Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more." Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore - Nameless here for evermore. Am Am G And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain F G Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; Am C Presently, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating, F G "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door ? Em F Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - G Am This it is, and nothing more." G F G Am C F G Am G Out into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, F G Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before; Am C But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, F G And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?" Em F This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" ? G Am Merely this, and nothing more. Am Am G Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, F G Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. Am C "Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice: F G Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore ? Em F Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - G Am 'Tis the wind and nothing more." Am Am G Open wide I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and many flutter, F G In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore; Am C Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; F G But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door ? Em F Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door ? G Am Perched, and sat, and nothing more. G F G Am C F G Am G Soon this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, F G By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore. Am C "Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven, F G Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore ? Em F Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!" G Am Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Am Am G But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only F G That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Am C Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered ? F G Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before ? Em F On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before." G Am Quoth the raven, "Nevermore." Am Am G Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer F G Swung by seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. Am C Once more on the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking F G Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore ? Em F What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore G Am Meant in croaking "Nevermore." G F G Am C F G Am G "Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! ? F G Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Am C Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted ? F G On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore ? Em F Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!" G Am Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Am Am G "Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil! F G By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore ? Am C Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, F G It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore ? Em F Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore." G Am Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Am G "Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting ? F G "Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Am C Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! F G Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door! Em F Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!" G Am Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." Am G Now the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting F G On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; Am C And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, F G And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; Em F And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor G Shall be lifted - nevermore! Am G F G Am C F G G F G Am