Queen Of All Elfhame
by Rathflaed DuNoir  The Black Bard of Meridies   Stephen R. Melvin   Sep 1992 - A real Bard's Tale!  I like to use plenty of drama when I sing this one, and even though it is long, it is requested a lot and is always fun to do.
 
Dm                                        Gm                   A7                          Dm
The Queen of all Elfhame, came to me, a vision in gold and green,
               Dm                                Gm                               A7                                Dm
And she said, "I have come to take you away, to the land where I reign as Queen.
Dm                                            Gm                     A7                             Dm
My Thomas lies dead, these many years; for mortals, death does call,
                     Dm                                     Gm             A7                 Dm
And there's been no one to sing or to play for me,      In Elvish halls.

Dm                                  Gm                           A7                          Dm
Danger lies there in the land of the sidhe.  If I go, I might not return
                 Dm                       Gm                                A7                              Dm
And the price to go it might be much too high.  In Hell, my soul it might burn.
Dm                                   Gm                              A7                                       Dm
But bright as a star or a wave on the sea, the morning sun paled her beside,
      Dm                               Gm                        A7                                   Dm
And no mortal man could help himself, but must up behind her and ride!

 F                 Bb                         C
........ And I know not where I found the strength,
        F                                     Dm
To ask what my price would be,
        Gm                                        A7
She said you must leave your princess behind,
 Gm                                          Dm
And spend all your days with me.

Dm                                               Gm                                   A7                             Dm
The Queen of all Elfhame, or a mere mortal girl -  How could I but choose to go,
            Dm                                       Gm                                                            A7
But I'd promised my princess for’ ere and a day, and my pride was too strong –
         Dm  Gm  C             Dm
I said no - ho - ho.   I said no.

            Dm                                                Gm                                         A7                                            Dm
So my princess did save me from the hands of the elves, and the knowledge that I might have strayed,
       Dm                     Gm                                A7                                          Dm
But now I regret my staying behind, for my princess has since me betrayed.
               Dm                                   Gm                               A7                                 Dm
Aye, my princess is gone, she's gone far away, with a Lord who hunts my folk true,
                   Dm                                         Gm                 A7                                   Dm
And if the queen of the elves comes to me again, I know not just what I might do.
 
         Dm                                             Gm                  A7                            Dm
The Queen of all Elfhame, came to me again, a vision to steal men's souls,
                 Dm                             Gm                             A7                                        Dm
She said come follow me and sing in my halls, and find what you need to be whole.

 
         Dm                     Gm                                    A7                        Dm
This time I knew, the price I would pay, I must leave my lady behind,
         Dm                                          Gm                                   A7                                       Dm
But I have no knowledge of what goes before, save this Queen, who's beauty does blind.

 F                 Bb                         C
........And I know not where I found the strength,
       F                              Dm
To ask this lady, "Why me?"
       Gm                                             A7
She said, "You're the harper, I've chosen to sing,
         Gm              Dm
In my halls for eternity..."

             Dm                          Gm                                      A7                                     Dm
But my lady was fairer than all of the lands, and her smile shone brighter than day,
                 Dm                      Gm                                                     A7
She had already taken full half of my soul, so I looked at the Queen
                 Dm  Gm  C           Dm
And said Nay Hay-ay I said nay.

                Dm                                  Gm                  A7                                Dm
So I was saved once again, by a lady fair, with red dress and hair of gold,
          Dm                                               Gm                                      A7                                   Dm
The Queen of the elves she looked straight at me, and said, "Harper, I think you're too bold!
            Dm                              Gm                             A7                              Dm
You've told me no once and told me again, you'll not tell me no times three,
        Dm                           Gm                                      A7                             Dm
For if I should chance to ask you again,  (pause) Harper, You'll sing for me."

(Repeat chords for one verse….)

                Dm                       Gm                                 A7                        Dm
Now I've lost my rose, my garden is bare, and my lady is no longer here,
                   Dm                                Gm                        A7                           Dm
But when I think of her smile, oh, I love her still, and only one thing do I fear:

F                    Bb                          C
    .......For I know not where I'll find the strength,
           F                                            Dm
If the Elf Queen calls me from my rest,
           Gm                    A7
For I have no lady to hold me this time,
        Gm                              Dm
And I might have to say, "Yes."

      Dm                             Gm                     A7                                       Dm
So I'll wander on and I'll sing my songs, traveling on my lonesome way,
                Dm                                          Gm                       A7               Dm       Gm C                    Dm
But if the Queen of the elves comes to me again, I may not say her nay.     Hay-ay     Say her nay.
 

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