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Plainclothes Man

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Aminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

A great Elliott Smith song from Heatmiser's Mic City Sons. I believe that
on the recording the song is played tuned a step down, but to me
it sound fine in standard tuning.
Live video of his chord shapes here
    Amx02210
  Am/Bx2x210
     Cx32010
     F133211
Fmaj7 x33210 - this is used instead of F sometimes
  D/F#200232
    Dmxx0231
    E7020100
[Verse 1]
AmYou're everybody's second home
Am/BAlways trying to get me alone
CAn easy way to Dlose it Fall
FAlways there when all else fails
AmOver by the west side railsD/F#  F  
AmBut I don't really need that now
Am/BI never really did anyhow
CI only really needed DalcohFol
FSomething that'll treat me okay
AmAnd wouldn't say the things you'd sayD/F#  F  
[Chorus]
   FmPlease turn out the Elight
I get a Dsick confusion headache trying
to figure out who's Amright
[Verse 2]
AmDreaming on the silver strand
Am/BWaking up to plainclothes man
CYou little bastard, little Dboy in Fblue
FSomeone's gonna get to you
AmAnd fuck up everything you doD/F#  F  
AmSome European son
Am/BHe's furious with everyone
CAnd he thinks he'll win you with his aDngry Fkiss
FActing like he has no needs
AmWanting you to watch him bleedD/F#  F  C  G  
[Bridge]
CMade for each Gother but you pFay me any mCind
Just goes to sGhow my contDinual declFine
They sCay that I'll recovGer my love Fof her once in a Cwhile
But I don't Dmknow
I don't think E7so...
[Verse 3]
AmThere's something that I'll tell you now
Am/BNow that no one else is around
CThe sort of lesson that I Dlearned from Fyou
FNot quite the way you planned
AmBut I know you'll understandD/F#  F  
AmSomeone takes a photograph
Am/BA picture while their sweetheart laughs
CA perfect moment in a Dflash of Flight
FCounting back from three to one
AmThat's exactly what you've doneD/F#  F  
And I'm Fmso unsurprEised
I remeDmber, I remember why I dream in black & CwhiteG  F  C  
Goes to sGhow my contDinual decliFne
They sCay that I'll recGover my love oFf her once in a wChile
But I don't Dmknow
I don't think E7so
[Outro]
Am  Am/B  C  Am

All chords in this song (11)

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Plainclothes Man

by Elliott Smith

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am/B

D/F#

A great Elliott Smith song from Heatmiser's Mic City Sons. I believe that

on the recording the song is played tuned a step down, but to me

it sound fine in standard tuning.

Live video of his chord shapes here

x02210

Am/B

x2x210

x32010

133211

Fmaj7 x33210 - this is used instead of F sometimes

D/F#

200232

xx0231

020100

[Verse 1]

You're everybody's second home

Am/B

Always trying to get me alone

C D F

An easy way to lose it all

Always there when all else fails

Am D/F# F

Over by the west side rails

But I don't really need that now

Am/B

I never really did anyhow

C D F

I only really needed alcohol

Something that'll treat me okay

Am D/F# F

And wouldn't say the things you'd say

[Chorus]

Fm E

Please turn out the light

I get a sick confusion headache trying

to figure out who's right

[Verse 2]

Dreaming on the silver strand

Am/B

Waking up to plainclothes man

C D F

You little bastard, little boy in blue

Someone's gonna get to you

Am D/F# F

And fuck up everything you do

Some European son

Am/B

He's furious with everyone

C D F

And he thinks he'll win you with his angry kiss

Acting like he has no needs

Am D/F# F C G

Wanting you to watch him bleed

[Bridge]

C G F C

Made for each other but you pay me any mind

G D F

Just goes to show my continual decline

C G F C

They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while

But I don't know

I don't think so...

[Verse 3]

There's something that I'll tell you now

Am/B

Now that no one else is around

C D F

The sort of lesson that I learned from you

Not quite the way you planned

Am D/F# F

But I know you'll understand

Someone takes a photograph

Am/B

A picture while their sweetheart laughs

C D F

A perfect moment in a flash of light

Counting back from three to one

Am D/F# F

That's exactly what you've done

Fm E

And I'm so unsurprised

D C G F C

I remember, I remember why I dream in black & white

G D F

Goes to show my continual decline

C G F C

They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while

But I don't know

I don't think so

[Outro]

Am Am/B C Am

About Plainclothes Man Chords by Elliott Smith

Learn how to play Plainclothes Man by Elliott Smith with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Plainclothes Man chords”, “Plainclothes Man guitar chords”, or “Elliott Smith Plainclothes Man 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 Plainclothes Man chords and for experienced players who want accurate Plainclothes Man lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, Am, Am/B, C, F, D/F#.

FAQ — Plainclothes Man by Elliott Smith

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What key is "Plainclothes Man" in?

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