The Conqueror Worm
View chords used in this chart
Am
Lo! 't is a gala night
C Em
Within the lonesome latter years!
Am
An angel throng, bewinged, bedight
C Em
In veils, and drowned in tears,
Am
Sit in a theatre, to see
C Em
A play of hopes and fears,
Am
While the orchestra breathes fitfully
C Em
The music of the spheres.
Am
Mimes, in the form of God on high,
C Em
Mutter and mumble low,
Am
And hither and thither fly -
C Em
Mere puppets they, who come and go
Am
At bidding of vast formless things
C Em
That shift the scenery to and fro,
Am
Flapping from out their Condor wings
C Em
Invisible Wo!
Bridge or whatever - Dm Am C Em
Am
That motley drama - oh, be sure
C Em
It shall not be forgot!
Am
With its Phantom chased for evermore
C Em
By a crowd that seize it not,
Am C
Through a circle that ever returneth in
Em
To the self - same spot,
Dm Am
And much of Madness, and more of Sin,
C Em Dm
And Horror the soul of the plot.
(I start playing bridge on the "plot")
Dm Am C Em
Am
But see, amid the mimic rout,
C Em
A crawling shape intrude!
Am
A blood-red thing that writhes from out
C Em
The scenic solitude!
Am
It writhes! - it writhes! - with mortal pangs
C Em
The mimes become its food,
Am
And seraphs sob at vermin fangs
C Em
In human gore imbued.
Dm Am C Em
Am
Out - out are the lights - out all!
C Em
And, over each quivering form,
Am
The curtain, a funeral pall,
C Em
Comes down with the rush of a storm,
Am
While the angels, all pallid and wan,
C Em
Uprising, unveiling, affirm
Am
That the play is the tragedy, "Man,"
C Em Dm
And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.
(Again, the bridge)
Dm Am C Em
How to play The Conqueror Worm
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is Am. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.