The Cost Of The Crown chords by Mercedes Lackey

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Difficulty: Intermediate

Intro:
Am G Am Em
Am G Am Em

Verse 1:
    Am
The stars are very beautiful above the palace walls
G    Am                               Em
They shine with equal splendor still above far humbler halls
  Am                                                    Em
I watch them from my window but their bright entrancing glow
  Am              Dm      Am     G          Am
Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago

Verse 2:
    Am
The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow
G Am                                   Em
I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow
    Am                                                     Em
But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred
  Am             Dm     Am           G               Am
I found it heavy on the heart though light upond the head

Verse 3:
  Am
Altough I am the head of state in truth I am the least
G   Am                                Em
The true queen knows her people fed before she sits to feast
    Am                                                    Em
The good queen knows her people safe before she takes her rest
       Am        Dm         Am        G                Am
Thinks twice and thrice and yet again before she makes request

Verse 4:
    Am
For they are all my children all that I swore to defend
G  Am                        Em
It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend—
    Am                                         Em
And of my children high and low from beggar to above
    Am             Dm      Am         G            Em
The dearest are my Heralds who return my care with love

Verse 5:
    Am
The dearest are my Heralds swift to spring to my command
G   Am                             Em
Who give me aid and fellowship who always understand
     Am                                    Em
That land and people first have needs that I may not deny—
   Am             Dm      Am         G             Am
So I must send my dearest friends to danger—and to die

Verse 6:
  Am
A friend a love a child—it matters not. I know indeed
G    Am                           Em
That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need
     Am                             Em
They know and they forgive me—doing more than I require
     Am                Dm     Am        G                     Am
With willing minds and loving hearts go straight to grasp the fire

Verse 7:
      Am
These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can't shed
G   Am                           Em
The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead
  Am                                  Em
O Gods that dwell beyond the stars if you can hear my cry—
    Am          Dm     Am         G               Em
And if you have compassion—let me send no more to die!