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Shankill Butchers

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

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Tuning: Standard, Capo 4
Key: Am (actually C#m)
Everything is relative to the capo.  Play the bass note and then strum the chord.  He throws
in some other bass notes other than when I noted e.g. E/B or F/C.  The E/B and F/C mean to
a regular E major or F major but instead of playing the bass note E or F (6th string), 
B or C (5th string).
[Intro]
 Am    Am/B    C    Am/Bx2
The AmShankill Am/EButchers run Ftonight
You Ebetter shut your windows tight
They're Amsharpening their Am/Ecleavers and their Fknives
And Etaking all their whiskey by the pint
Cause everybody AmknowAm/Es if you Fdon't
GMind your mother's AmwordsAm/E  
A Amwicked Am/Ewind will FblowF/C  
Your Gribbons from your Amcurls
Am/EEverybody Ammoan, Am/Eeverybody Fshake
                                 E   E/B(  Am   Am/B   Am/C  Am/B) x2
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
They Amused to be Am/Ejust like me and Fyou
They Eused to be sweet little boys
But Amsomething went Am/Ehorribly aFskew
Now Ekilling is their only source of joy
And everybody AmknowAm/Es if you Fdon't
GMind your mother's AmwordsAm/E  
A Amwicked Am/Ewind will FblowF/C  
Your Gribbons from your Amcurls
Am/EEverybody Ammoan, Am/Eeverybody Fshake
                                 E   E/B(  Am   Am/B   Am/C  Am/B) x2
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
[Solo]
Am   Am/E   F   E
Am   Am/E   F   E
The AmShankill Am/EButchers on the Frise
TheyE're waiting until the dead of the night
They're Ampicking at their Am/Efingers with their Fknives
And Ewiping off their cleavers on their thighs
And everybody AmknowAm/Es if you Fdon't
GMind your mother's AmwordsAm/E  
A Amwicked Am/Ewind will FblowF/C  
Your Gribbons from your Amcurls
Am/EEverybody Ammoan, Am/Eeverybody Fshake
Ending
The EShankill Butchers wanna catch you
The EShankill Butchers wanna cut you
The EShankill Butchers wanna catch you
AmAwaAm/BkeC  Am/B  
AmAwaAm/BkeC  Am/B  
AmAwaAm/BkeC  Am/B  
AmAwake

All chords in this song (10)

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Shankill Butchers

by The Decemberists

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Am/B

Am/E

F/C

E/B

Am/C

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuning: Standard, Capo 4

Key: Am (actually C#m)

Everything is relative to the capo. Play the bass note and then strum the chord. He throws

in some other bass notes other than when I noted e.g. E/B or F/C. The E/B and F/C mean to

a regular E major or F major but instead of playing the bass note E or F (6th string),

B or C (5th string).

[Intro]

Am Am/B C Am/B

Am Am/E F

The Shankill Butchers run tonight

You better shut your windows tight

Am Am/E F

They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives

And taking all their whiskey by the pint

Am Am/E F

Cause everybody knows if you don't

G Am Am/E

Mind your mother's words

Am Am/E F F/C

A wicked wind will blow

G Am

Your ribbons from your curls

Am/E Am Am/E F

Everybody moan, everybody shake

E E/B Am Am/B Am/C Am/B

( ) x2

The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake

Am Am/E F

They used to be just like me and you

They used to be sweet little boys

Am Am/E F

But something went horribly askew

Now killing is their only source of joy

Am Am/E F

And everybody knows if you don't

G Am Am/E

Mind your mother's words

Am Am/E F F/C

A wicked wind will blow

G Am

Your ribbons from your curls

Am/E Am Am/E F

Everybody moan, everybody shake

E E/B Am Am/B Am/C Am/B

( ) x2

The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake

[Solo]

Am Am/E F E

Am Am/E F

The Shankill Butchers on the rise

They're waiting until the dead of the night

Am Am/E F

They're picking at their fingers with their knives

And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs

Am Am/E F

And everybody knows if you don't

G Am Am/E

Mind your mother's words

Am Am/E F F/C

A wicked wind will blow

G Am

Your ribbons from your curls

Am/E Am Am/E F

Everybody moan, everybody shake

Ending

The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you

The Shankill Butchers wanna cut you

The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you

Am Am/B C Am/B

Awake

Am Am/B C Am/B

Awake

Am Am/B C Am/B

Awake

About Shankill Butchers Chords by The Decemberists

Learn how to play Shankill Butchers by The Decemberists with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Shankill Butchers chords”, “Shankill Butchers guitar chords”, or “The Decemberists Shankill Butchers 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 Shankill Butchers chords and for experienced players who want accurate Shankill Butchers lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C#m, E/B, F/C, E, F.

FAQ — Shankill Butchers by The Decemberists

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What key is "Shankill Butchers" in?

The chords for "Shankill Butchers" show the original chord names (including Am, C#m, E/B, F/C, E, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.