He put on his tie and tails for the concert of his life

And took a little folding stool into the empty square

He tried the tender cello strings, he drew the horsehair tight

A rich and clean adagio came haunting through the air.

    And he played for the opera, for beauty torn apart

    He played for Sarajevo, to mend her riven heart

    And he played for the innocent, the merciful, the brave

    And for the spirits of the lost, what he could give, he gave.

Since the ruin of the theatre, there was little to be done

Till he became a witness to the deadly mortar shell

That fell into a market where the crowd lined up for bread

And turned his gracious city to the capital of hell.

    Chorus

And on the crater left behind, for three weeks and a day

For every man and woman lost, for every child slain

Against the beat of sniper fire, his cello prayed for peace

And sang for all with ears to hear, to kindle hope again.

    Chorus

Chords: (4/4)

       D                             G              D

He put on his tie and tails for the concert of his life

    F#m            Bm             Em             A

And took a little folding stool into the empty square

     A               D                  G                 A

He tried the tender cello strings, he drew the horsehair tight

   G               D          Em                   A

A rich and clean adagio came haunting through the air.

         D            A            G           D

And he played for the opera, for beauty torn apart

    F#m            Bm       Em             A

He played for Sarajevo, to mend her riven heart

         D            A              G              D

And he played for the innocent, the merciful, the brave

     G              D       Bm        Em        A        D

And for the spirits of the lost, what he could give, he gave.