Song Of My Returning chords by Phil Ochs

Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)

Verse 1:
    B               E             B              G#m
The wild geese are dancing in the ripples of the morn
   B              E
My wanderlust is born
              D#m        C#m               F#m
I've got to follow them wherever they may lead
    B            E          B                G#m
For I am just a sailor on a ship across the land
B                 E
Let me hold your hand
            D#m           C#m           F#m
To bid farewell so i can not go to my knees
B           D#m           G#m
But I'll be back again no matter where I go
         C#m            F#m                 B
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
B                   D#m            G#m
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
      C#m           F#m             B
As I sing the early song of my returning

Verse 2:
    B               E             B              G#m
The weary world is waiting for ambition to be played
   B              E
Now young and not afraid
              D#m        C#m               F#m
I've got to challenge every chalice that I know
    B            E          B                G#m
My eager ears are listening for the singing of the sign
B                 E
Deeper are the lines
            D#m           C#m           F#m
Upon the face that finds reflections in the road
B           D#m           G#m
Yes, I'll be back again no matter where I go
         C#m            F#m                 B
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
B                   D#m            G#m
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
      C#m           F#m             B
As I sing the changing song of my returning

Verse 3:
    B               E             B              G#m
My drifting days prepare me to do battle with the night
   B              E
A phantom of the fight
           D#m        C#m               F#m
I've got conquer all the courage of my fears
    B            E          B                G#m
The answer lies in limbo(?) and the harvest will be hard
B                 E
But sacred are the scars
            D#m           C#m           F#m
That leave their mark on the fast disolving years
B           D#m           G#m
Yes, I'll be back again no matter where I go
         C#m            F#m                 B
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
B                   D#m            G#m
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
      C#m           F#m             B
As I sing the growing song of my returning

Verse 4:
    B               E             B              G#m
Time must have her victory It's that I've always known
   B              E
But I won or lost alone
              D#m        C#m               F#m
And when a voice calls out "there's someone you must meet"
    B            E          B                G#m
With every strength remaining I will suffer one more scene
B                 E
I'll gather all my dreams And with my final breath
 D#m       C#m        F#m
I'll lay them at your feet
B           D#m           G#m
Yes, I'll be back again no matter where I go
         C#m            F#m                 B
For it's only love that frees the fire for burning
B                   D#m            G#m
Then I'll take you in my arms and tell you all I know
      C#m           F#m             B
As I sing the final song of my returning