January Song

It was only a matter of time before I combined music and silat, I suppose ...


Haven't gotten the chords yet -- I'm thinking some in a minor key, to get a kind of haunting melody, maybe A-minor pentatonic, if I can figure it out ...


Editor's Note: Hereunder a slightly revised version of the lyrics, with chords. The recording is now available on SoundClick, here, or in the player down the page.

Knife Fighter

I.

Am                                               Dm

He’s a stone-cold lizard-eyed knife fighter/

F                                        G            Am

And he’s always gettin’ ready to die/

Am                                                  Dm

He’s got two in his pocket and one in his boot/

F                           G                   Am

And the steel is how he gets high/

Am                                                  Dm

He’ll dance with the Devil and cut off his whiskers/

F                          G                 Am

And grin like a fool all the while/

Am                                                        Dm

When the law comes for him, they better shoot fast/

                  F              G           Am

Cause he won’t be goin’ to trial.

Chorus:

F                              G  

Live by the blade, die by the blade/

Am

You know that’s how the story ends/

F                                                G

That’s how they'll write the epitaph/

                 F             G                Am

When the knife is your only friend.

II.

Am                                               Dm

He’s had more stitches than a sewing machine/

              F             G            Am

Jagged scars all over his face/

Am                             Dm

Each time he pulls out his blade/

                  F          G            Am

It always comes down to a race/

Am                           Dm                         F               G            Am

To see who Death claims this time, who’ll be going to Hell/

Am                            Dm                           F                        G           Am

Win, lose, or draw everybody bleeds, sometimes it’s hard to tell.

(Chorus)

III.

Am                                        Dm                           F       G                    Am

It’s edges and points and icepick grips, and saber hold for the reach/

Am                                              Dm                        F            G              Am

He knows ninety-six ways to kill a man, O the lessons he could teach/

Am                                                  Dm                                F                    G

He’s a bad steppin’ razor and an expert butcher as he slices and he stabs 

             Am

and he flays/

Am                                          Dm                       F                  G         Am                         

Never had a chance at the peaceful life, far gone in his killin’ ways.

Chorus:

F                              G  

Live by the blade, die by the blade/

Am

You know that’s how the story ends/

F                                                G

That’s how they'll write the epitaph/

                 F             G                Am

When the knife is your only friend/

                 F             G                Am

When the knife is your only friend

(Slow it down)

When the knife ...  is your ... only ... friend ...