Standard Tuning: CAPO III [all chords relative to capo]
Chords:
EADGBE
C: 032010
F: 133211
G: 320033
Dm:x00231
Intro: [C - F - G - C]
Chorus chords:
C F
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern, be the light
G C
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern tonight
C F
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern, be the light
G C
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern tonight
Verse 1 chords: [C - Dm - F - C]
C
It's a hungry world out there, even the wind will take a bite
Dm
And I can feel the world circling, sniffin' round me in the night
F C
And the lost sheep grow teeth, forsake the lambs and lie with the lions
C
And the livin' is desperate, precarious and mean
Dm
And gettin' by is so hard that even the rocks are picked clean
F C
And the bones of small contention are the only food the hungry find
Chorus chords:
I’ll need light for my lantern, light for my lantern, tonight
Light of my lantern, the light of my lantern tonight
Verse 2: [use verse 1 chords]
Where the thistles eat the thorns, and the roses have no chance
And ain't it no wonder that the babies come out crying in advance
And the children long for shelter in the hollow of some lonesome cheek
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/josh_ritter/lantern_crd_ver_2.html ]
And the sky's so cold and clear, the stars might stick you where you stand
And you're only glad it's dark 'cause you might see the Master's hand
You might cast around forever and never find the peace you seek
Chorus chords:
I’ll need light for my lantern, light for my lantern, tonight
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern tonight.
Verse 3: [use verse 1 chords]
For every cry in the night, somebody says "Have faith!"
“Be content inside your questions,” “Minotaurs inside a maze”
Tell me what's the point of light, that you have to strike a match to find?
So throw away those lamentations, we both know them all too well
If there's a Book of Jubilations we’ll have to write it for ourselves
So come and lie beside me darling, and let's write it while we still got time
Interlude 1: [C - F - G - C]
Verse 4: [use verse 1 chords]
So if you got a light, hold it high for me
I need it bad tonight, hold it high for me
Cause I'm face to face, hold it high for me
In that lonesome place, hold it high for me
Well all the hurt that I've done, hold it high for me
That can't be undone, hold it high for me
Light and guide me through, hold it high for me
I'll do the same for you, hold it high for me
Verse 5: [use verse 1 chords]
I'll hold it high for you, cause I know you’ve got
I'll hold it high for you, your own valley to walk
I'll hold it high for you, though it's dark as death
I'll hold it high for you, and then gets darker yet
I'll hold it high for you, though your path seems lost
I'll hold it high for you, through the thieves and the rocks
I'll hold it high for you, keep you safe from harm
I'll hold it high for you, until you're back in my arms
Chorus chords:
Be the light of my lantern, the light in my lantern, be the light
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern tonight
Be the light of my lantern, the light in my lantern, be the light
Be the light of my lantern, the light of my lantern tonight
Outro: [repeat chorus chords]
