THE LIGHTHOUSE'S TALE
by Nickel Creek (Adam McKenzie and Chris Thile)
charted by Bo Frazer
with help from Larry Dean
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Intro = hook = 2 lines of verse
Verse:
Em G D
I am a Lighthouse, Worn by the weather and the waves.
Em G D
I keep my lamp lit, to warn the sailors on their way.
I'll tell a story, paint you a picture from my past.
I was so happy, but joy in this life seldom lasts.
I had a keeper, he helped me warn the ships at sea.
We had grown closer, 'til his joy meant everything to me.
He was to marry a girl who shown with beauty and light.
They loved each other, and with me watched the sunsets into nights.
Chorus:
C Bm Bb C D
And the waves crashing around me, The sand slips out to sea,
C Bm Em F#m G
And the winds that blow remind me of what has been,
A D
and what can never be.Verse:
She'd had to leave us; my keeper, he prayed for a safe return,
But when the night came, the weather to a raging storm had turned.
He watched her ship fight, but in vain against the wild and terrible wind,
And me so helpless, as dashed against the rocks she met her end.Verse:
Then on the next day, my keeper found her washed up on the shore.
He kissed her cold face, and that they'd be together soon he swore.
I saw him crying, watched as he buried her in the sand,
Then he climbed my tower, and off the edge of me he ran.Verse:
I am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves,
And though I'm empty, I still warn the sailors on their way.
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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steve Wanna Be |
#1 by steve hoffmann at Dec 13, 1973 at 7:20 PM EST |
| This song is about how absolutley complete another human being can make you. The keeper feels absolute joy at the hands of his fiance. upon her death, it is not a matter of him being sad or wanting to be with her once more, it is a matter of his inablity to function without her. One can argue thereby that the lighthouse has lost something to, empty meaning more then "noone inside of me," but deprived of the "joys that meant everything to me." Deprived of his love. This step need not even be taken though. The story of the keeper and his fiance is enough and leaves the listener weak with empathy. I wish to be that hopelessly in love one day. I hope to find a wife that loves me so completely, that we become that old couple that when one of us dies, the other follows in a mere week. | |
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Lucas Average |
#2 by Lucas Gracia at Oct 24, 1977 at 6:28 AM EST |
| man i cried so hard when i first heard this song... nickel creek has the ability to do that to someone... | |
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caleb Wanna Be |
#3 by caleb at Nov 25, 1977 at 9:46 AM EST |
| i absolutely love this song, i'm planning on moving to maine. This song also reminds me of the time i took my ex boyfriend to Nubble light house (I'm pretty sure this is where the song was filmed) and just the amazement in his eyes...(it was his first time there and he loved it) | |
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julian Average |
#4 by julian at Sep 19, 1983 at 12:00 PM EST |
| This song is me personally. Living in Maine I grew up with the ocean. It is my peace, my salvation, my love, and my sanity. I have seen Portland Headlight where the music video was taped, but the lighthouse that is always in my heat is Pemequide Point lighthouse. There one can actually climb down the rocks, sit, and contemplate the meaning of life while smelling the spectacular salt air, and listening to the music of the waves. | |
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Jeremy Average |
#5 by Jeremy Rees at Aug 24, 1984 at 4:20 PM EST |
| this isn't just about a lighthouse, it's can be about a person who has suffered, and through their lose, they go on and help others. | |
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Oliver Average |
#6 by Oliver Taylor at Sep 14, 1991 at 11:50 PM EST |
| im only 14 but my parents brought me up on music like this. the first time I heard this song, I was in Cape Cod. its so sad and i probably cant really understand everything he's feeling, but i love it anyway. | |
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Francesco Lead Player |
#7 by Francesco DeVito at Dec 24, 1994 at 11:07 PM EST |
| awesome, just awesome, great song it caught my breath | |
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Garland Rhythm Player |
#8 by Garland Cross at Nov 20, 1999 at 8:49 PM EST |
| Could there be a song anymore beautiful and touching? | |
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Spanky Lead Player |
#9 by Spanky Man at Mar 17, 2001 at 1:22 AM EST |
| to justify my statement "And though I am empty, I still warn the sailors on their way." | |
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IM A MAN WHO C Rhythm Player |
#10 by IM A MAN WHO CHANGED INTO A BEAST at Apr 7, 2005 at 3:16 PM EST |
| jiodek, i don't think that there was ever a Christian debate. malli321 simply stated that she wished that the lovers were Christians so that they could be together in heaven someday. suicide is a sin, therefore i tend not to think that the boy was a Christian having committed it. however, i do wrestle in my mind with the question of whether or not a person truely can believe in God and be saved, but commit suicide anyway. i'm just not sure how i feel about that, but if anyone would like to comment, then we would have a debate. i don't mean to shoot you down or anything jiodek, you have an excellent interpretation of the song. i only meant to clear up what i believe was meant by the references to Christianity in the two previous comments. keep an open mind. God loves you. | |
