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Emily

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90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/6

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 6Position: 4

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Standard tuning, capo on 3. This will make things a little easier for you.
If you're new to guitar, sorry, you're still gonna have to use bar chords (but shout out to you
for trying to take on a 12 minute song).
Chords used (relative to capo)
      Cx32010
     Em022000
      Dxx0232
     Amx02210
      F133211
      Ax02220
      E022100
    F#m244222
  Amaj7x02120
     Bm224432
    C#m446654
     F#244322
    G#m466444
      B224442
Quite a few! but less bar chords than you'd have to use in another tab, so it should be
a little nicer to your hands.
[Verse 1]
The Cmeadowlark and the Emchim-choo-ree and the DsparAmrow
CSet to the sky in a Emflying spree, for the Dsport of the PhaAmraoh
CLittle while later the EmPharisees dragged a Dcomb through the meaAmdow
CDo you remember what they Emcalled up to you and Dme, in our winAmdow?
There is a Crusty light on the Empines tonight, sun pouring Dwine, lord, or maAmrrow
Into the Cbones of the birches and the Emspires of the churches juttin' Dout from the shaAmdow
and the Cyoke and the axe, and the Emold smokestacks, and the Dbale and the baAmrrow
and Ceverything sloped like it was Emdragged from the rope in the Dmouth of the south beAmlow
[Verse 2]
FWe've seen those Amountains kneeling, Efelten and F#mgrey
FWe thought our Avery hearts would Eup and melt F#maway
From the Dsnow in the nigAmaj7httime, just Egoing, and F#mgoing
and the Dstirrin' of windAmaj7chimes, in the Emornin', in the F#mmornin'
BmHelps me Efind my Bmway back Ein
BmFrom the Eplace where BmI have Ebeen
[Verse 3]
and C#mEmily, I saw you last night F#by the river!
I C#mdreamed you were skippin' little stones across the F#surface of the water!
G#mFrowning at the Bangle where they were Alost and slipped under C#mforever
In a G#mmud-cloud, mica-Bspangled, like the sAky'd been breathing on a mC#mirror
C#mAnyhow -- I sat by your side, F#by the water
You C#mtaught me the names of the stars overhead that I F#wrote down in my ledger
Though G#mall I knew of the Brote universe were those APleiades loosed in C#mDecember
I G#mpromised you I'd Bset them to verse so AI'd always reC#mmember
[Chorus]
That the C#mmeteorite is a source of the light, and the mF#eteor's just what we see
and the G#mmeteoroid is a Bstone that's devoid of the Afire that propelled it to C#mthee
and the C#mmeteorite's just what causes the light and the F#meteor's how it's perceived
and the G#mmeteoroid's a bone Bthrown from the void that lies Aquiet and offering to C#mthee
[Tiny Interlude] (still relative to capo)
e|---------0------------------------------|
B|------------4s2~------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------|
D|--4h5h6---------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
[Verse 4]
Amaj7You came and lay a Emcold compress uDpon the mess I'm Amin
CThrew the windows Emwide and cried, "ADmen! Amen! AAmmen!"
CThe whole world Emstopped to hear you DholleAmrin'
Then Cyou looked down and Emsaw now what was DhappeAmnin'
CThe lines are Emfadin' in my DkingAmdom
Though CI have never Emknown a way to Dborder 'em Amin
So the Cmuddy mouths of baEmboons and sows and the Dgrouse and the horse and the Amhen
CGrope at the gate of the Emlooming lake that was Donce a tidy Ampen
and the Cmail is late and the Emgreat estates are Dnot lit from witAmhin
CThe talk in town's Embecomin' downDright sickeAmnin'!
[Verse 5]
FIn due time Awe will see the Efar buttes lit by a F#mflare
FI've seen your Abravery and EI will follow you F#mthere
and Drow through the nighAmaj7ttime, so Ehealthy, gone F#mhealthy all of a sudden
In Dsearch of a midAmaj7wife who can Ehelp me, who can F#mhelp me
BmHelp me Efind my Bmway back Ein
Bmand there are Eworries Bmwhere I've Ebeen
[Verse 6]
and C#msay, say, say, in the lee of the bay, F#don't be bothered!
Leave your C#mtroubles here where the tugboats shear the F#water from the water
G#mFlanked by furrows, Bcurling back like a Amatch held up to the newsC#mpaper
C#mEmily, they'll follow your lead F#by the letter!
and I C#mmake this claim, and I'm not ashamed to F#say I knew you better!
For G#mwhat they've seen is Bjust a beam of your Asun that banishes C#mwinter
C#mLet us go! Though we know it's a hopeF#less endeavor,
The C#mties that bind; they are barbed and spined and F#hold us close forever!
Though G#mthere is nothing would help Bme come to grips with a Asky that is gaping and C#myawning
G#mThere is a song I woke Bwith on my lips as you Asailed your great C#mship towards the morning
[Verse 7]
CCome on home, the Empoppies are all Dgrown knee-deep Amby now
CBlossoms all have Emfallen, and the Dpollen ruins Amthe plow
CPeonies nod Emin the breeze, and Dwhile they wetly Ambow
With ChydrocephaEmlitic listlessDness, ants mop up Amtheir brows
and Ceverything with Emwings is restless, Daimless, drunk and Amdour
CButterflies and Embirds collide at Dhot, ungodly Amhours
and Cmy clay-coloured Emmotherlessness Drangily recAmlines
CCome on home, now! EmAll my bones are Ddolorous with vinAmes!
[Verse 8]
FPa pointed Aout to me, for the Ehundredth time toF#mnight
FThe way the ALadle leads to a Edirt-red bullet of F#mlight
Squint Dskyward and Alisten, loving Ehim, we move witF#mhin his borders
DJust asteArisms in the Estars set F#morder
We could Dstand for a century, Astaring Ewith our heads F#mcocked
In the broad Ddaylight at this thiAng -- EJoy! F#mLandlocked!
In Dbodies that Adon't keep, Edumbstruck with the F#msweetness of being!
'til Dwe don't Abe told, Etake this, F#mand eat this!
[Chorus]
Told: The Cmeteorite is a Emsource of the light, and the Dmeteor's just what we Amsee!
and the Cmeteoroid is a Emstone that's devoid of the Dfire that propelled it to Amthee!
and the Cmeteorite's just what Emcauses the light and the Dmeteor's how it's perAmceived!
and the Cmeteoroid's a bone Emthrown from the void that lies Dquiet and offeAmring to Cthee!
[Outro]
(C)       Em      D  Am  
     C      Em      D      Amx5

