Shelter From The Storm

[E]Twas in another[B] lifetime,[A] one of toil and[E] blood 
When[E] blackness was a[B] virtue and the [A]road was full of mud 
I[E] came in from the[B] wilderness, a[A] creature void of form. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
B A E E B A E[repeat after each verse] 
 
And[E] if I pass this[B] way again,[A] you can rest as[E]sured 
I‘ll[E] always do my[B] best for her, on[A] that I give my word 
In a[E] world of steel-eyed[B] death, and men who are[A] fighting to be warm. 
"Come [E]in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you [A]shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
Not a[E] word was spoke be[B]tween us, there wa[A] little risk in[E]volved 
[E]Everything up[B] to that point had been[A] left unresolved. 
[E]Try imagi[B]ning a place where it‘s[A] always safe and warm. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
I was[E] burned out from ex[B]haustion,[A] buried in the[E] hail, 
[E]Poisoned in the[B] bushes an‘[A] blown out on the trail, 
[E]Hunted like a[B] crocodile,[A] ravaged in the corn. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you [A]shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
[E]Suddenly I[B] turned around and[A] she was standin‘[E] there 
With[E] silver bracelets[B] on her wrists and[A] flowers in her hair. 
She walked[E] up to me so [B]gracefully and[A] took my crown of thorns. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
Now [E]there‘s a wall between us, somethin‘ there‘s been lost 
I [E]took too much for[B] granted,[A] got my signals crossed. 
[E]Just to think that it[B] all began on a[A] long-forgotten morn. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
Well, the[E] deputy walks on[B] hard nails and the[A] preacher rides a[E] mount 
But[E] nothing really[B] matters much, it‘s[A] doom alone that counts 
And the[E] one-eyed under[B]taker, he [A]blows a futile horn. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
[E]I‘ve heard newborn[B] babies [A]wailin‘ like a mournin‘[E] dove 
And[E] old men with[B] broken teeth[A] stranded without love. 
Do I[E] understand your[B] question, man, is it[A] hopeless and forlorn? 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
In a [E]little hilltop[B] village, they[A] gambled for my[E] clothes 
I [E]bargained for sal[B]vation an‘ they[A] gave me a lethal dose. 
I[E] offered up my [B]innocence and[A] got repaid with scorn. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you [A]shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
        [E]                 [B]             [A]                [E] 
Well, I‘m livin‘ in a foreign country but I‘m bound to cross the line 
[E]Beauty walks a[B] razor‘s edge, some[A]day I‘ll make it mine. 
If I could[E] only turn[B] back the clock to when[A] God and her were born. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm." 
 
[This verse is from an outtake version]: 
[E]Now the bonds are[B] broken, but[A] they can be re[E]tied 
By[E] one more journey[B] to the woods, the[A] holes where spirits hide. 
It‘s a[E] never-ending[B] battle for a[A] peace that‘s always torn. 
"Come[E] in," she said, "I‘ll[B] give you[A] shelter from the[E] storm."