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A Cautionary Song

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Dminor

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[Intro]
 Dm   Dm/A(x4)
[Verse]
DmThere's a place your Dm/Amother goes, when Dmeverybody Dm/Aelse is soundly G/Dsleeping 
DmThrough the lights of Dm/Abeacon street 
DmAnd if you listen Dm/Ayou can hear her Gweeping, 
She's Aweeping, cause the Bbgentlemen are calling  
And the snow is softly falling on her Fpetticoats. 
And she's sBbtanding in the harbour 
And she's waiting for the sailors in the Fjolly boat. 
See how Athey approach 
DmWith dirty hands and Dm/Atrousers torn they Dmgrapple 'til she's Dm/Asafe
within their G/Dkeeping 
A Dmgag is placed beDm/Atween her lips to Dmkeep her sorry Dm/Atongue from
any Gspeaking, or Ascreaming 
And they Bbrow her out to packets where the sailor's sorry racket
calls for Fmaidenhead 
And she's Bbscarce above the gunwales when her clothes fall to a
bundle and she's Flaid in bed on the Aupper deck 
[Interlude]
GmLa la la la laa,Ala la la laaGm,A  
[Verse]
DmAnd so she goes from Dm/Aship to ship, her Dmankles clasped, her Dm/Aarms
so rudely G/Dpinioned 
DmTill at last she's Dm/Asatisfied the Dmlot of the maDm/Arina's teeming
Gminions, in their oApinions 
And they Bbtell her not to say a thing to cousin, kindred, kith or
kin or she'll Fend up dead 
And they Bbthrow her thirty dollars and return her to the harbour
where she Fgoes to bed, and this is Ahow you're fed 
So be Gmkind to your mother, though she may Aseem an awful bother,
and the Gmnext time she tries to feed you collard Agreens,
Remember what she does when you're asleepA  Dm  

All chords in this song (8)

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A Cautionary Song

by The Decemberists

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Dm/A

G/D

[Intro]

Dm Dm/A

(x4)

[Verse]

Dm Dm/A Dm Dm/A G/D

There's a place your mother goes, when everybody else is soundly sleeping

Dm Dm/A

Through the lights of beacon street

Dm Dm/A G

And if you listen you can hear her weeping,

A Bb

She's weeping, cause the gentlemen are calling

And the snow is softly falling on her petticoats.

And she's standing in the harbour

And she's waiting for the sailors in the jolly boat.

See how they approach

Dm Dm/A Dm Dm/A

With dirty hands and trousers torn they grapple 'til she's safe

G/D

within their keeping

Dm Dm/A Dm Dm/A

A gag is placed between her lips to keep her sorry tongue from

G A

any speaking, or screaming

And they row her out to packets where the sailor's sorry racket

calls for maidenhead

And she's scarce above the gunwales when her clothes fall to a

F A

bundle and she's laid in bed on the upper deck

[Interlude]

Gm A Gm A

La la la la laa,la la la laa,

[Verse]

Dm Dm/A Dm Dm/A

And so she goes from ship to ship, her ankles clasped, her arms

G/D

so rudely pinioned

Dm Dm/A Dm Dm/A

Till at last she's satisfied the lot of the marina's teeming

G A

minions, in their opinions

And they tell her not to say a thing to cousin, kindred, kith or

kin or she'll end up dead

And they throw her thirty dollars and return her to the harbour

F A

where she goes to bed, and this is how you're fed

Gm A

So be kind to your mother, though she may seem an awful bother,

Gm A

and the next time she tries to feed you collard greens,

A Dm

Remember what she does when you're asleep

About A Cautionary Song Chords by The Decemberists

Learn how to play A Cautionary Song by The Decemberists with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “A Cautionary Song chords”, “A Cautionary Song guitar chords”, or “The Decemberists A Cautionary Song chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy A Cautionary Song chords and for experienced players who want accurate A Cautionary Song lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Dm, Dm/A, G/D, G, A, Bb.

FAQ — A Cautionary Song by The Decemberists

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What key is "A Cautionary Song" in?

The chords for "A Cautionary Song" show the original chord names (including Dm, Dm/A, G/D, G, A, Bb). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.