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Sides

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

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Tuning: EADGCD
Capo: 5th fret
Note: This is my interpretation of the chords he uses in the song. I've got the 
1st and 2nd strings tuned down as it makes it sound closer to the recorded version 
and easier on the fingers for beginners to! 
Justin is well known to be experiment when it comes to guitar tunings (see Bon 
Iver's 'Skinny love' for example) so I might have fluked the right tuning. 
And if not, then it's pretty damn close! (to me anyhow). I'll apologize in advance 
for my haphazard way of writing chord tabs but hopefully you'll understand the 
gist of it if you listen to the song while practicing.
Chords: 
(using chords that closely resemble to equivalent in standard tuning)
         C        Am         G         Em           F   F#(for use in last chorus)
d|-0-|  d|-0-|  d|-0-|  d|-0-|  d|-0-|     d|-x-|
C|-0-|  C|-0-|  C|-0-|  C|-0-|  C|-0-|     C|-x-|
G|-0-|  G|-2-|  G|-0-|  G|-0-|  G|-2-|     G|-2-|
D|-2-|  D|-2-|  D|-0-|  D|-2-|  D|-3-|     D|-2-|
A|-3-|  A|-0-|  A|-2-|  A|-2-|  A|-3-|     A|-0-|
E|---|  E|---|  E|-3-|  E|-0-|  E|-1-|     E|-2-|
Intro: 
C Em Am G
F   G
C Em Am G
F(i'd FadvGise listening to the intro seeing as i'm not sure how best to place these chords...)
Verse 1
    CSo EmI heard it from a fAmriend
That there was thGis guy that I should Ftalk toG  
    CSo you lEmet me inAm  
Old biGg doors underneath Fa crucifix statueG  
    CSo EmI explained to youAm  
I was Ghaving troubles Fgetting throughG  
    CAnd I was Emthinking of my endAm  
It was jGust the sky I kept Flooking to      GYou said:
Chorus
    FI'm on your side
GI thanked you and I criedC  Em  Am  G  
    FI aGlmost died
Verse 2
    CI was Emmaking stridesAm  
I was Gshowing up every FSundayG  
    CBut I was Emstill confusedAm  
About the Gpain that had iFnvaded meG  
    CAnd I'm still EmwonderingAm  
If my Gsouls worth it to FanybodyG  
    CYou aEmssured meAm  
That the Gcongregation would Fhear me...GThey said
Chorus 2
    FWe're on your side,
There's an Gunconditional CkinEmgdomAm  G  
    FThat stands up high
He   let's Gall believers CinEm  Am  G  
    FThrough the Gforgiveness of sins
Verse 3
    CSo I Emexplained to you     Amwhat was the Gcause of my FsufferingG  
    CSee it was a Emwhile agoAm  
There was an Galleyway and there was a Fgroup of menG  
    CAnd when they Emhurt meAm  
They Gwhispered that the gays Fhad to payG  
    CWhen they Embeat meAm  
All of my Gworth was Ftaken awayG  
    CSee I Emneeded youAm  
And you Gknow another lords own Fway throughG  
    CBut I was EmunfoldedAm  
I beGlieved there was something Fhe could doG  
    CBut you just Emhung your headAm  
Told me it was the Gdoor I needed to be Fgoing toG  
   C"Son there's just EmprinciplesAm  
I cannot Gbe the one who helps you"      F    GYou said:
Chorus 3:
    FI'm not your side
You're probably Gpaying for your sins C  Em  Am  G  
    FI don't understand your kind
    GIt isn't mine....(pause) 
Verse 4:
    CFather your Emcold hearts a smoking Amgun
Your Gcross ain't no where I want to hang Fmy hope fromG  
    CThere's still Emsomething I half beAmlieve
And that's Gwhy I'm leaving this world Fbehind meG  
    CSee my Emsexuality   Amdon't have Gnothing to do with my inFtegrityG  
    CWhen I Emget into that landAm  
I'll Glead with the one who Fwears the crown    GHe will say:
Chorus 4:
    FI'm on your side
    F#The side that's kind
    GJudge not what's right
                                F#   G(Downward strum from 6'th to 3rd string)
    In time you'll find   you left

All chords in this song (6)

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Sides

by Justin Vernon

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 5 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

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

Tuning: EADGCD

Capo: 5th fret

Note: This is my interpretation of the chords he uses in the song. I've got the

1st and 2nd strings tuned down as it makes it sound closer to the recorded version

and easier on the fingers for beginners to!

