The Pirate Of Penance chords by Joni Mitchell

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Key: Bbm

Difficulty: Intermediate

PENANCE CRANE:
Bbm            Cm
The pirate anchored on a Wednesday
Bbm            D
And why he came to port I wonder
           Bbm
To see a lady so my friends say
   Dm7
She dances for the sailors
            Abm
In a smoky cabaret bar underground
             Bb
Down in a cellar in a harbour town
Bbm             Cm
I know he told her love was treasure
Bbm              D
And they would reap the fullest bounty
             Bbm
He only comes to port for pleasure
 Dm7
So when the winds of morning
                     Abm
Blew the curtains in she woke and found he'd gone
               Bb
I saw his sails unfurling Thursday dawn
 Bbm
The pirate he will sink you with a kiss

He'll steal your heart and sail away


THE DANCER:

Saturday early we met in the cove near the forest


PENANCE:
 Gb
He'll leave you drowning in the flotsam Of a broken promise in the bay


THE DANCER:


(Dancing we wakened the dawn and the birds into chorus)

PENANCE:
Gbm
He came again to see her

Yes I think they told me it was Saturday


THE DANCER:

(Ask Penance Crane she was out in her garden she saw us)


PENANCE:
     Bb
I was at sea then

I didn't see them
Bbm             Cm
I don't believe what you are saying
Bbm           D
It isn't true I hardly knew him
                Bbm
Is this some game that you are playing
 Dm7
Go ask the dancer she's the one who saw him last
          Abm
The one who drew him here
               Bb
He hasn't come to me since spring last year
Bbm
There was a time when he would

Bring me silks and sandalwood and Persian lace


THE DANCER:

(Then came another "goodbye" and another "Please don't go")


PENANCE:
 Gb
And he would hold me close

And tell my sailing stories by the fireplace


THE DANCER:

(All night I dance and all day I keep watch with my sorrow)


PENANCE:
 Gbm
I was at sea I tell you I was

Nowhere near the mentioned murder place


THE DANCER:

(Searching for sails that don't come

And I guess but I don't know)


PENANCE:
      Bb
Go ask the dancer

She knows the answer


THE DANCER:

I don't know


PENANCE:
        D
She knows the answer


THE DANCER:

I don't know


PENANCE:

She knows the answer


THE DANCER:

I don't know