Chords for "William Tell" by Ken Theriot

_ _ _ _ _ _ In a pleasant wooded valley lived [Bb] a huntsman tall and able
He [Fm] relied on skill and cunning for [Cm] the food upon his [Bb] table
He [Fm] would walk the forest shadows with [Eb] his little son [Gm] in tow
[Cm] Teaching him [Bb] the archer's art [Ab] and all that he should [Bb] know
Keep [Fm] your eye clear and keen like [Gm] a falcon on the wing
Keep [Ab] your heart strong and steady like [Eb] your hand upon the [Bb] string
Never [Fm] bow to a tyrant while [Eb] your people are [Cm] laid low
For [Fm] the highest head may [Ab] fall to [Eb] the man who [Fm] wields a bow _
In the valley there was freedom and [Bb] a man was left to living
But [Fm] as year gave way to year the ruling [Cm] men grew less [Bb] forgiving
On [Fm] a day as black as death a [Eb] governor to rule [Gm] them came
[Cm] Turning [Bb] landsmen into slaves [Ab] and Gessler was [Bb] his name
In [Fm] the center of the village [Bb] Gessler set a lofty pillar
And he ordered every subject be [Cm] he serf or be [Bb] he miller
To [Fm] do homage to the hat that [Eb] Gessler placed atop [Gm] the pole
[Cm] Or to [Bb] forfeit to the crown [Ab] his life if not [Bb] his soul
But [Fm] the huntsman William Tell came [Bb] into town the morning after
[Fm] William heard of Gessler's order and [Cm] could only roar [Bb] with laughter
[Fm] Honest men should hold a rank above [Eb] a petty [Gm] autocrat
[Cm] I would never [Bb] bow to him [Ab] I'll not bow to [Bb] his hat
Keep [Fm] your eye clear and keen like [Gm] a falcon on the wing
Keep [Ab] your heart strong and steady like [Eb] your hand upon [Bb] the string
Never [Fm] bow to a tyrant while [Eb] your people are [Cm] laid low
For [Fm] the highest head [Ab] may fall to [Eb] the man who [Fm] wields a bow _
Gessler's soldiers seized the huntsman and [Bb] his little son for treason
But [Fm] the people of the village cried [Cm] for mercy and [Bb] for reason
[Fm] Gessler stays the execution but [Eb] a cruel test [Gm] contrives
[Cm] Prove to me [Bb] your skill and you [Ab] may ransom back [Bb] your lives
I [Fm] have heard it said you have no peer [Bb] with longbow and with arrow
That [Fm] your shaft can find the quickest hare [Cm] and fell the [Bb] smallest sparrow
On [Fm] the head of your young son I'll [Eb] place an apple ripe [Gm] and red
[Cm] Split it with [Bb] one shot or at [Ab] my word you both [Bb] are dead
_ _ [Fm] William Tell went to his son and said [Bb] I swear I will not hurt you
[Fm] Courage will not bow to fear nor shall [Cm] this evil conquer [Bb] virtue
Turn [Fm] your face towards our home and [Eb] stand as still as [Gm] any tree
[Cm] I will split [Bb] the apple we [Ab] shall soon be home [Bb] and free
[Fm] Keep your eye clear and keen [Gm] like a falcon on the wing
[Ab] Keep your heart strong and steady [Eb] like your hand upon [Bb] the string
[Fm] Never bow to a tyrant [Eb] while your people are [Cm] laid low
For [Fm] the highest head may fall to [Eb] the man who [Fm] wields a bow
_ _ Every tongue was still and silent [Bb] as the archer paced the distance
[Fm] Gessler's soldiers lined the square and [Cm] there was no hope [Bb] of resistance
[Fm] William knocked a single arrow put [Eb] his shoulders back [Gm] and drew
[Cm] Then the [Bb] arrow sang and [Ab] split the apple clean [Bb] in two
All [Fm] at once the crowd erupted [Bb] into cheers and into chatter
[Fm] And the second arrow fell from [Cm] William's quiver with [Bb] a clatter
[Fm] Gessler said why hold two arrows when [Eb] I bid you shoot [Gm] but one
[Cm] That one [Bb] would have found your heart [Ab] if I had shot [Bb] my son
Take [Fm] the archer now and hang him [Bb] Gessler to his men was crying
[Fm] But before the soldier moved the [Cm] archer and his son [Bb] were flying
[Fm] From the shelter of the wood the [Eb] hunter loosed a [Gm] final dart
[Cm] Gessler [Bb] died with William's [Ab] arrow buried in [Bb] his heart
[Fm] Keep your eye clear and keen [Gm] like a falcon on the wing
[Ab] Keep your heart strong and steady [Eb] like your hand upon [Bb] the string
[Fm] Never bow to a tyrant [Eb] while your people are [Cm] laid low
[Fm] For the highest head may fall [Eb] to the man who [Bb] wields a bow
[Fm] Keep your eye clear and keen [Gm] like a falcon on the wing
[Ab] Keep your heart strong and steady [Eb] like your hand upon [Bb] the string
[Fm] Never bow to a tyrant [Eb] while your people are [Cm] laid low
[Fm] For the highest head may fall [Eb] to the _ man who [Fm] wields a bow _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _