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Blackbirds

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Album: Blackbirds
On the album track the predominant guitar is electic, and reminiscent
only guitar:
CAPO: 2nd fret (Will then sound in the recorded key of F#m)
Here's the passing hammer-on riffs:
e |---Em0--0---0-Esus4---0--0--Em0---|      e |---Em0--0-Em/A--0--Em/B----|
B |---0--0---0----0--0--0---|      B |---0--0---0------|
G |---0--0---0-h2-2--2-p0---|      G |---0--0---0------|
D |---2--2---2----------2---|      D |---2--2---2------|
A |---2--2------------------|      A |---2--2---0-h2---|
E |---0--0------------------|      E |---0--0----------|
e |---C0--0-Cadd2--0--0C---|       e |---F1--1-Fsus2--1--1F---|
B |---1--1---1--1---|       B |---1--1---1--1---|
G |---0--0---0--0---|       G |---2--2---0-h2---|
D |---2--2---0-h2---|       D |---3--3---3--3---|
A |---3--3---3--3---|       A |---3--3---3--3---|
E |---3--3---3--3---|       E |---1--1---1--1---|
h = Hammer-on note   p = Pull -off note
Chord names and fret positions are relative to the capo:
    Em= 022000         F= 133211      Em/B= x22000
 Esus4= 022200     Fsus2= 133011     Dsus2= xx0230
     C= 332010         D= xx0232    Emadd9= 022002
 Cadd2= 330010      Em/A= x02000   
[Intro]
||: Em/  /  Esus4/   /__Em/  |  Em/  /  Esus4/   /__Em/  :|| [x2]
[Verse 1]
The Emblackbirds came at dusk, and they Croosted in the cane,Cadd2  C  
   FRaised such a ruckus,       Fsus2    Fthat it Cshook my windowpane,Cadd2  C  
And I’m Emcovered up in dirt, and I Cstink of kerosene,Cadd2  C  
And no Fmatter what I Cdo, I can’t get Emclean       Esus4    Em| Em/  /  Esus4/   /__/ Em|
[Verse 2]
EmLast thing I remember was your Cfootsteps in the hall,Cadd2  C  
FWhiskey in your voice,       Fsus2     Fand a Cshotgun on the wall,Cadd2  C  
Now there’s Emshadows in the shadows, there’s Ctrouble in the cane,Cadd2  C  
And there’s Fthings you do that Cyou just ...can’t ex - Emplain
[Chorus]
Un - Ceasy lies the head, un - Emfaithful is the heart,
Un - Cgrateful, and un - Dlucky, and un - Emtrue,
And Cno one saw me come, and Emno one saw me go,Em/A  Em/B  
   COnly the Dblackbirds,    Em...and youEsus4  Em  
[Verse 3]
Come Emharvest in the cane fields the Csky turns black with smoke,Cadd2  C  
So I Ftook our father’s gun,       Fsus2    Fand a Cheavy piece of rope,Cadd2  C  
And I Emleft you lying there, like rotten Cfruit upon the ground,Cadd2  C  
And I Flit a torch, and I Cburned the whole thing Emdown
[Chorus]
Un - Ceasy lies the head, un - Emfaithful is the heart,
Un - Cgrateful, and un - Dlucky, and un - Emtrue,Emadd9  Em  
And Cno one saw me come, and Emno one saw me go,Em/A  Em/B  
   COnly the Dblackbirds,    Em...and you!Esus4  Em  
[Break]
    CAh, ah, ah---!     DAh, ah - ah, Dsus2ah---!
    CAh, ah, ah---!     DAh, ah - Dsus2ah---!
|  Em/  /  E4/  /__Em/  |  Em/  /  E4/  /__Em/  |
[Verse 4]
Our Emfather was a farmer, he Cplanted fields of cane,Cadd2  C  
   FHe planted seeds of evil,       Fsus2    Fand we Charvested the shame,Cadd2  C  
Oh, but IEm’m the last one standing, there’s Cno one left to tell,Cadd2  C  
And when iFt’s my time I’ll Csee you both in Emhell
[Chorus]
Un - Ceasy lies the head, un - Emfaithful is the heart,
Un - Cgrateful, and un - Dlucky, and un - Emtrue,Emadd9  Em  
And Cno one saw me come, and Emno one saw me go,Em/A  Em/B  
   COnly the Dblackbirds,    Em...and you!Esus4  Em  
[Coda]
And Cno one saw me come,        Cadd2    Cand Emno one saw me go,Em/A  Em/B  
   COnly the Dblackbirds   ...and Emyou-----!Esus4  Em  
|  Em/  /  Esus4/  /__Em/  |  Em/  /  Esus4/  /  |   Emadd9/  ||

All chords in this song (12)

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Blackbirds

by Gretchen Peters

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Esus4

Em/A

Em/B

Cadd2

Fsus2

Dsus2

Emadd9

Album: Blackbirds

On the album track the predominant guitar is electic, and reminiscent

only guitar:

CAPO: 2nd fret (Will then sound in the recorded key of F#m)

Here's the passing hammer-on riffs:

Em Esus4 Em Em Em/A Em/B

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

B |---0--0---0----0--0--0---| B |---0--0---0------|

G |---0--0---0-h2-2--2-p0---| G |---0--0---0------|

D |---2--2---2----------2---| D |---2--2---2------|

A |---2--2------------------| A |---2--2---0-h2---|

E |---0--0------------------| E |---0--0----------|

C Cadd2 C F Fsus2 F

e |---0--0---0--0---| e |---1--1---1--1---|

B |---1--1---1--1---| B |---1--1---1--1---|

G |---0--0---0--0---| G |---2--2---0-h2---|

D |---2--2---0-h2---| D |---3--3---3--3---|

A |---3--3---3--3---| A |---3--3---3--3---|

E |---3--3---3--3---| E |---1--1---1--1---|

h = Hammer-on note p = Pull -off note

Chord names and fret positions are relative to the capo:

Em F Em/B

= 022000 = 133211 = x22000

Esus4 Fsus2 Dsus2

= 022200 = 133011 = xx0230

C D Emadd9

= 332010 = xx0232 = 022002

Cadd2 Em/A

= 330010 = x02000

[Intro]

Em Esus4 Em Em Esus4 Em

||: / / / /__/ | / / / /__/ :|| [x2]

[Verse 1]

Em C Cadd2 C

The blackbirds came at dusk, and they roosted in the cane,

F Fsus2 F C Cadd2 C

Raised such a ruckus, that it shook my windowpane,

Em C Cadd2 C

And I’m covered up in dirt, and I stink of kerosene,

F C Em Esus4 Em Em Esus4 Em

And no matter what I do, I can’t get clean | / / / /__/ |

[Verse 2]

Em C Cadd2 C

Last thing I remember was your footsteps in the hall,

F Fsus2 F C Cadd2 C

Whiskey in your voice, and a shotgun on the wall,

Em C Cadd2 C

Now there’s shadows in the shadows, there’s trouble in the cane,

F C Em

And there’s things you do that you just ...can’t ex - plain

[Chorus]

C Em

Un - easy lies the head, un - faithful is the heart,

C D Em

Un - grateful, and un - lucky, and un - true,

C Em Em/A Em/B

And no one saw me come, and no one saw me go,

C D Em Esus4 Em

Only the blackbirds, ...and you

[Verse 3]

Em C Cadd2 C

Come harvest in the cane fields the sky turns black with smoke,

F Fsus2 F C Cadd2 C

So I took our father’s gun, and a heavy piece of rope,

Em C Cadd2 C

And I left you lying there, like rotten fruit upon the ground,

F C Em

And I lit a torch, and I burned the whole thing down

[Chorus]

C Em

Un - easy lies the head, un - faithful is the heart,

C D Em Emadd9 Em

Un - grateful, and un - lucky, and un - true,

C Em Em/A Em/B

And no one saw me come, and no one saw me go,

C D Em Esus4 Em

Only the blackbirds, ...and you!

[Break]

C D Dsus2

Ah, ah, ah---! Ah, ah - ah, ah---!

C D Dsus2

Ah, ah, ah---! Ah, ah - ah---!

Em E4 Em Em E4 Em

| / / / /__/ | / / / /__/ |

[Verse 4]

Em C Cadd2 C

Our father was a farmer, he planted fields of cane,

F Fsus2 F C Cadd2 C

He planted seeds of evil, and we harvested the shame,

Em C Cadd2 C

Oh, but I’m the last one standing, there’s no one left to tell,

F C Em

And when it’s my time I’ll see you both in hell

[Chorus]

C Em

Un - easy lies the head, un - faithful is the heart,

C D Em Emadd9 Em

Un - grateful, and un - lucky, and un - true,

C Em Em/A Em/B

And no one saw me come, and no one saw me go,

C D Em Esus4 Em

Only the blackbirds, ...and you!

[Coda]

C Cadd2 C Em Em/A Em/B

And no one saw me come, and no one saw me go,

C D Em Esus4 Em

Only the blackbirds ...and you-----!

Em Esus4 Em Em Esus4 Emadd9

| / / / /__/ | / / / / | / ||

About Blackbirds Chords by Gretchen Peters

Learn how to play Blackbirds by Gretchen Peters with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Blackbirds chords”, “Blackbirds guitar chords”, or “Gretchen Peters Blackbirds 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 Blackbirds chords and for experienced players who want accurate Blackbirds lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F#m, Em, Esus4, Em/A, Em/B, B.

FAQ — Blackbirds by Gretchen Peters

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What key is "Blackbirds" in?

The chords for "Blackbirds" show the original chord names (including F#m, Em, Esus4, Em/A, Em/B, B). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.