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Jeremy Average |
#11 by Jeremy Rees at Sep 28, 2007 at 12:43 AM EST |
| holy cow this is a sad song. the only thing is that i hope that the keeper and his fiance were christians so that they could be together, but i guess it's not real so it doesn't matter. but maybe it is a true story, thats scary. | |
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hamadi Wanna Be |
#12 by hamadi alameddine at Oct 2, 2007 at 6:17 AM EST |
| This is one of the saddest songs ever written... I love it, though. | |
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Kyle Average |
#13 by Kyle Landers at Oct 2, 2007 at 12:33 PM EST |
| This is an interesting song about a lighthouse. Very creative. Thanks. b | |
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Neal Average |
#14 by Neal Breen at Oct 2, 2007 at 1:09 PM EST |
| It's amazing; this song is so sad and touching, and beautiful and calm. I guess that's what I like most about Nickel Creek; their songs are always so quiet, I always listen to them while I'm doing homework. Or whenever I need to relax. It's a little ironic, though; a lightouse keeper's fiancè dies of a boat crash. But this whole song is cres, from the intro, to the chorus, to the very last line. | |
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rikiscorner Average |
#15 by rikiscorner at Oct 3, 2007 at 5:46 AM EST |
| I really really really really love this song! Never have I heard a more beautiful telling of a story through song. Almost brought me to tears when I was listening to it. I seriously think it's a huge talent to be able to put together a song like this. Such a creative way of telling a story. It all comes together so perfectly; the words, the music, the feeling. | |
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Ryan Wanna Be |
#16 by Ryan Carter at Oct 3, 2007 at 9:50 PM EST |
| I agree with everyone on this one, it's a very sad and moving song. Very powerful. I feel like crying when I hear it too. | |
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phoen Average |
#17 by phoen bay at Oct 5, 2007 at 1:32 PM EST |
| This song to me means that we all need to value our relationships. I cry many times when I hear it thinking about all the things I would have liked to say to her if I knew what was going to happen. The lighthouse is like God because it's a divine perspective and He feels our pain and wants to comfort us if we would only listen. | |
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sean Wanna Be |
#18 by sean bradly at Oct 6, 2007 at 5:35 PM EST |
| this song means a helluva lot. it is a very beautiful song while also being so tragic. it's definietely one of the best songs i've ever heard. | |
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HammerOffFreak Professional |
#19 by HammerOffFreak at Oct 7, 2007 at 5:15 PM EST |
| The symbolism and story woven in this song make you do a double-take. | |
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h4c|< Average |
#20 by h4c|< ☺ at Oct 8, 2007 at 2:31 PM EST |
| if the keeper was a christian he wouldn't have thrown himself off the light house...but he loved his fiance so much he was scared to be alone. so what do i know, right? | |
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Jp Wanna Be |
#21 by Jp Collins at Oct 9, 2007 at 7:45 PM EST |
| when i first heard this song, i cried. it is touching that someone loved another person that much and can't live without them, so they ran off the edge of a lighthouse. the power of love is a strong force. | |
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Jake Average |
#22 by Jake Bounds at Oct 9, 2007 at 9:26 PM EST |
| I like the supernatural reference at the end...that despite the fact that no one operates the lighthouse, it still works....creepy...oooOOooo | |
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Jesus Professional |
#23 by Jesus at Oct 11, 2007 at 7:04 PM EST |
| This is one of, if not, my favorite songs. I am a HUGE fan of Nickel Creek. This song brought my Mom and I to tears the first time we heard it. They are such a talented group. I am learning to play the mandolin. My inspiration was none other than Nickel Creek and the fab Chris Thile. This song clearly tells the story of a keeper whose love for the woman he loves is so strong that he takes his own life to be with her. A strong and captivating song~!~ | |
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Lucas Average |
#24 by Lucas Lawrey at Oct 14, 2007 at 4:26 AM EST |
| I like how he wrote the lyrics. He wrote them as if the lighthouse itself was telling the story. Very nice job...and moving tale. | |
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Andrea Average |
#25 by Andrea Lauria at Oct 16, 2007 at 12:41 PM EST |
| It's such a very sad song. I disapprove of the entire Christian debate, though. Who said that they had to be Christian at all? And to apply that meaning to this song, I think, is to err. This song is about love, pain, and loss. The fear of being alone got the best of the keeper, and he wanted to be with her again, so he killed himself. A beautiful song... It's one of the songs I play every morning on the way to school to clear my mind. | |
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