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The Torch Committee
Chords
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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams
[Intro]
Em Em
[Verse 1]
Good Emevening, may we say again
How Gpleased we are that you've come in
The Amday was long, your bed was soft
Still Cthere's some names we're crossing off
It Emsays here by your file you
Have Gbeen so loyal, brave, and true
We Amneed not fret, you need not fear
And Cso we come to why you're here
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 2]
The Emtorch committee now confirms
The Gtruth of rumors lately heard
That Amthere come monsters in our midst
CWell-disguised and carefully hid
EmAnywhere and anyone
The Groot of every evil done
But Amyou will help us root them out
The Ctorch committee has no doubt
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 3]
We Emsee your hands and legs are tied
In Gclearest breach of by-law five
And Amleft here in this little room
In Cclearest breach of by-law two
And Emthough you know that we take pains
The Gprocess of the law remains
All Amtechnicalities aside
You'll Csee our hands are also tied
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 4]
For Emus, the job brings only pain
To Gsee you naked in these chains
To Amsee you naked where you stand
CWhere so many others have
ImagEmine how it feels each day
To Gsend so many men a way
But Amsee we've got a job and we
Must Cdot each "i" and cross each "t"
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 5]
EmSomething's horribly amiss
How eGlse could you be on our list
Still Amwe all know directive twelve
All Cthose so named must prove themselves
To Emhungry mob and angry crowd
GYoung men making families proud
By Ammeans not meant for light of day
We Cwish there was a softer way
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 6]
EmWait, suppose that we untie
Your Ghands to sign upon this line
To Ampledge that you have always been
A Cpatriot and citizen
EmPlease ignore the legalese
GLawyers (am I right?) now see
Why Amwe're so happy that you came
AppenCdix three and list of names
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 7]
EmPardon us but we can't help
But Glaugh, if you could see yourself
RelAmax, it's always strange to see
The Cnames on each appendix three
EmBrothers, fathers, sons, and wives
The Gones with whom you've shared your life
AmMothers, daughters, sisters, friends
CPatriots and citizens
EmChildren playing in the street
GStrangers whom you chance to meet
The AmGod to whom you chance to pray
The Cgirl with whom you choose to stay
[Verse 8]
We Emknow the monsters, know their names
By Gwhich they go and which they've changed
And Amevery whisper that we've heard
We've Cread their poison, every word
EmHow we wish that we could say
That Geach of them will walk away
But Amsadly it's the awful truth
It's Cthem or us, it's them or you
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
Em G
C Am
[Verse 9]
So Emput your finger to the names
The Gonly cure for fear is blame
In Amdoing so, you're doing good
There's Cmany called who never would
Who Emstuck by what they thought was right
Who Gdisappeared by dark of night
Who Amdisappeared into the breeze
CLeft no family left to grieve
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 10]
EmThere, now see, that wasn't bad
GAs you leave, you can be glad
That Amyou have done your little part
To Cfight the monsters in the dark
But Emhave a care, the night is cold
GTake a torch before you go
And Amwe will keep you safe and warm
That's Cwhat the torch committee's for
[Outro]
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G Em C
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em
*Just to keep the verses straight without following line-for-line*
Good evening, may we say again
The torch committee now confirms
We see your hands and legs are tied
For us, the job brings only pain
Something's horribly amiss
Wait, suppose that we untie
Pardon us but we can't help
We know the monsters, know their names
So put your finger to the names
There, now see, that wasn't bad
All chords in this song (4)
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The Torch Committee
by Josh Ritter
Chords in this song · guitar
Em
G
Am
C
[Intro]
Em Em
[Verse 1]
Em
Good evening, may we say again
G
How pleased we are that you've come in
Am
The day was long, your bed was soft
C
Still there's some names we're crossing off
Em
It says here by your file you
G
Have been so loyal, brave, and true
Am
We need not fret, you need not fear
C
And so we come to why you're here
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 2]
Em
The torch committee now confirms
G
The truth of rumors lately heard
Am
That there come monsters in our midst
C
Well-disguised and carefully hid
Em
Anywhere and anyone
G
The root of every evil done
Am
But you will help us root them out
C
The torch committee has no doubt
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 3]
Em
We see your hands and legs are tied
G
In clearest breach of by-law five
Am
And left here in this little room
C
In clearest breach of by-law two
Em
And though you know that we take pains
G
The process of the law remains
Am
All technicalities aside
C
You'll see our hands are also tied
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 4]
Em
For us, the job brings only pain
G
To see you naked in these chains
Am
To see you naked where you stand
C
Where so many others have
Em
Imagine how it feels each day
G
To send so many men a way
Am
But see we've got a job and we
C
Must dot each "i" and cross each "t"
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 5]
Em
Something's horribly amiss
G
How else could you be on our list
Am
Still we all know directive twelve
C
All those so named must prove themselves
Em
To hungry mob and angry crowd
G
Young men making families proud
Am
By means not meant for light of day
C
We wish there was a softer way
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 6]
Em
Wait, suppose that we untie
G
Your hands to sign upon this line
Am
To pledge that you have always been
C
A patriot and citizen
Em
Please ignore the legalese
G
Lawyers (am I right?) now see
Am
Why we're so happy that you came
C
Appendix three and list of names
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 7]
Em
Pardon us but we can't help
G
But laugh, if you could see yourself
Am
Relax, it's always strange to see
C
The names on each appendix three
Em
Brothers, fathers, sons, and wives
G
The ones with whom you've shared your life
Am
Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends
C
Patriots and citizens
Em
Children playing in the street
G
Strangers whom you chance to meet
Am
The God to whom you chance to pray
C
The girl with whom you choose to stay
[Verse 8]
Em
We know the monsters, know their names
G
By which they go and which they've changed
Am
And every whisper that we've heard
C
We've read their poison, every word
Em
How we wish that we could say
G
That each of them will walk away
Am
But sadly it's the awful truth
C
It's them or us, it's them or you
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
Em G
C Am
[Verse 9]
Em
So put your finger to the names
G
The only cure for fear is blame
Am
In doing so, you're doing good
C
There's many called who never would
Em
Who stuck by what they thought was right
G
Who disappeared by dark of night
Am
Who disappeared into the breeze
C
Left no family left to grieve
[Interlude]
Em G
C Am
[Verse 10]
Em
There, now see, that wasn't bad
G
As you leave, you can be glad
Am
That you have done your little part
C
To fight the monsters in the dark
Em
But have a care, the night is cold
G
Take a torch before you go
Am
And we will keep you safe and warm
C
That's what the torch committee's for
[Outro]
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G Em C
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em G C Am
Em
*Just to keep the verses straight without following line-for-line*
Good evening, may we say again
The torch committee now confirms
We see your hands and legs are tied
For us, the job brings only pain
Something's horribly amiss
Wait, suppose that we untie
Pardon us but we can't help
We know the monsters, know their names
So put your finger to the names
There, now see, that wasn't bad
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About The Torch Committee Chords by Josh Ritter
Learn how to play The Torch Committee by Josh Ritter with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Torch Committee chords”, “The Torch Committee guitar chords”, or “Josh Ritter The Torch Committee 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 The Torch Committee chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Torch Committee lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, G, Am, C, A.
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