The Citadel

One of the great benefits that the net has brought to those of us aging boomers who still hack away on our guitars is the available content of lyrics and tabs (a guitar-friendly notation). Whereas we used to rely only on our ears or were forced to purchase over-priced and poorly written "composition" books, we can now find most of our favorite songs a click or two away from searching the title/artist. Why bring this up here? I wanted to learn a song I used to love back in grade school (yes, fifth grade) by the Rolling Stones, on their psychedelic period album "Their Satanic Majesties Request". The song is "Citadel" and the words, of which I only used to mumble, popped out like something that would be produced today by a new-age singer/songwriter/ protest band concerning Iraq and the reign of Bush in general; the "Citadel" could be the Green Zone or the White House.

Citadel
(Jagger/Richards)

Men are armed shout who goes there
We have journeyed far from here
Armed with bibles make us swear
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel

Flags are flying, dollar bills
Round the heights of concrete hills
You can see the pinnacles
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel

In the streets are many walls
Hear the peasants come and crawl
You can hear their lovers call
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel

Screaming people fly so fast
In their shiny metal cars
Through their worlds of steel and glass
Candy and taffy, hope we both are well
Please come see me in the citadel