Em  Em  Em  Em

[Verse 1]
      Em
Oh, I have a silver blade....
     D
The edges sharp, the handle bone.
  Am
A pretty thing of silver made...
     C
Now it's the only thing I own.
Em                           Em
Once I knew a lordling fine....
  D                             D
I heard him whistle as he rode.
   Am
And I was bold to call him mine....
  C
The shoes upon his horse were gold.

[Interlude]
Em  D  Am  C

[Verse 2]
Em
One look in my eyes and he...
D
Bid me climb onto his horse.
  Am
And asked if I'd his lady be...
   C
And go away for ever more?
   Em
He spoke of love songs at each kiss...
   D
And I who was a young girl then,
    Am
Was promised every young girl's bliss...
    C
Got up and rode away with him.

[Interlude]
Em  D  Am  C

[Verse 3]
   Em
He led me through his castle tall...
     D
With promises and jewels until.
   Am
He led me through his castle hall...
     C
Then took my clothes and worked his will.
    Em
And when he had and I lay there...
D
From my head with a silver blade.
   Am
He cut a lock of my cold black hair...
    C
And bid me dress and go my way.

[Solo]
Em  D  Am  C
Em  D  Am  Am

[Verse 4]
      Em
But I marked well the silver blade...
    D                            D
And where he laid it when he did.
    Am
And when his back was turned away...
   C
I buried it beneath his ribs.
  Em
I used the dagger as a spade...
D
Where the thorns and lilacs grow.
  Am
I cut the ground into a grave...
C
In a place even God don't know.

[Verse 5]
    Em
And every evening I returned...
D
To the place for him I chose.
Am
Until his skin had turned to worms...
 C
Wild dogs scattered his bones.
    Em
And all I have of what I was...
D
Is the memory of a maid.
Am
Who mistook a thief for love...
C
But who gained a silver blade.

[Solo]
Em  D  Am  C

[Outro]
     Em  D  Am  C
Silver blade.

Em  D  Am  C
Em  D  Am  C