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Exploding Whale

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Gmixolydian

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

This version specifically abides by the Doveman remix from Stevens' "The Greatest Gift" album.
In the outro, repeat the three chords as often as you feel like to obtain that dreamy finish.
Silly chords:
Csus2: x30010
Gadd11: 320013
Fmaj7: 133210 (use thumb for bass note)
G*: 355433
Am*: 577555
C*: 32013
[Intro]
C Am D7 F
Em Em7 Em F G Csus2
[Verse 1]
CI'm a poor use frieAmnd
Loneliness rides in my D7bed
DMy misfortuFne
Give Fmaj7everything you've Emgot
Em7While the Emsun burns Fhot
My adFdiction
Gadd11Spoils my afGfection
For everything Csus2good
[Verse 2]
CElephant in the roAmom
Might as well shoot at the D7moon
The Dmild ambitiFon
Give Fmaj7everything you've Emgot
Em7Jump the EmFosbury Fflop with intention
PurGadd11sue your inGvention
As something of Dm7worth
[Chorus]
The Dmthing I most reC/Egret
                 G*
Is having to repress what I'm feeling
        Am*        G*         F  
While expressing delight as a myth
EmFmaj7brace the epic Emfail
Of Em7my exEmploding Fwhale
      G*
hm hm hmmm
Csus2
[Verse 3]
CPoison or powdered milk (Ampoison or powdered milk)
Paralyzed as it D7took (paralyzed as it took)
DPremonition (Fthat is what we are)
Give Fmaj7everything you've goEmt
BeEm7fore your Emlife is Fcaught in conditions
Be the Gadd11first of its vicGtims
The foot of a Csus2hare
[Verse 4]
CAction or consequence (Amaction or consequence)
My unyielding deD7fense (my unyielding defense)
DSuperstition (Fthat is what we are)
Fmaj7My attempts to obEmscure
The Em7wonders Emof this Fworld
Be it forFtune
Or Gadd11faith in distGortion
The patron of Dm7/Aprayer
[Chorus]
Dm/AThe thing I most reC/Esent
                G*
Is having to consent to illusion
         Am*        G*            F  
While confessing distress with my fist
Will Fmaj7history preEmvail?
Em7My exEmploding Fwhale
G
[Instrumental]
 Dm7/A   C/E  G*
Am* G*  F  Fmaj7  
Em7 Em F Gadd11 G
Csus2
[Chorus]
CWhat of a dream deferreAm/Cd
My appeal in reD7/Cverse
ApparitiF/Con
EmFmaj7/Cbrace the epic Em/Cfail
Of Em7/Cmy exEm/Cploding F/Cwhale
G/C
[Outro]
C*  G/C  Gsus4/C  

All chords in this song (24)

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Exploding Whale

by Sufjan Stevens

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Em7

Csus2

Fmaj7

Gadd11

Dm7

C/E

Dm7/A

Dm/A

Am/C

D7/C

F/C

Fmaj7/C

Em/C

Em7/C

G/C

Gsus4/C

This version specifically abides by the Doveman remix from Stevens' "The Greatest Gift" album.

In the outro, repeat the three chords as often as you feel like to obtain that dreamy finish.

Silly chords:

Csus2: x30010

Gadd11: 320013

Fmaj7: 133210 (use thumb for bass note)

*: 355433

*: 577555

C*: 32013

[Intro]

C Am D7 F

Em Em7 Em F G Csus2

[Verse 1]

C Am

I'm a poor use friend

Loneliness rides in my bed

D F

My misfortune

Fmaj7 Em

Give everything you've got

Em7 Em F

While the sun burns hot

My addiction

Gadd11 G

Spoils my affection

Csus2

For everything good

[Verse 2]

C Am

Elephant in the room

Might as well shoot at the moon

D F

The mild ambition

Fmaj7 Em

Give everything you've got

Em7 Em F

Jump the Fosbury flop with intention

Gadd11 G

Pursue your invention

Dm7

As something of worth

[Chorus]

Dm C/E

The thing I most regret

Is having to repress what I'm feeling

Am G F

* *

While expressing delight as a myth

Fmaj7 Em

Embrace the epic fail

Em7 Em F

Of my exploding whale

hm hm hmmm

Csus2

[Verse 3]

C Am

Poison or powdered milk (poison or powdered milk)

Paralyzed as it took (paralyzed as it took)

D F

Premonition (that is what we are)

Fmaj7 Em

Give everything you've got

Em7 Em F

Before your life is caught in conditions

Gadd11 G

Be the first of its victims

Csus2

The foot of a hare

[Verse 4]

C Am

Action or consequence (action or consequence)

My unyielding defense (my unyielding defense)

D F

Superstition (that is what we are)

Fmaj7 Em

My attempts to obscure

Em7 Em F

The wonders of this world

Be it fortune

Gadd11 G

Or faith in distortion

Dm7/A

The patron of prayer

[Chorus]

Dm/A C/E

The thing I most resent

Is having to consent to illusion

Am G F

* *

While confessing distress with my fist

Fmaj7 Em

Will history prevail?

Em7 Em F

My exploding whale

[Instrumental]

Dm7/A C/E G

Am G F Fmaj7

* *

Em7 Em F Gadd11 G

Csus2

[Chorus]

C Am/C

What of a dream deferred

D7/C

My appeal in reverse

F/C

Apparition

Fmaj7/C Em/C

Embrace the epic fail

Em7/C Em/C F/C

Of my exploding whale

G/C

[Outro]

C G/C Gsus4/C

About Exploding Whale Chords by Sufjan Stevens

Learn how to play Exploding Whale by Sufjan Stevens with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Exploding Whale chords”, “Exploding Whale guitar chords”, or “Sufjan Stevens Exploding Whale 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 Exploding Whale chords and for experienced players who want accurate Exploding Whale lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Csus2, G, Am, C, D7, F.

FAQ — Exploding Whale by Sufjan Stevens

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What key is "Exploding Whale" in?

The chords for "Exploding Whale" show the original chord names (including Csus2, G, Am, C, D7, F). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.