D                           G      C              G
        Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
                                Em            D
        Lay down the song you strum,
                              G       D                G               C
        And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
                              G   D      G      D
        No voice can hope to hum.


                           G           C           D
Struck by the sounds before the sun,
                   Em          D
I knew the night had gone.
             G        D                   G      C
The morning breeze like a bugle blew
                    G    D         G     D
Against the drums of dawn.


        Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
        Lay down the song you strum,
        And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
        No voice can hope to hum.

The ocean wild like an organ played,
The seaweed's wove its strands.
The crashin' waves like cymbals clashed
Against the rocks and sands.

        Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
        Lay down the song you strum,
        And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
        No voice can hope to hum.

I stood unwound beneath the skies
And clouds unbound by laws.
The cryin' rain like a trumpet sang
And asked for no applause.

        Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
        Lay down the song you strum,
        And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
        No voice can hope to hum.

The last of leaves fell from the trees
And clung to a new love's breast.
The branches bare like a banjo moan
To the winds that listened the best.

I gazed down in the river's mirror
And watched its winding strum.
The water smooth ran like a hymn
And like a harp did hum.

        Lay down your weary tune, lay down,
        Lay down the song you strum,
        And rest yourself 'neath the strength of strings
        No voice can hope to hum.


Copyright © 1964; renewed 1992 Special Rider Music