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Esme

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[Verse 1]
FI can Cfeel Dma dBbiffeFrence
CToday, a BbdifferFence
FAll of Cus Dmin our BbtentFs
Fearing CGod like a BbmistreFss
[Verse 2]
We Flay on the Crocks Dmin the BbsunF  
Watching Cyou and your Bbmama row Fin
I Fsat up and Cblinked when Dmyou apBbpeareFd
So Cpale you were Bbnearly clFear
[Verse 3]
FLater, I Cstumbled Dmto my BbbedF  
All alCone in the BbbranchesF  
I Flay in the Cdark, Dmthinking aBbbout
FAll of my Cfriends, and their BbchangesF  
[Chorus]
AmAnd I do not Dmknow if Bbyou GkEbnow
Just Bbwhat you have Fdone
AmYou are the sweetest DmoneBb  G  
I have Ebever lBbaid my eyes upFon
It's a Fbeautiful Ctown with the Dmrain coming Bbdown
GBlackberry, Ebrosemary, Bbjimmy crack-cForn
You've got the Frun of the Cplace, now that you're Dmrunning aroundBb  
And may Gkindness, Ebkindness, Bbkindness aFbound
[Verse 4]
FIn this Chour Dmof our BblivesF  
Hour of Ceffortless BbplentyF  
FHow do we Cknow which Dmparts of our Bbhearts want Fwhat
With such Cbase generBbosityF?
[Chorus]
AmTaking so many DmphotoBbgraphs, Gso amazed
We'd never seen a Ebbaby sBbo newly Fborn
AmAnd, when the bulbs do Dmflash, as Bbbright as mGorning
A crowd keeps on Ebgathering, like an Bbelectric Fstorm
The Fphantom of Clove moves Dmamong us at Bbwill
Each Gphantom limb Eblost has Bbgot an anFgel
FSo confuCsed, like the Dmwagging bob-Bbtail of a Gbulldog,
EbKindness, kBbindness prevaFils
[Verse 5]
FKindness preCvails! DmTies and rails, Bbties and rails
FFall into lCine, bearing BbkindnessF  
FWhere will you Cgo, Dmif not BbhereF?
What will you Csay when you Bbwrite to Fus?
[Chorus]
AmAnd this is a world of Dmterrible Bbhardship Geverywhere!
And I Ebsearch for words to Bbset you at eFase
AmBut there, in a looking gDmlass, a Bbkite iGs soaring
Stilling my wEbarring heart, and my Bbtrembling kneeFs
FClean as the Cbreeze, Dmbright as the Bbday
GAll of the Ebpeople Bbgather to Fsay
FSweet EsCme, Dmsweet EsBbme
GOh, oEbh, oBbh, ohF  
[Verse 6]
FI believe Clove will alDmways surround Bbyou
GBrave as Ebbear, with a Bbheart, rare and Ftrue
FBut, if you are Cscared, iDmf you are blBbue
I Ghave preEbpared this Bbsmall song for youF:
[Outro]
FSweet EsGme! BbSweet EsFme!
GOh, oEbh, oBbh, ohF  
FSweet EsGme! BbSweet EsFme!
GOh, oEbh, oBbh, ohF  
FSweet EsGme! BbEsFme..G.Eb  Bb  F  
FSweet EsGme! BbSweet EsFme!
GOh, oEbh, oBbh, ohF  
GOh, oEbh, oBbh, ohF  
GOh, oEbh, oBbh, ohF  

All chords in this song (7)

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Esme

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

F C Dm Bb F

I can feel a difference

C Bb F

Today, a difference

F C Dm Bb F

All of us in our tents

C Bb F

Fearing God like a mistress

[Verse 2]

F C Dm Bb F

We lay on the rocks in the sun

C Bb F

Watching you and your mama row in

F C Dm Bb F

I sat up and blinked when you appeared

C Bb F

So pale you were nearly clear

[Verse 3]

F C Dm Bb F

Later, I stumbled to my bed

C Bb F

All alone in the branches

F C Dm Bb

I lay in the dark, thinking about

F C Bb F

All of my friends, and their changes

[Chorus]

Am Dm Bb G Eb

And I do not know if you know

Bb F

Just what you have done

Am Dm Bb G

You are the sweetest one

Eb Bb F

I have ever laid my eyes upon

F C Dm Bb

It's a beautiful town with the rain coming down

G Eb Bb F

Blackberry, rosemary, jimmy crack-corn

F C Dm Bb

You've got the run of the place, now that you're running around

G Eb Bb F

And may kindness, kindness, kindness abound

[Verse 4]

F C Dm Bb F

In this hour of our lives

C Bb F

Hour of effortless plenty

F C Dm Bb F

How do we know which parts of our hearts want what

C Bb F

With such base generosity?

[Chorus]

Am Dm Bb G

Taking so many photographs, so amazed

Eb Bb F

We'd never seen a baby so newly born

Am Dm Bb G

And, when the bulbs do flash, as bright as morning

Eb Bb F

A crowd keeps on gathering, like an electric storm

F C Dm Bb

The phantom of love moves among us at will

G Eb Bb F

Each phantom limb lost has got an angel

F C Dm Bb G

So confused, like the wagging bob-tail of a bulldog,

Eb Bb F

Kindness, kindness prevails

[Verse 5]

F C Dm Bb

Kindness prevails! Ties and rails, ties and rails

F C Bb F

Fall into line, bearing kindness

F C Dm Bb F

Where will you go, if not here?

C Bb F

What will you say when you write to us?

[Chorus]

Am Dm Bb G

And this is a world of terrible hardship everywhere!

Eb Bb F

And I search for words to set you at ease

Am Dm Bb G

But there, in a looking glass, a kite is soaring

Eb Bb F

Stilling my warring heart, and my trembling knees

F C Dm Bb

Clean as the breeze, bright as the day

G Eb Bb F

All of the people gather to say

F C Dm Bb

Sweet Esme, sweet Esme

G Eb Bb F

Oh, oh, oh, oh

[Verse 6]

F C Dm Bb

I believe love will always surround you

G Eb Bb F

Brave as bear, with a heart, rare and true

F C Dm Bb

But, if you are scared, if you are blue

G Eb Bb F

I have prepared this small song for you:

[Outro]

F G Bb F

Sweet Esme! Sweet Esme!

G Eb Bb F

Oh, oh, oh, oh

F G Bb F

Sweet Esme! Sweet Esme!

G Eb Bb F

Oh, oh, oh, oh

F G Bb F G Eb Bb F

Sweet Esme! Esme...

F G Bb F

Sweet Esme! Sweet Esme!

G Eb Bb F

Oh, oh, oh, oh

G Eb Bb F

Oh, oh, oh, oh

G Eb Bb F

Oh, oh, oh, oh

About Esme Chords by Joanna Newsom

Learn how to play Esme by Joanna Newsom with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Esme chords”, “Esme guitar chords”, or “Joanna Newsom Esme 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 Esme chords and for experienced players who want accurate Esme lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, C, Dm, Bb, Am, G.

FAQ — Esme by Joanna Newsom

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What key is "Esme" in?

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