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Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
''Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more.'
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.
Am
Am G
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
F G
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
Am C
Presently, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
F G
''Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door –
Em F
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
G Am
This it is, and nothing more.'
G F G Am C F G
Am G
Out into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
F G
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
Am C
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
F G
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, 'Lenore?'
Em F
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, 'Lenore!' –
G Am
Merely this, and nothing more.
Am
Am G
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
F G
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
Am C
'Surely,' said I, 'surely that is something at my window lattice:
F G
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore –
Em F
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
G Am
'Tis the wind and nothing more.'
Am
Am G
Open wide I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and many flutter,
F G
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Am C
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
F G
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door –
Em F
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door –
G Am
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
G F G Am C F G
Am G
Soon this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
F G
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
Am C
'Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, 'art sure no craven,
F G
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore –
Em F
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
G Am
Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'
Am
Am G
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
F G
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Am C
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered –
F G
Till I scarcely more than muttered, 'other friends have flown before –
Em F
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.'
G Am
Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'
Am
Am G
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
F G
Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
Am C
Once more on the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
F G
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore –
Em F
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
G Am
Meant in croaking 'Nevermore.'
G F G Am C F G
Am G
'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! –
F G
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Am C
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted –
F G
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore –
Em F
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
G Am
Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'
Am
Am G
'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
F G
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore –
Am C
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
F G
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore –
Em F
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.'
G Am
Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'
Am G
'Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend,' I shrieked, upstarting –
F G
'Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Am C
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
F G
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Em F
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
G Am
Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'
Am G
Now the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
F G
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
Am C
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
F G
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
Em F
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
G
Shall be lifted - nevermore!
Am G F G Am C
F G G F G Am