D

Where dog soldiers are reflected

Em C D

The endless road and the wailing of chimes

Em G D

The empty rooms where her memory is protected

Em C D G

Where the angel's voices whisper to the souls of previous times

[Verse 7]

She wakes him up

G D

Forty-eight hours later the sun is breaking

Em C D

Near broken chains, mountain laurel and rolling rocks

Em G D

She's begging to know what measures he now will be taking

Em C D G

He's pulling her down and she's clutching on to his long golden locks

[Bridge]

[Verse 8]

Gentlemen, he said

G D

I don't need your organization,

Em C D

I've shined your shoes, I've moved your mountains and marked your cards

Em G D

But Eden is burning either brace yourself for elimination

Em C D G

Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards

[Verse 9]

Peace will come

G D Em

With tranquillity and splendor on the wheels of fire

C D Em

But will bring us no reward when her false idols fall

G D

And cruel death surrenders with its

Em C D G

Pale ghost retreating,Between the King and the Queen of Swords

[Outro]

G D C

Fade Out

About Changing Of The Guards Chords by Patti Smith

Learn how to play Changing Of The Guards by Patti Smith with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Changing Of The Guards chords”, “Changing Of The Guards guitar chords”, or “Patti Smith Changing Of The Guards 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 Changing Of The Guards chords and for experienced players who want accurate Changing Of The Guards lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, G, D, C, A.

FAQ — Changing Of The Guards by Patti Smith

How do I play "Changing Of The Guards" by Patti Smith on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Changing Of The Guards" by Patti Smith on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Changing Of The Guards" by Patti Smith free?

Yes. The chords for "Changing Of The Guards" by Patti Smith are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Changing Of The Guards" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Changing Of The Guards" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Changing Of The Guards"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Changing Of The Guards" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Changing Of The Guards" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Changing Of The Guards" by Patti Smith with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Patti Smith below.

What key is "Changing Of The Guards" in?

The chords for "Changing Of The Guards" show the original chord names (including Em, G, D, C, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.