They Rode On

	  		
Verse 
Em 
Out of the dark, into the light,  
Em 
In the dawn of terrestrial birth.  
C 
New-born yet older than time,  
Em 
Conceived in the depths of the earth.  

Em 
Though strange lay the waters from which they emerged, 
Em 
They glanced upon the world as their own. 
C 
Yet deep in their hearts they knew all the time 
Em 
That this was not really their home. 


Em  C   Am   Em 
So they rode on. 
Em   C    Am   Em 
Yes, they rode on.
 


Verse 
Em 
On hidden roads, through barren wastelands, 
Em 
Untrodden by both man and beast. 
C 
From the distance their fire was gleaming 
Em 
Like a lamp amidst dark eternity. 

Em 
A bitter moon hovered above them. 
Em 
The night lit sole by its glow. 
C 
From high in a sky of ominous dye 
Em 
In which dark clouds drifted slow. 


Em  C   Am   Em 
So they rode on. 
Em   C    Am   Em 
Yes, they rode on. 



Verse 
Em 
They rode with shut eyes as the sun rose. 
Em 
Regardless of earth's vanity. 
C 
But with wide open eyes, they paced the night 
Em 
And pondered its mysteries. 

Em 
They sat at the crossroads with high and with low, 
Em 
Yet neither could alter their course. 
C 
Riches were offered unto them, 
Em 
Yet indifferent and without remorse 

Em  C   Am   Em 
So they rode on. 
Em   C    Am   Em 
Yes, they rode on. 
  


Bridge 
Em 
And each lonely vagrant that crossed their path, 
D 
Felt how his heart grew cold. 
C 
Yet be marvelled at their scarred faces, 
Em 
So beautiful, distant and old. 

Em 
Some say they've heard them singing 
D 
In strange tongues of melancholy; 
C 
Of the gods, of the night, and of glory. 
Em 
Of the dead, and their memory. 


Em  C   Am   Em 
So they rode on. 
Em   C    Am   Em 
Yes, they rode on.
 


Bridge 
Em           D 
Say goodbye to the light. 
C              Em 
Come twilight, come dark night. 
Em             D 
Say goodbye to the light, 
C              Em 
Come twilight, come dark night. 

Coda 
Em 
Could you have rode there with them? 
D 
Would you have joined their march? 
C 
Or would you have them ride on? 
Em 
Away into the dark? 

Em 
Would you have been able to let go? 
D 
Of illusions of right and of wrong? 
C 
And if they came to die; 
Em 
Would you have rode on?