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The Short Answer

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#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
The Short Answer  -  Billy Bragg
--------------------------------
Not entirely happy about these chords but it's ok.
It's capo'd at 2 or 3 - I'll just note the chords as though
they were open.
  C332010
 C2x20010
 Amx02210
  G320003
 G2355433
 G3055433
  A577655
 Em022000
  F003211
 Dmxx0231
P1 (Main Pattern)  C   C2   Am   G-  C   G  C  
   P1
Between Marx and marzipan in the dictionary there was Mary
   P1
Between the deep blue sea and the devil that was me
G2If ever aAnyone could helG2p me with my oG3bsession with
         G2         G3              AP1
The young Susannah York it was Mary
In my pink pyjamas she asked me for something
I gave her the short answer
She read our stars out load
And I knew then that we should have gone sailing
But we stayed home instead
Fighting on the waterbed
Like the honeymoon couple on drugs
Me and Mary
What happened in the past
Remained a mystery of natural history
She should have been the last
But she was just the latest
If she wanted to be a farmer's wife
I would endure that muddy life
I would dig for victory
(faster)         Am  
And the sound of happy couples
Coupling Emhappily in the dark
While Fyou and I sat Cdown to tea
I remember you said to me
That nAmo amount of poetry
Would mend this broken heart
But yoG2u can put the Hoover round
      Dm                     (don't know riff here)
If you want to make a start
(verse pattern)
All my friends from school
Introduce me to their spouses
While I'm left standing here
With my hands down the front of my trousers
I just don't know what's to be done
I wonder sometimes how did Dad meet Mum
And how did they conceive of me
Tell me Mary
The boys who came to the shop
Always made her laugh much more than I did
When I told her this must stop
She didn't bat an eyelid
She said you know honey it's such a shame
You'll never be any good at this game
You bruise too easily
So said Mary
Her two brothers took me out
Of circulation for the duration
So we went our separate ways but does she still love me
She still has my door key
Like a bully boy in a Benetton shop
You're never happy with what you've got
Till what you've got has gone
Sorry Mary
Finish  F   G  C  
**
"If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the precipitate"
                                                      - Steven Wright

All chords in this song (10)

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The Short Answer

by Billy Bragg

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##

The Short Answer - Billy Bragg

--------------------------------

Not entirely happy about these chords but it's ok.

It's capo'd at 2 or 3 - I'll just note the chords as though

they were open.

332010

x20010

x02210

320003

355433

055433

577655

022000

003211

xx0231

C C2 Am G C G C

P1 (Main Pattern) -

Between Marx and marzipan in the dictionary there was Mary

Between the deep blue sea and the devil that was me

G2 A G2 G3

If ever anyone could help me with my obsession with

G2 G3 A

The young Susannah York it was Mary

In my pink pyjamas she asked me for something

I gave her the short answer

She read our stars out load

And I knew then that we should have gone sailing

But we stayed home instead

Fighting on the waterbed

Like the honeymoon couple on drugs

Me and Mary

What happened in the past

Remained a mystery of natural history

She should have been the last

But she was just the latest

If she wanted to be a farmer's wife

I would endure that muddy life

I would dig for victory

(faster)

And the sound of happy couples

Coupling happily in the dark

F C

While you and I sat down to tea

I remember you said to me

That no amount of poetry

Would mend this broken heart

But you can put the Hoover round

Dm (don't know riff here)

If you want to make a start

(verse pattern)

All my friends from school

Introduce me to their spouses

While I'm left standing here

With my hands down the front of my trousers

I just don't know what's to be done

I wonder sometimes how did Dad meet Mum

And how did they conceive of me

Tell me Mary

The boys who came to the shop

Always made her laugh much more than I did

When I told her this must stop

She didn't bat an eyelid

She said you know honey it's such a shame

You'll never be any good at this game

You bruise too easily

So said Mary

Her two brothers took me out

Of circulation for the duration

So we went our separate ways but does she still love me

She still has my door key

Like a bully boy in a Benetton shop

You're never happy with what you've got

Till what you've got has gone

Sorry Mary

F G C

Finish

"If you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the precipitate"

- Steven Wright

About The Short Answer Chords by Billy Bragg

Learn how to play The Short Answer by Billy Bragg with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Short Answer chords”, “The Short Answer guitar chords”, or “Billy Bragg The Short Answer 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 The Short Answer chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Short Answer lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, C2, Am, G, G2, G3.

FAQ — The Short Answer by Billy Bragg

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What key is "The Short Answer" in?

The chords for "The Short Answer" show the original chord names (including C, C2, Am, G, G2, G3). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.