All chords in this song (14)

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Emily

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 3 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Amaj7

C#m

G#m

Standard tuning, capo on 3. This will make things a little easier for you.

If you're new to guitar, sorry, you're still gonna have to use bar chords (but shout out to you

for trying to take on a 12 minute song).

Chords used (relative to capo)

x32010

022000

xx0232

x02210

133211

x02220

022100

F#m

244222

Amaj7

x02120

224432

C#m

446654

244322

G#m

466444

224442

Quite a few! but less bar chords than you'd have to use in another tab, so it should be

a little nicer to your hands.

[Verse 1]

C Em D Am

The meadowlark and the chim-choo-ree and the sparrow

C Em D Am

Set to the sky in a flying spree, for the sport of the Pharaoh

C Em D Am

Little while later the Pharisees dragged a comb through the meadow

C Em D Am

Do you remember what they called up to you and me, in our window?

C Em D Am

There is a rusty light on the pines tonight, sun pouring wine, lord, or marrow

C Em D Am

Into the bones of the birches and the spires of the churches juttin' out from the shadow

C Em D Am

and the yoke and the axe, and the old smokestacks, and the bale and the barrow

C Em D Am

and everything sloped like it was dragged from the rope in the mouth of the south below

[Verse 2]

F A E F#m

We've seen those mountains kneeling, felten and grey

F A E F#m

We thought our very hearts would up and melt away

D Amaj7 E F#m

From the snow in the nighttime, just going, and going

D Amaj7 E F#m

and the stirrin' of windchimes, in the mornin', in the mornin'

Bm E Bm E

Helps me find my way back in

Bm E Bm E

From the place where I have been

[Verse 3]

C#m F#

and Emily, I saw you last night by the river!

C#m F#

I dreamed you were skippin' little stones across the surface of the water!