Justin is well known to be experiment when it comes to guitar tunings (see Bon

Iver's 'Skinny love' for example) so I might have fluked the right tuning.

And if not, then it's pretty damn close! (to me anyhow). I'll apologize in advance

for my haphazard way of writing chord tabs but hopefully you'll understand the

gist of it if you listen to the song while practicing.

Chords:

(using chords that closely resemble to equivalent in standard tuning)

C Am G Em F F#

(for use in last chorus)

d|-0-| d|-0-| d|-0-| d|-0-| d|-0-| d|-x-|

C|-0-| C|-0-| C|-0-| C|-0-| C|-0-| C|-x-|

G|-0-| G|-2-| G|-0-| G|-0-| G|-2-| G|-2-|

D|-2-| D|-2-| D|-0-| D|-2-| D|-3-| D|-2-|

A|-3-| A|-0-| A|-2-| A|-2-| A|-3-| A|-0-|

E|---| E|---| E|-3-| E|-0-| E|-1-| E|-2-|

Intro:

C Em Am G

F G

C Em Am G

F F G

(i'd advise listening to the intro seeing as i'm not sure how best to place these chords...)

Verse 1

C Em Am

So I heard it from a friend

G F G

That there was this guy that I should talk to

C Em Am

So you let me in

G F G

Old big doors underneath a crucifix statue

C Em Am

So I explained to you

G F G

I was having troubles getting through

C Em Am

And I was thinking of my end

G F G

It was just the sky I kept looking to You said:

Chorus

I'm on your side

G C Em Am G

I thanked you and I cried

F G

I almost died

Verse 2

C Em Am

I was making strides

G F G

I was showing up every Sunday

C Em Am

But I was still confused

G F G

About the pain that had invaded me

C Em Am

And I'm still wondering

G F G

If my souls worth it to anybody

C Em Am

You assured me

G F G

That the congregation would hear me...They said

Chorus 2

We're on your side,

G C Em Am G

There's an unconditional kingdom

That stands up high

G C Em Am G

He let's all believers in

F G

Through the forgiveness of sins

Verse 3

C Em Am G F G

So I explained to you what was the cause of my suffering

C Em Am

See it was a while ago

G F G

There was an alleyway and there was a group of men

C Em Am

And when they hurt me

G F G

They whispered that the gays had to pay

C Em Am

When they beat me

G F G

All of my worth was taken away

C Em Am

See I needed you

G F G

And you know another lords own way through

C Em Am

But I was unfolded

G F G

I believed there was something he could do

C Em Am

But you just hung your head

G F G

Told me it was the door I needed to be going to

C Em Am

"Son there's just principles

G F G

I cannot be the one who helps you" You said:

Chorus 3:

I'm not your side

G C Em Am G

You're probably paying for your sins

I don't understand your kind

It isn't mine....(pause)

Verse 4:

C Em Am

Father your cold hearts a smoking gun

G F G

Your cross ain't no where I want to hang my hope from

C Em Am

There's still something I half believe

G F G

And that's why I'm leaving this world behind me

C Em Am G F G

See my sexuality don't have nothing to do with my integrity

C Em Am

When I get into that land

G F G

I'll lead with the one who wears the crown He will say:

Chorus 4:

I'm on your side

The side that's kind

Judge not what's right

F# G

(Downward strum from 6'th to 3rd string)

In time you'll find you left

About Sides Chords by Justin Vernon

Learn how to play Sides by Justin Vernon with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Sides chords”, “Sides guitar chords”, or “Justin Vernon Sides 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 Sides chords and for experienced players who want accurate Sides lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Am, G, Em, F, F#.

FAQ — Sides by Justin Vernon

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The chords for "Sides" show the original chord names (including C, Am, G, Em, F, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.