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Divers

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/16

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 16Position: 10

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

[Intro] (played through end of verse 1):
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-10--13--12---------10----------------------------10------12-------------|
G|-------------12--9------12----------9------12--9------12-----------------|
D|----------------------------12--10-----12--------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F  Am    G F
[Verse]
A dAmiver is my love
(and AmI am his, if I am not dGeceived)
who tFakes one breath above, for every hAmour below the sea
     Am            (alternate between Am and G/A)
who gave to me a jewel
                        Am   G(alternate  Am/Gand G)
worth twice this woman's life (but would cost her less
than lFaying at low tide
               Am(alternate  Amand Am/G)
to see her true love phosphoresce)
[Chorus]
And in an iCnfinite regress:
Tell me, wGmhy is the pain of bFirth
lighter bForne than the pain of deCath?
I ain't sGaying that I loved yGbou fFirst,
but I loCved you bBbest.
[Verse]
I kAmnow we must abide
                      Am     G(alternate  Gand Am/G)
each by the rules that bind us here:
        F(alternate  G/Fand Am/F)      Am  
that divers, and the sailors, and the women on the pier.
But how Amdo you choose your form?
How Amdo you choose your name? GHow do you choose your life?
How do you cFhoose the time you must exAmhale, and kick, and rise?
[Chorus]
And in an inCfinite capsize
Like a bGmull tearing down the cFoast,
double hFulls bearing double maCsts–
I don't kGnow if you loved Gbme mFost, but you lCoved me lBbast
[Verse]
RecAmall the word you gave:
                            Am   G(alternate between  Gand Am)
to count your way across the depths of this arid world,
where yFou would yoke the waves,
and lay a bed of shiAmning pearls!
I drAmeam it every night:
the Amringing of the pail,
the mGotes of sand dislodged,
the shucking, quick and bright;
the twFinned and cast-off shells reveal a sAmingle heart of white
[Chorus]
And in an iCnfinite backslide:
Ancient bGmorder, sink past the WFest,
like a sFword at the bearer's faCll.
I can't clGaim that I knew yGbou bFest,
but did you kCnow me at aBbll?
[Verse]
A Amwoman is alive!
A Amwoman is alive;
you do not tGake her for a sign in nFacre on a stone,
alone, unfAmaceted and fine.
And nAmever will I wed.
I'll Amhunt the pearl of death to the bGottom of my life,
and eFver hold my breath,
till I may Ambe the diver's wife.
[Chorus]
See how the inCfinite divides:
and the dGmivers are not to blFame
for the rFift, spanning distant shCores.
YoGu don't know Gbmy nFame,
but CI know yBbours.

All chords in this song (10)

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Divers

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Am/G

G/F

Am/F

[Intro] (played through end of verse 1):

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|-10--13--12---------10----------------------------10------12-------------|

G|-------------12--9------12----------9------12--9------12-----------------|

D|----------------------------12--10-----12--------------------------------|

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

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

F Am G F

[Verse]

A diver is my love

Am G

(and I am his, if I am not deceived)

F Am

who takes one breath above, for every hour below the sea

Am (alternate between Am and G/A)

who gave to me a jewel

Am G Am/G G

(alternate and )

worth twice this woman's life (but would cost her less

than laying at low tide

Am Am Am/G

(alternate and )

to see her true love phosphoresce)

[Chorus]

And in an infinite regress:

Gm F

Tell me, why is the pain of birth

F C

lighter borne than the pain of death?

G Gb F

I ain't saying that I loved you first,

C Bb

but I loved you best.

[Verse]

I know we must abide

Am G G Am/G

(alternate and )

each by the rules that bind us here:

F G/F Am/F Am

(alternate and )

that divers, and the sailors, and the women on the pier.

But how do you choose your form?

Am G

How do you choose your name? How do you choose your life?

F Am

How do you choose the time you must exhale, and kick, and rise?

[Chorus]

And in an infinite capsize

Gm F

Like a bull tearing down the coast,

F C

double hulls bearing double masts–

G Gb F C Bb

I don't know if you loved me most, but you loved me last

[Verse]

Recall the word you gave:

Am G G Am

(alternate between and )

to count your way across the depths of this arid world,

where you would yoke the waves,

and lay a bed of shining pearls!

I dream it every night:

the ringing of the pail,

the motes of sand dislodged,

the shucking, quick and bright;

F Am

the twinned and cast-off shells reveal a single heart of white

[Chorus]

And in an infinite backslide:

Gm F

Ancient border, sink past the West,

F C

like a sword at the bearer's fall.

G Gb F

I can't claim that I knew you best,

C Bb

but did you know me at all?

[Verse]

A woman is alive!

A woman is alive;

G F

you do not take her for a sign in nacre on a stone,

alone, unfaceted and fine.

And never will I wed.

Am G

I'll hunt the pearl of death to the bottom of my life,

and ever hold my breath,

till I may be the diver's wife.

[Chorus]

See how the infinite divides:

Gm F

and the divers are not to blame

F C

for the rift, spanning distant shores.

G Gb F

You don't know my name,

C Bb

but I know yours.

About Divers Chords by Joanna Newsom

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

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