G#m B A C#m

Frowning at the angle where they were lost and slipped under forever

G#m B A C#m

In a mud-cloud, mica-spangled, like the sky'd been breathing on a mirror

C#m F#

Anyhow -- I sat by your side, by the water

C#m F#

You taught me the names of the stars overhead that I wrote down in my ledger

G#m B A C#m

Though all I knew of the rote universe were those Pleiades loosed in December

G#m B A C#m

I promised you I'd set them to verse so I'd always remember

[Chorus]

C#m F#

That the meteorite is a source of the light, and the meteor's just what we see

G#m B A C#m

and the meteoroid is a stone that's devoid of the fire that propelled it to thee

C#m F#

and the meteorite's just what causes the light and the meteor's how it's perceived

G#m B A C#m

and the meteoroid's a bone thrown from the void that lies quiet and offering to thee

[Tiny Interlude] (still relative to capo)

e|---------0------------------------------|

B|------------4s2~------------------------|

G|----------------------------------------|

D|--4h5h6---------------------------------|

A|----------------------------------------|

E|----------------------------------------|

[Verse 4]

Amaj7 Em D Am

You came and lay a cold compress upon the mess I'm in

C Em D Am

Threw the windows wide and cried, "Amen! Amen! Amen!"

C Em D Am

The whole world stopped to hear you hollerin'

C Em D Am

Then you looked down and saw now what was happenin'

C Em D Am

The lines are fadin' in my kingdom

C Em D Am

Though I have never known a way to border 'em in

C Em D Am

So the muddy mouths of baboons and sows and the grouse and the horse and the hen

C Em D Am

Grope at the gate of the looming lake that was once a tidy pen

C Em D Am

and the mail is late and the great estates are not lit from within

C Em D Am

The talk in town's becomin' downright sickenin'!

[Verse 5]

F A E F#m

In due time we will see the far buttes lit by a flare

F A E F#m

I've seen your bravery and I will follow you there

D Amaj7 E F#m

and row through the nighttime, so healthy, gone healthy all of a sudden

D Amaj7 E F#m

In search of a midwife who can help me, who can help me

Bm E Bm E

Help me find my way back in

Bm E Bm E

and there are worries where I've been

[Verse 6]

C#m F#

and say, say, say, in the lee of the bay, don't be bothered!

C#m F#

Leave your troubles here where the tugboats shear the water from the water

G#m B A C#m

Flanked by furrows, curling back like a match held up to the newspaper

C#m F#

Emily, they'll follow your lead by the letter!

C#m F#

and I make this claim, and I'm not ashamed to say I knew you better!

G#m B A C#m

For what they've seen is just a beam of your sun that banishes winter

C#m F#

Let us go! Though we know it's a hopeless endeavor,

C#m F#

The ties that bind; they are barbed and spined and hold us close forever!

G#m B A C#m

Though there is nothing would help me come to grips with a sky that is gaping and yawning

G#m B A C#m

There is a song I woke with on my lips as you sailed your great ship towards the morning

[Verse 7]

C Em D Am

Come on home, the poppies are all grown knee-deep by now

C Em D Am

Blossoms all have fallen, and the pollen ruins the plow

C Em D Am

Peonies nod in the breeze, and while they wetly bow

C Em D Am

With hydrocephalitic listlessness, ants mop up their brows

C Em D Am

and everything with wings is restless, aimless, drunk and dour

C Em D Am

Butterflies and birds collide at hot, ungodly hours

C Em D Am

and my clay-coloured motherlessness rangily reclines

C Em D Am

Come on home, now! All my bones are dolorous with vines!

[Verse 8]

F A E F#m

Pa pointed out to me, for the hundredth time tonight

F A E F#m

The way the Ladle leads to a dirt-red bullet of light

D A E F#m

Squint skyward and listen, loving him, we move within his borders

D A E F#m

Just asterisms in the stars set order

D A E F#m

We could stand for a century, staring with our heads cocked

D A E F#m

In the broad daylight at this thing -- Joy! Landlocked!

D A E F#m

In bodies that don't keep, dumbstruck with the sweetness of being!

D A E F#m

'til we don't be told, take this, and eat this!

[Chorus]

C Em D Am

Told: The meteorite is a source of the light, and the meteor's just what we see!

C Em D Am

and the meteoroid is a stone that's devoid of the fire that propelled it to thee!

C Em D Am

and the meteorite's just what causes the light and the meteor's how it's perceived!

C Em D Am C

and the meteoroid's a bone thrown from the void that lies quiet and offering to thee!

[Outro]

C Em D Am

()

C Em D Am

About Emily Chords by Joanna Newsom

Learn how to play Emily by Joanna Newsom with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Emily chords”, “Emily guitar chords”, or “Joanna Newsom Emily 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 Emily chords and for experienced players who want accurate Emily lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Em, D, Am, F, A.

FAQ — Emily by Joanna Newsom

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