The Torch Committee Chords & Lyrics - Josh Ritter

[INTRO]
[Em] [Em]

[VERSE 1]
Good [Em]evening, may we say again
How [G]pleased we are that you've come in
The [Am]day was long, your bed was soft
Still [C]there's some names we're crossing off
It [Em]says here by your file you
Have [G]been so loyal, brave, and true
We [Am]need not fret, you need not fear
And [C]so we come to why you're here

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 2]
The [Em]torch committee now confirms
The [G]truth of rumors lately heard
That [Am]there come monsters in our midst
[C]Well-disguised and carefully hid
[Em]Anywhere and anyone
The [G]root of every evil done
But [Am]you will help us root them out
The [C]torch committee has no doubt

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 3]
We [Em]see your hands and legs are tied
In [G]clearest breach of by-law five
And [Am]left here in this little room
In [C]clearest breach of by-law two
And [Em]though you know that we take pains
The [G]process of the law remains
All [Am]technicalities aside
You'll [C]see our hands are also tied

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 4]
For [Em]us, the job brings only pain
To [G]see you naked in these chains
To [Am]see you naked where you stand
[C]Where so many others have
Imag[Em]ine how it feels each day
To [G]send so many men a way
But [Am]see we've got a job and we
Must [C]dot each "i" and cross each "t"

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 5]
[Em]Something's horribly amiss
How e[G]lse could you be on our list
Still [Am]we all know directive twelve
All [C]those so named must prove themselves
To [Em]hungry mob and angry crowd
[G]Young men making families proud
By [Am]means not meant for light of day
We [C]wish there was a softer way

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 6]
[Em]Wait, suppose that we untie
Your [G]hands to sign upon this line
To [Am]pledge that you have always been
A [C]patriot and citizen
[Em]Please ignore the legalese
[G]Lawyers (am I right?) now see
Why [Am]we're so happy that you came
Appen[C]dix three and list of names

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 7]
[Em]Pardon us but we can't help
But [G]laugh, if you could see yourself
Rel[Am]ax, it's always strange to see
The [C]names on each appendix three
[Em]Brothers, fathers, sons, and wives
The [G]ones with whom you've shared your life
[Am]Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends
[C]Patriots and citizens

[VERSE 8]
[Em]Children playing in the street
[G]Strangers whom you chance to meet
The [Am]God to whom you chance to pray
The [C]girl with whom you choose to stay
We [Em]know the monsters, know their names
By [G]which they go and which they've changed
And [Am]every whisper that we've heard
We've [C]read their poison, every word
[Em]How we wish that we could say
That [G]each of them will walk away
But [Am]sadly it's the awful truth
It's [C]them or us, it's them or you

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 9]
So [Em]put your finger to the names
The [G]only cure for fear is blame
In [Am]doing so, you're doing good
There's[C] many called who never would
Who [Em]stuck by what they thought was right
Who [G]disappeared by dark of night
Who [Am]disappeared into the breeze
[C]Left no family left to grieve

[INTERLUDE]
[Em] [G]
[C] [Am]

[VERSE 10]
[Em]There, now see, that wasn't bad
[G]As you leave, you can be glad
That[Am] you have done your little part
To [C]fight the monsters in the dark
But [Em]have a care, the night is cold
[G]Take a torch before you go
And [Am]we will keep you safe and warm
That's [C]what the torch committee's for

[OUTRO]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]

[Em] [G] [Em] [C]

[Em] [G] [C] [Am]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]
[Em] [G] [C] [Am]

[Em]