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What Its Like

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[Intro]
 A   E   Bm   E(x2)
[Monologue]
 A   E   Bm   E(x14 underneath monologue)
In Iowa, in the tall grass, there's a couple
She's very young and he's a young preacher
And every day they would go out
To the fields where nothing is planted
And lie in the tall grass
But one day he called her into the sanctuary
And he said
"Kate, I've been touched by the Lord;
I don't need you any more."
And she didn't know what to think
But she loved the Lord
So she just leaned back in the pew
And thought about the tall grass and said
"Reverend," she said, "Reverend,"
"Reverend, the only reason I did it is to find out what it's like."
A E Bm E
[Verse 1]
F#mOh, Agive me the Etruth to me
And Bmtell me of wEhat I see
A feAeling there F#mmust be
An Bmanswer Efor me
F#mI    Afeel like I Eache all over
BmInside my Eheart is so, so
ATroubled I Efeel like I could die
F#mOh is this what love's sBmupposed to be?E  
[Chorus]
But AI, I'm not one tEo gamble
And I don't need to F#mscramble
F#mI didn't know that love would strike me
BmBut this is Ewhat it'As like
BmThis is Ewhat it's Alike
[Break]
 A   E   Bm   E(x2)
[Verse 2]
F#mOn   ASunday I Eread somewhere
That rBmeal love is Eheart and soul
Yeah, but Aonly Ea F#mmaster
could BmunderstEand that
F#mI    Aleft that old Emagazine
and Bmwalked out inEto the green
of sAummer, I Efelt like I could cF#mry
But in the grass I Bmonly sat
[Chorus]
Well AI, I'm not one to Egamble
And I don't need to scF#mramble
F#mI didn't know that love would strike me
BmBut this is Ewhat it'As like
BmThis is Ewhat it's Alike
[Outro]
 A   E   Bm   E(x4)

All chords in this song (4)

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What Its Like

by Arthur Russell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

[Intro]

A E Bm E

(x2)

[Monologue]

A E Bm E

(x14 underneath monologue)

In Iowa, in the tall grass, there's a couple

She's very young and he's a young preacher

And every day they would go out

To the fields where nothing is planted

And lie in the tall grass

But one day he called her into the sanctuary

And he said

"Kate, I've been touched by the Lord;

I don't need you any more."

And she didn't know what to think

But she loved the Lord

So she just leaned back in the pew

And thought about the tall grass and said

"Reverend," she said, "Reverend,"

"Reverend, the only reason I did it is to find out what it's like."

A E Bm E

[Verse 1]

F#m A E

Oh, give me the truth to me

Bm E

And tell me of what I see

A F#m

A feeling there must be

Bm E

An answer for me

F#m A E

I feel like I ache all over

Bm E

Inside my heart is so, so

A E

Troubled I feel like I could die

F#m Bm E

Oh is this what love's supposed to be?

[Chorus]

A E

But I, I'm not one to gamble

F#m

And I don't need to scramble

F#m

I didn't know that love would strike me

Bm E A

But this is what it's like

Bm E A

This is what it's like

[Break]

A E Bm E

(x2)

[Verse 2]

F#m A E

On Sunday I read somewhere

Bm E

That real love is heart and soul

A E F#m

Yeah, but only a master

Bm E

could understand that

F#m A E

I left that old magazine

Bm E

and walked out into the green

A E F#m

of summer, I felt like I could cry

But in the grass I only sat

[Chorus]

A E

Well I, I'm not one to gamble

F#m

And I don't need to scramble

F#m

I didn't know that love would strike me

Bm E A

But this is what it's like

Bm E A

This is what it's like

[Outro]

A E Bm E

(x4)

About What Its Like Chords by Arthur Russell

Learn how to play What Its Like by Arthur Russell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “What Its Like chords”, “What Its Like guitar chords”, or “Arthur Russell What Its Like 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 What Its Like chords and for experienced players who want accurate What Its Like lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, E, Bm, F#m.

FAQ — What Its Like by Arthur Russell

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The chords for "What Its Like" show the original chord names (including A, E, Bm, F#m). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.