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Surviving Twin

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Dmajor

90BPM

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[Intro]
D G A G D
[Verse 1]
     DLast week I attended a family aGffair
And a Afew remarked upon my recent Ggrowth of facial Dhair
DYou look just like your father did with that beard someone Gsaid
I aAnswered back I am him even Gthough my old man's Ddead
I Adidn't want to be Ghim Dwell at first I Adid
AWhen I loved and looked Gup to him Das a Alittle Dkid
[Verse 2]
DHe sent me to his old school I was a numeral with his Gname 
And he Agave me this gold signet ring and he Gwore one just the Dsame
DAnd I guess that I believed him and probably it was Gtrue
When he Atold me I was just like him, that's Gwhat some fathers Ddo
But a Afather's always Golder and my Ddad was rather Atall
AWho says size Gdoesn't matter, he was Dbig and AI was Dsmall
[Instrumental]
D G A G D
[Verse 3]
DI needed to be big enough to be someone someGday
And I Alearned I had to beat him and that Gwas the only Dway
DI learned I had to fight him, my own flesh, blood, bone and Gkin
But I Afelt I was just like him can a Gman's son be his Dtwin
First Awe fought for my Gmother, that afDforded little Ajoy
AWhen he left she was heart Gbroken and I was Dstill their Alittle Dboy
[Verse 4]
DBut I started to get bigger and to win the ugly Ggame
When I Amade a little money and I Ggot a bit of Dfame
DAnd I saw how this could wound him, yes this could do the Gtrick
And if AI made it big enough I could Gkill him off Dquick
But how Acan you murder Gsomeone in a Dway that they don't Adie
AI didn't want to Gkill him, that would Dbe sAuicDide
[Instrumental]
D G A G D
[Verse 5]
DI got frightened so I backed off I let up and I was Gthrough
And in the Aend he did himself in usualGly that's what we Ddo
DI'm alive and he is dead and neither of us Gwon
It's Aspoiled for the victor once the Gvanquishing is Ddone
A Aman becomes imGmortal through his Ddaughter or his Ason 
ABut when he fears his Glegacy, a Dman can Acome unDdone
[Outro]
DAnd the beard is a reminder I'm a living part of Ghim
AlAthough my father's dead and gone I'm Ghis surviving Dtwin
D G
AlAthough the old man's dead and gone I'm Ghis surviving Dtwin

All chords in this song (3)

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Surviving Twin

by Loudon Wainwright III

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

D G A G D

[Verse 1]

D G

Last week I attended a family affair

A G D

And a few remarked upon my recent growth of facial hair

D G

You look just like your father did with that beard someone said

A G D

I answered back I am him even though my old man's dead

A G D A

I didn't want to be him well at first I did

A G D A D

When I loved and looked up to him as a little kid

[Verse 2]

D G

He sent me to his old school I was a numeral with his name

A G D

And he gave me this gold signet ring and he wore one just the same

D G

And I guess that I believed him and probably it was true

A G D

When he told me I was just like him, that's what some fathers do

A G D A

But a father's always older and my dad was rather tall

A G D A D

Who says size doesn't matter, he was big and I was small

[Instrumental]

D G A G D

[Verse 3]

D G

I needed to be big enough to be someone someday

A G D

And I learned I had to beat him and that was the only way

D G

I learned I had to fight him, my own flesh, blood, bone and kin

A G D

But I felt I was just like him can a man's son be his twin

A G D A

First we fought for my mother, that afforded little joy

A G D A D

When he left she was heart broken and I was still their little boy

[Verse 4]

D G

But I started to get bigger and to win the ugly game

A G D

When I made a little money and I got a bit of fame

D G

And I saw how this could wound him, yes this could do the trick

A G D

And if I made it big enough I could kill him off quick

A G D A

But how can you murder someone in a way that they don't die

A G D A D

I didn't want to kill him, that would be suicide

[Instrumental]

D G A G D

[Verse 5]

D G

I got frightened so I backed off I let up and I was through

A G D

And in the end he did himself in usually that's what we do

D G

I'm alive and he is dead and neither of us won

A G D

It's spoiled for the victor once the vanquishing is done

A G D A

A man becomes immortal through his daughter or his son

A G D A D

But when he fears his legacy, a man can come undone

[Outro]

D G

And the beard is a reminder I'm a living part of him

A G D

Although my father's dead and gone I'm his surviving twin

D G

A G D

Although the old man's dead and gone I'm his surviving twin

About Surviving Twin Chords by Loudon Wainwright III

Learn how to play Surviving Twin by Loudon Wainwright III with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Surviving Twin chords”, “Surviving Twin guitar chords”, or “Loudon Wainwright III Surviving Twin 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 Surviving Twin chords and for experienced players who want accurate Surviving Twin lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, G, A.

FAQ — Surviving Twin by Loudon Wainwright III

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What key is "Surviving Twin" in?

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