the Mountain Goats Wiki

tabbed by Rosa
The version below is fine on piano but here's a version that works on guitar

Capo 3

C - D - C D G - - - (hold on the G for an extra measure, play along to hear it)
C - D - C C/B G - - - 
C - D - C D G - - -

C       Bm           C        D     G
Set out early, every seasoned rider knows
Bm      Em         C             D
Keep an even pace, steady as she goes
Bm             C          B              Em
Headed back to town after several nights away
C      Bm              C    D     G
I rode past you on the road again today

Gentle shadows in the mist among the trees
Who awakes prepared to face such sights as these?
Dm                  Am               B            Em
God keep the bounty hunter who shows mercy to his prey
I rode past you on the road again today

              C                         G
And as you approached I could sense the threat
                        Am                Bm                   C   G
But a stranger's just a friend who hasn't shared their secrеts yet

Make camp by sundown, watchfire burning bright
Songs bloom in the dark and throb down in the night
  Dm       Bm      Em          B               Em
I seek the gate of wisdom, the secret state of play
I rode past you on the road again today

C       Bm            Am                 G
Rise up restless, get ready for the waterworks
Shun the hollow places where my marksman lurks
Dm     Bm      Em                B               Em
One of us will tire and one will rise and ride away
I rode past you on the road again today

C - D - C D G - - -
C - D - C C/B G - - -
C - D - C D G - - -
C - D - C C/B G - - -
C - D - C D G - - -

tabbed by mathilde.ooo on ultimateguitar

[Intro]
Eb  Bb (x6)
 
[Verse 1]
 
 Eb      Dm           Eb       F      Bb
Set out early, every seasoned rider knows
Dm         Gm         Eb            F
Keep an even pace, steady as she goes
 Dm             Cm           D           Gm    Eb
Headed back to town after several nights away
         Dm             Eb    F     Bb
I rode past you on the road again today
 
[Verse 2]
Eb        Dm           Eb     F       Bb
Gentle shadows in the mist among the trees
Dm    Gm                 Eb                   F
Who awakes prepared to face such sights as these?
Dm                   Cm               D            Gm   Eb
God keep the bounty hunter who shows mercy to his prey
       Dm               Eb    F     Bb
I rode past you on the road again today
 
[Bridge]
               Eb               F         Bb
And as you approached I could sense the threat
                          Cm                Dm                  Eb   Bb
But a stranger's just a friеnd who hasn't shared their secrеts yet
 
[Verse 3]
Eb              Dm         Eb      F     Bb
Make camp by sundown, watchfire burning bright
Dm          Gm               Eb                 F
Songs bloom in the dark and throb down in the night
   Fm       Bb       Eb         D               Gm  Eb
I seek the gate of wisdom, the secret state of play
       Dm               Eb    F     Bb
I rode past you on the road again today
 
[Verse 4]
 Eb       Dm            Eb        F     Bb
Rise up restless, get ready for the waterworks
 Dm        Gm           Eb                 F
Shun the hollow places where my marksman lurks
Dm             Cm                D             Gm   Eb
One of us will tire and one will rise and ride away
       Dm               Eb    F     Bb
I rode past you on the road again today
 
[Outro]
Eb F Eb Bb (fade out)