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Inmates

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The previous tab had a few issues and only covered the first verse, so here’s a better, complete version.
D Bb
D Bb
When you said you Dloved me, did you really Bmlove me 
or did the words just Bbspill out like drool on my Apillow?
‘Cause I was Dnaked when you Bmsaid those words
But I felt Bbcovered in your whispered Aworship
And as you Gpassed out fast on my Dshoulder,
I iGmagined a child Bmwaiting so sad and Bbstill for his mom to Aarrive. 
Did she Dleave you an orphan, in that Abig, brown leather chair? 
Said, Bb"Don’t you move a muscle, kid, I’ll be Gback in twenty years,"
You were Dscared, you were lonely, but you mAust’ve been aware;
BbLife is a series of calluses, this is Gjust another layer. 
So, Bmbuild ’em up, tough it out, yeah, Bbthat’s your skin – don’t let Aanyone under there.
D Bb
D Bb
When you said you Dneeded me, did you really Bmneed me
or was it just Bbsomeone, oh you’ll take Aanything
Am I first on that Dlist of yours, or am I Bmsecond or third?
So who’s that aBbhead of me, some harlot from APittsburgh?
Or GDetroit, Santa Fe or San DiDego
I Gknow you’re so alone but Bmhow much affection does Bbone guy really Aneed?
Did you Ddate a lot in high school? Were you Aalways chasing girls?
BbCouldn’t you find some young valentine to Gsteal your heart for good?
Were you Dcontent or contemptible? Are your Amemories pleasant?
Or Bbis it a string of endless flings of Gbitter resentment?
Seems that Bmwhat you want and what you need doesn’t Bbmean a thing, we’re just Ahere for the taking.
D Bb
D Bb
When you said you’d Dhurt me, did you think you’d Bmhurt me?
Are you really that Bbcocky, yeah what a heartAbreaker
Well I got my Darmor, yeah I’ve been through some Bmbattles before
And I met your old Bbgirlfriend, she said baby don’t Abother
She Gtold me you told her you’d Dhurt her
GFunny, how familiar, so Bmhow much of this reBblationship was reAhearsed?
Did you Dact out as a child? Were you Aalways crying wolf?
AtBbtention starved, you tried too hard, just to Gget someone to look
Now you’re a Dwolf in second hand clothing, I’m a Asheep in a pleated skirt
It’s an Bbawkward form of payback, but if it Gworks for you it works.
It’s that I Bmrecognize your off-white lies, still I Bblie beside you, and Athat’s what really hurts.
D Bb
D Bb
When you said you’d Dleave me, why haven’t you Bmleft me?
What are we still Bbdoing here, so desperate for Acompany?
There’s a Greyhound on DJackson Street, there’s an airport in BmCouncil Bluffs
Hell, there’s a Bbcar in the driveway. Fifty ways to Aget lost.
But as I Ghold you and listen to you Dsleeping
I’m Gstarting to wonder if I Bmreally believe that you’ll Bbever really Aleave.
Would you Dleave me an orphan in your Abig brown leather chair?
The Bbone you lugged around from town to town Gfor all these years.
It’s a Dtrophy of your childhood, like a Ashark tooth or gator skin boots
But Bbthis one holds you prisoner. It Gholds me prisoner too.
BmWhat we need to set us free is to let Bbgo of each other, let Ago of everything.
D Bb
D Bb
When I said I Dloved you, it was because I Bmloved you.
When I said I Bbneeded you, well, I really Aneed you.
Yeah, I guess you Dhurt me, for once you’re a Bmman of your words.
Well, guess what – I’m Bbleaving – I can’t be your Aprisoner.
I can't be your Gprisoner - oh Dno (x12)
Bm Bb A
D

All chords in this song (5)

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Inmates

by The Good Life

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

The previous tab had a few issues and only covered the first verse, so here’s a better, complete version.

D Bb

D Bm

When you said you loved me, did you really love me

Bb A

or did the words just spill out like drool on my pillow?

D Bm

‘Cause I was naked when you said those words

Bb A

But I felt covered in your whispered worship

G D

And as you passed out fast on my shoulder,

G Bm Bb A

I imagined a child waiting so sad and still for his mom to arrive.

D A

Did she leave you an orphan, in that big, brown leather chair?

Bb G

Said, "Don’t you move a muscle, kid, I’ll be back in twenty years,"

D A

You were scared, you were lonely, but you must’ve been aware;

Bb G

Life is a series of calluses, this is just another layer.

Bm Bb A

So, build ’em up, tough it out, yeah, that’s your skin – don’t let anyone under there.

D Bb

D Bm

When you said you needed me, did you really need me

Bb A

or was it just someone, oh you’ll take anything

D Bm

Am I first on that list of yours, or am I second or third?

Bb A

So who’s that ahead of me, some harlot from Pittsburgh?

G D

Or Detroit, Santa Fe or San Diego

G Bm Bb A

I know you’re so alone but how much affection does one guy really need?

D A

Did you date a lot in high school? Were you always chasing girls?

Bb G

Couldn’t you find some young valentine to steal your heart for good?

D A

Were you content or contemptible? Are your memories pleasant?

Bb G

Or is it a string of endless flings of bitter resentment?

Bm Bb A

Seems that what you want and what you need doesn’t mean a thing, we’re just here for the taking.

D Bb

D Bm

When you said you’d hurt me, did you think you’d hurt me?

Bb A

Are you really that cocky, yeah what a heartbreaker

D Bm

Well I got my armor, yeah I’ve been through some battles before

Bb A

And I met your old girlfriend, she said baby don’t bother

G D

She told me you told her you’d hurt her

G Bm Bb A

Funny, how familiar, so how much of this relationship was rehearsed?

D A

Did you act out as a child? Were you always crying wolf?

Bb G

Attention starved, you tried too hard, just to get someone to look

D A

Now you’re a wolf in second hand clothing, I’m a sheep in a pleated skirt

Bb G

It’s an awkward form of payback, but if it works for you it works.

Bm Bb A

It’s that I recognize your off-white lies, still I lie beside you, and that’s what really hurts.

D Bb

D Bm

When you said you’d leave me, why haven’t you left me?

Bb A

What are we still doing here, so desperate for company?

D Bm

There’s a Greyhound on Jackson Street, there’s an airport in Council Bluffs

Bb A

Hell, there’s a car in the driveway. Fifty ways to get lost.

G D

But as I hold you and listen to you sleeping

G Bm Bb A

I’m starting to wonder if I really believe that you’ll ever really leave.

D A

Would you leave me an orphan in your big brown leather chair?

Bb G

The one you lugged around from town to town for all these years.

D A

It’s a trophy of your childhood, like a shark tooth or gator skin boots

Bb G

But this one holds you prisoner. It holds me prisoner too.

Bm Bb A

What we need to set us free is to let go of each other, let go of everything.

D Bb

D Bm

When I said I loved you, it was because I loved you.

Bb A

When I said I needed you, well, I really need you.

D Bm

Yeah, I guess you hurt me, for once you’re a man of your words.

Bb A

Well, guess what – I’m leaving – I can’t be your prisoner.

G D

I can't be your prisoner - oh no (x12)

Bm Bb A

About Inmates Chords by The Good Life

Learn how to play Inmates by The Good Life with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Inmates chords”, “Inmates guitar chords”, or “The Good Life Inmates 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 Inmates chords and for experienced players who want accurate Inmates lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Bb, Bm, A, G, Am.

FAQ — Inmates by The Good Life

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