Chords for The Ride of El Cid

_ _ _ _ _ [D] _ _ [Em] _
_ _ _ _ _ [D] _ _ [Em] _
Rodrigo Díaz, [Am] called the Cid [Em] of Castile, [G]
Defended the right [D] and brought rebels [Em] to heel.
His blade won a city, [G] or so [Am] the bards sing, [Em]
But [D] honor demanded [C] he [D] humble the heart [Em] of a king.
_ _ _ [D] _ [Em] And so he is banished, [Am] his king [Em] has betrayed [G] him,
And death is the [D] sentence for any [Em] who aid him.
The people lament [G] for the loss [Am] of their sword, [Em]
Oh, what [D] a good [C] vassal, if [D] only he had [Em] a good lord!
_ _ _ [F#m] _ _ [Em] _
_ _ _ _ _ [D] _ _ [Em]
Farewell, my Ximena, [Am] my most [Em] perfect wife, [G]
The shame of an [D] exile shall not [Em] be your life,
As the nail from the flesh [G] they hath [Am] parted their [Em] ways,
And [D] humbly to [C] heaven [D] Rodrigo most [Em] fervently _ prays.
_ _ [D] _ [Em] Oh, glorious one, [Am] in your [Em] mercy protect [G] me, Send me your [D] guidance and do [Em] not reject me,
And God gives him help [G] as our savior [Am] redeems.
[Em]
The [D] archangel [C] Gabriel comes [D] to the Cid [Em] in his dreams,
[G] And says, Right [F] Cid, blessed the hour [E] you were _ born,
[F]
Blessed the [E] moment you girded your [F] sword, Christian and [E] Saracen call you their [F] lord,
The army of heaven [E] has sounded its horn, [F] And Gabriel calls [E] you to ride.
_ [Am] _
[F] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _ _
_ [D] _ [Em] And so out of Spain [Am] Don [Em] Rodrigo will ride, [G] The flower of [D] chivalry stanch [Em] at his side,
Knights seven score [G] ride with three [Am] hundred lance,
[Em] Swords [D] of the crown [C] become [D] soldiers of [Em] fortune and chance. _ _
_ [D] _ _ [Em] In Al-Andalus [Am] they are striking [Em] and [G] raiding, With hopes of a [D] service in honor [Em] fast fading.
From far _ [G] Zaragoza a king [Am] calls in need, [Em] Command [D] well my forces [C] and take [D] up the name
[Em] of El Cid. _ _
_ [F#m] _ _ [Em] _ _ _ _ _
_ [E] _ For [Em] King Mutamin, [Am] for his rich [Em] and his poor, [G] El Cid was defender [D] from Christian [Em] and more.
Soon all [G] Zaragoza is safe [Am] and serene, [Em] And fair [D] Barcelona [C] pays [D] tribute to King [Em] Mutamin. _ _ _
_ [D] _ [Em] Now the Cid seeks a home [Am] that has long [Em] been denied [G] him,
Valencia's rule [D] with Ximena [Em] beside him.
His siege breaks the city, [G]
the judges [Am] _ [Em] convene,
Come live [D] as our liege [C] lord and crown [D] your Ximena [Em] as _ _ [G] queen.
Ride, [F] Cid, blessed the hour [E] you were _ _ [F] born, Blessed the [E] moment you girded your [F] sword.
Christian and [E] Saracen call you their lord, [F] The army of heaven [E] has sounded its horn,
[F] And Gabriel calls [E] you to _ ride.
[F] _ _ _ _ [G] _
_ _ _ _ _ [D] _ [Em] For five years the Cid [Am] has a [Em] glorious reign, [G] And Valencia's wealth [D] floods the [Em] coffers of
Spain. _
Rodrigo is welcomed [G] again [Am] by his liege,
[Em] Till [D] Berbers from [C] Africa lay [D] the Cid's kingdom [Em] to siege.
_ _ _ [D] _ _ [Em]
Hunger and [Am] heartache cannot [Em] overtake him, [G] His son falls in battle [D] but grief [Em] cannot break
him.
He goes to the people [G] to rally [Am] their pride,
[Em]
Tomorrow [D] we sally [C] to meet [D] them in one [Em] final ride. _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [D] _ [Em] But mortal is he, [Am] and in deeps [Em] of the night, [G] The soul of the Cid [D] from his body [Em] takes flight.
Ximena, a marvelous [G] plan [Am] will contrive, [Em] My husband [D] will ride [C] at your head, [D] whether
dead [Em] or alive.
_ _ _ [D] _ [Em] In armor on [Am] horseback his body [Em] they settle,
[G]
To conquer the [D] ultimate test [Em] of his mettle.
He rides down his [G] enemies, death to [Am] their
screams, [Em] And rides [D] out of sorrow [C] and death [D] into legend
[Em] and dreams.
_ [G] _ Ride, [F] Cid, blessed the hour [E] you were born,
_ [F]
Blessed the moment [E] you girded your sword.
[F]
Christian and [E] Saracen call you their lord,
[F]
The army of heaven [E] has sounded its horn, [F] And Gabriel calls [G] you to ride, [F] Cid,
Blessed the hour [E] you were _ born.
[F]
Blessed the moment [E] you girded your sword,
[F]
Christian and [E] Saracen call you their lord, [F]
The army of heaven [E] has sounded its horn,
[F] And Gabriel [Dm] calls [E] you to ride.
_ [F] _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _ [F] _
[E] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _