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Anecdotes

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Fminor

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 Probably best if you listen to the song for timings as its quite difficult at times.
 AbSending the fEbirst scouts Dbover
 AbBack from the plEbace beyond Dbthe dawn:
 AbHorse, bear your Ebbroken Dbsoldier
 AbEyes frozen Ebwide at Dbwhat went on
 And AbTime, in our cEbamp, is Dbmoving
 AbAs you’d anEbticipDbate it to
 But Abwhat is this sEbample Dbproving?
 AbAnecdotes Ebcannot sBbay what Time may Dbdo
 Db Fm Eb Ab Eb Db C G Am G
 CI kid with BbRufus  AbNight-Gjar
 When our Fmmen are all aAbsleep:
 It aCin’t abBbout how rAbare you aGre
 But how Fmhard you are to Absee
 EbTake, you and Abme—Db  
 “FWhen are you from?” Csaid he
 In our Amblind of winter Gleaves
 As we F#msighted out their Gfliers
 In the F#mgreyscale of the Gnight
 And F#mfumbled on the Gbare ground
 To F#mbury round lGandmines
 While the AdeF#eeeBmeew Clay down and drDiedBb  
 D Bb D Bb C
 CWe signal BbPrivate AbPoorGwill 
 When Fmmorning starts to Abloom:
 “CPull up fBbrom your Abdive!” Gtill, 
 We Fmhear the telltale Abboom too soon, Ebhotdogging Abloon, Db  
 Fcaught there Like a Cshard of Ammirror in Gthe moon!
 Now F#mthey’ve stopped giving Gorders
 But I F#mfollow anywGay
 F#mLaying in our stGate of torpor
 F#mWaiting out the dGay
 While the AdeF#eeeBmeew Cburns aDwayBb  
 D Bb D Bb Ab G
 FmRushing, Ebtearing, sBbpeeding Dbhome:
 FmBound to a Ebwheel that is Bbnot my Dbown
 Where Fmround every Ebbend BbI long to Dbsee
 FmTemporal EbinfiBbdelitDby
 FmAll along the Ebroad, the lBbights stream Dbby
 FmI want to Ebgo where the Bbdew won’t dDbry
 FmI want to Ebgo where the Bblight won’t Dbbend—
 FFmar as the Ebeye may rBbeach—nor Dbend
 But, FminasEbmuch as tBbhat light is lDboaned
 And, FminsoEbfar as Bbwe’ve borrowed Dbbones
 FmMust every Ebdebt now Bbbe repDbaid
 In sFmtar-spotted, Ebsickle-wBbinged night rDbaids
 While we Fmsing to the Ebgarden, and we Bbsing to the stDbars
 FmAnd we sing in the Ebmeantime wherBbever you Dbare?
 In the Fmfolds and the Ebbranches sBbomewhere out theDbre
 FmI was only jEbust born inBbto open Dbair
 Now Fmhush, little Ebbabe, you Bbdon’t want to beDb  
 FmDown in the Ebtrenches reBbmembering with mDbe
 Where Abyou will not mEbark my Dbleaving
 AbAnd you will not hEbear my parting Dbsong
 AbNor is there cEbause for Dbgrieving
 AbNor is there cEbause for cBbarrying on
 And Abdaughter, when Ebyou are Dbable
 AbCome down and Ebjoin! The kettDble’s on
 And your fAbamily’s rEbound the tDbable
 AbWill you come Ebdown, beBbfore the sun is Dbgone?
 Db Fm Eb Ab Eb Db C G Am G
  F#m   G(x4)
 A F# Bm C
 D Bb D Bb D Bb
 End on C  

All chords in this song (14)

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Anecdotes

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Probably best if you listen to the song for timings as its quite difficult at times.

Ab Eb Db

Sending the first scouts over

Ab Eb Db

Back from the place beyond the dawn:

Ab Eb Db

Horse, bear your broken soldier

Ab Eb Db

Eyes frozen wide at what went on

Ab Eb Db

And Time, in our camp, is moving

Ab Eb Db

As you’d anticipate it to

Ab Eb Db

But what is this sample proving?

Ab Eb Bb Db

Anecdotes cannot say what Time may do

Db Fm Eb Ab Eb Db C G Am G

C Bb Ab G

I kid with Rufus Night-jar

Fm Ab

When our men are all asleep:

C Bb Ab G

It ain’t about how rare you are

Fm Ab

But how hard you are to see

Eb Ab Db

Take, you and me—

F C

“When are you from?” said he

Am G

In our blind of winter leaves

F#m G

As we sighted out their fliers

F#m G

In the greyscale of the night

F#m G

And fumbled on the bare ground

F#m G

To bury round landmines

A F# Bm C D Bb

While the deeeeeew lay down and dried

D Bb D Bb C

C Bb Ab G

We signal Private Poorwill

Fm Ab

When morning starts to loom:

C Bb Ab G

“Pull up from your dive!” till,

Fm Ab Eb Ab Db

We hear the telltale boom too soon, hotdogging loon,

F C Am G

caught there Like a shard of mirror in the moon!

F#m G

Now they’ve stopped giving orders

F#m G

But I follow anyway

F#m G

Laying in our state of torpor

F#m G

Waiting out the day

A F# Bm C D Bb

While the deeeeeew burns away

D Bb D Bb Ab G

Fm Eb Bb Db

Rushing, tearing, speeding home:

Fm Eb Bb Db

Bound to a wheel that is not my own

Fm Eb Bb Db

Where round every bend I long to see

Fm Eb Bb Db

Temporal infidelity

Fm Eb Bb Db

All along the road, the lights stream by

Fm Eb Bb Db

I want to go where the dew won’t dry

Fm Eb Bb Db

I want to go where the light won’t bend—

Fm Eb Bb Db

Far as the eye may reach—nor end

Fm Eb Bb Db

But, inasmuch as that light is loaned

Fm Eb Bb Db

And, insofar as we’ve borrowed bones

Fm Eb Bb Db

Must every debt now be repaid

Fm Eb Bb Db

In star-spotted, sickle-winged night raids

Fm Eb Bb Db

While we sing to the garden, and we sing to the stars

Fm Eb Bb Db

And we sing in the meantime wherever you are?

Fm Eb Bb Db

In the folds and the branches somewhere out there

Fm Eb Bb Db

I was only just born into open air

Fm Eb Bb Db

Now hush, little babe, you don’t want to be

Fm Eb Bb Db

Down in the trenches remembering with me

Ab Eb Db

Where you will not mark my leaving

Ab Eb Db

And you will not hear my parting song

Ab Eb Db

Nor is there cause for grieving

Ab Eb Bb

Nor is there cause for carrying on

Ab Eb Db

And daughter, when you are able

Ab Eb Db

Come down and join! The kettle’s on

Ab Eb Db

And your family’s round the table

Ab Eb Bb Db

Will you come down, before the sun is gone?

Db Fm Eb Ab Eb Db C G Am G

F#m G

(x4)

A F# Bm C

D Bb D Bb D Bb

End on

About Anecdotes Chords by Joanna Newsom

Learn how to play Anecdotes by Joanna Newsom with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Anecdotes chords”, “Anecdotes guitar chords”, or “Joanna Newsom Anecdotes 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 Anecdotes chords and for experienced players who want accurate Anecdotes lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Ab, Eb, Db, Bb, Fm, C.

FAQ — Anecdotes by Joanna Newsom

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The chords for "Anecdotes" show the original chord names (including Ab, Eb, Db, Bb, Fm, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.