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Famous Tracheotomies

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[Verse 1]
GWhen I had my Dtracheotomy
I was bAmlue and had stopped breathing
There was someEmthing wrong with Cme
GDoctors cut through the carDtilage and skin
At the boAmttom of my throat
And then they snCaked that trAmach tube inD  
[Chorus 1]
And I was Bmone and a halfEm  
I was my pAmarents only kid
And they had lost Emtwo before tChat
ABmnd growing up, EmI always knew how close I'd Ccome
Well, that must have been scary, MDom
[Verse 2]
GGary Coleman, he was "ADrnold" on TV
Well, I grAmew up watching him and EmConrad Bain and CKimberly
GIt turns out that he had a Dtrach scar too
Where they Amcut into his throat
And then they Cthreaded that Amtube thrDough
[Chorus 2]
But that was Bmmuch later oEmn
In the yAmear that he turned forty when his Emfanbase was all Cgone
And his Bmhealth was so touch-anEmd-go
His girlfriCend proposed
But they broke up on a TV Dshow
[Verse 3]
GMary Wells, she was knDown as Motown's Queen
But laryAmngeal cancer left her uEmnable to sCing
GThey tried radiation, multDiple surgeries
But shAme didn't have insurance and lost almCost AmeverytDhing
Poor thing
[Chorus 3]
But DBmiana Ross helped with her Embills
Aretha FAmranklin tried her very best to hEmelp out Mary CWells
And DioBmnne Warwick did all she Emcould do
And Mary Wells, she pCulled through
For one more year or Dtwo
[Verse 4]
GDylan Thomas looked Dcompletely pale and weak
On a tAmrip to New York City to Empromote his Cpoety
GThree straight days of drinking out in GreenDwich and Chelsea
He was Amtaken to the hospital, Cturned bluAme and not breaDthing
[Chorus 4]
AnBmd Caitlin Thomas Emsaid
When she wAmalked into St Vincent's
"Is the Embloody man dead Cyet?"
BmAnd later that day Emshe got so drunk she was restrCained
And her husband slipped Daway
[Verse 5]
GRay Davies had a Dtracheotomy
AmHe was at St. Thomas' Hospital in LoEmndon, aged thCirteen
GAnd during his lDong recovery
Nurses Amput him in a wheelchair
And they'd Cwheel him out Amonto a baDlcony (on a balcony)
[Chorus 5]
BmAnd down that evening sun did Emsink
Painting AmLondon and the river and that Emfreaked-out future CKink
BmWaterloo lit up for one sick Emkid
And, at 23C, he recorded a song aboDut it
[Outro}
G D Am C

All chords in this song (6)

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Famous Tracheotomies

by Okkervil River

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

G D

When I had my tracheotomy

I was blue and had stopped breathing

Em C

There was something wrong with me

G D

Doctors cut through the cartilage and skin

At the bottom of my throat

C Am D

And then they snaked that trach tube in

[Chorus 1]

Bm Em

And I was one and a half

I was my parents only kid

Em C

And they had lost two before that

Bm Em C

And growing up, I always knew how close I'd come

Well, that must have been scary, Mom

[Verse 2]

G D

Gary Coleman, he was "Arnold" on TV

Am Em C

Well, I grew up watching him and Conrad Bain and Kimberly

G D

It turns out that he had a trach scar too

Where they cut into his throat

C Am D

And then they threaded that tube through

[Chorus 2]

Bm Em

But that was much later on

Am Em C

In the year that he turned forty when his fanbase was all gone

Bm Em

And his health was so touch-and-go

His girlfriend proposed

But they broke up on a TV show

[Verse 3]

G D

Mary Wells, she was known as Motown's Queen

Am Em C

But laryngeal cancer left her unable to sing

G D

They tried radiation, multiple surgeries

Am C Am D

But she didn't have insurance and lost almost everything

Poor thing

[Chorus 3]

Bm Em

But Diana Ross helped with her bills

Am Em C

Aretha Franklin tried her very best to help out Mary Wells

Bm Em

And Dionne Warwick did all she could do

And Mary Wells, she pulled through

For one more year or two

[Verse 4]

G D

Dylan Thomas looked completely pale and weak

Am Em C

On a trip to New York City to promote his poety

G D

Three straight days of drinking out in Greenwich and Chelsea

Am C Am D

He was taken to the hospital, turned blue and not breathing

[Chorus 4]

Bm Em

And Caitlin Thomas said

When she walked into St Vincent's

Em C

"Is the bloody man dead yet?"

Bm Em C

And later that day she got so drunk she was restrained

And her husband slipped away

[Verse 5]

G D

Ray Davies had a tracheotomy

Am Em C

He was at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, aged thirteen

G D

And during his long recovery

Nurses put him in a wheelchair

C Am D

And they'd wheel him out onto a balcony (on a balcony)

[Chorus 5]

Bm Em

And down that evening sun did sink

Am Em C

Painting London and the river and that freaked-out future Kink

Bm Em

Waterloo lit up for one sick kid

C D

And, at 23, he recorded a song about it

[Outro}

G D Am C

About Famous Tracheotomies Chords by Okkervil River

Learn how to play Famous Tracheotomies by Okkervil River with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Famous Tracheotomies chords”, “Famous Tracheotomies guitar chords”, or “Okkervil River Famous Tracheotomies 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 Famous Tracheotomies chords and for experienced players who want accurate Famous Tracheotomies lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, Am, Em, C, Bm.

FAQ — Famous Tracheotomies by Okkervil River

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The chords for "Famous Tracheotomies" show the original chord names (including G, D, Am, Em, C, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.