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The Poet Game

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Played in Open G tuning.
      (  D   G   D   G   B   D)
G       0 0 5 4 0 0
Gmaj7   0 0 4 4 0 0
G6      0 0 2 0 0 0
G open  0 0 0 0 0 0
D7      0 2 0 2 1 0
G       5 5 5 5 5 5
C       2 2 2 2 2 2
[Intro]
   G     Gmaj7     G6     G     D7    G(x2)  G  
[Verse 1]
Down bGy the river Gmaj7junior year G6walking with Gmy girl
D7and we came upon a Gplace
There Gin the tall grass, Gmaj7where a couple G6had been making Glove
Cand left the mark of their D7embrace
CI said to her, "Looks Emlike they had some fun"
AShe said to me "Let's do the D7same"
And stGill I taste her Gmaj7kisses and her fG6reckles in the Gsun
D7when I play the poet Ggame.G  Gmaj7  G6  G  D7  G  
[Verse 2]
A younGg man down in the Gmaj7hill country in the G6year of G'22
D7went to meet his future Gbride.
She liGved in a Gmaj7rough old shack that G6poverty blew Gthrough
CAnd she invited him D7inside.
CShe'd been cooking, asEmhamed and feeling sad,
Ashe could only offer him bread and her D7name.
GrandpGa said that Gmaj7was the best G6gift a fella ever Ghad
D7and he taught me the poet Ggame.G  Gmaj7  G6  G  D7  G  
[Verse 3]
I had Ga friend who Gmaj7drank too much and pG6layed too much Gguitar
D7Oh and we sure got Galong.
Reel-tGo-reels Gmaj7rolled across tG6he country near and Gfar
Cwith letters, poems, and D7songs
Cbut these days he don't talk to me and Emhe won't tell me why.
AI miss him every time I say his D7name.
I don'Gt know what he's Gmaj7doing or G6why our friendship Gdied
D7while we play the poet Ggame.G  Gmaj7  G6  G  D7  G  
[Verse 4]
The faGll rain was pGmaj7ounding down on an oG6ld New Hampshire Gmill
D7and the river wild and Ghigh.
I was Gtalking to her Gmaj7while leaves blew G6down like a sudden Gchill.
CAnd there was wildness in her D7eyes.
CWe made love like we'd been waiting Emall our lives for this
AStrangers know no D7shame.
But shGe had to leave Gmaj7at dawn and with a G6sticky farewell Gkiss
D7left me to play the poet Ggame.G  Gmaj7  G6  G  D7  G  
[Verse 5]
I watcGhed my country Gmaj7turn into a G6coast-to-coast strip Gmall
D7and I cried out in a Gsong.
If we Gcould do all that in Gmaj730 years, then please G6tell me Gwhoa
CWhy does good change take so D7long?
CWhy does the color of your skin or Emwho you choose to love
Astill lead to such anger and D7pain?
And whGy do I think it's Gmaj7any help for G6me to still Gdream of
D7playing the poet Ggame?G  Gmaj7  G6  G  D7  G  
[Verse 6]
Sirens Gwail Gmaj7above the fields, G6another soul gone Gdown
D7another sun about to Grise.
I've lGost track of Gmaj7my mistakes like G6birds that fly Garound
Cand darken half my D7skies.
CTo all of those I've hurt, Oh EmI pray you will forgive me.
AI to you will freely do the D7same.
So manGy things I Gmaj7didn't see, with my G6eyes turned Ginside,
D7playing the poet Ggame.G  Gmaj7  G6  G  D7  G  
[Verse 7]
I walk Gout at night to Gmaj7take a leak G6underneath the Gstars.
D7Oh yeah that's the life for Gme.
There'Gs Orion and the Gmaj7Pleiades and I G6guess that must be GMars.
CAll as clear as we long to D7be.
CI've sung what I was given, some was Embad and some was good.
AI never did know from where it D7came
and if GI had it Gmaj7all to do again, G6I am not sure I Gwould
D7play the poet Ggame.
[Outro]
  G     Gmaj7     G6     G    D7    G(x3)

All chords in this song (9)

The story behind the song

"The Poet Game" paints a picture of youthful longing and the pull of the imagination. It evokes a memory of walking by the river, a girl with "wildness in her eyes," and the simple, profound offering of her name and bread. This song, from Greg Brown's 1994 album of the same name, captures the spirit of a young man drawn to a deeper connection, perhaps even to "play the poet game" himself. It feels like a reflection on those formative moments when the world opens up with both wonder and a touch of melancholy.

AI-written from these sources:Greg Brown (folk musician) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

The Poet Game

The Poet Game

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The Poet Game

by Greg Brown

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Gmaj7

Played in Open G tuning.

D G D G B D

( )

G 0 0 5 4 0 0

Gmaj7 0 0 4 4 0 0

G6 0 0 2 0 0 0

G open 0 0 0 0 0 0

D7 0 2 0 2 1 0

G 5 5 5 5 5 5

C 2 2 2 2 2 2

[Intro]

G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G G

(x2)

[Verse 1]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

Down by the river junior year walking with my girl

D7 G

and we came upon a place

G Gmaj7 G6 G

There in the tall grass, where a couple had been making love

C D7

and left the mark of their embrace

C Em

I said to her, "Looks like they had some fun"

A D7

She said to me "Let's do the same"

G Gmaj7 G6 G

And still I taste her kisses and her freckles in the sun

D7 G G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

when I play the poet game.

[Verse 2]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

A young man down in the hill country in the year of '22

D7 G

went to meet his future bride.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

She lived in a rough old shack that poverty blew through

C D7

And she invited him inside.

C Em

She'd been cooking, ashamed and feeling sad,

A D7

she could only offer him bread and her name.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

Grandpa said that was the best gift a fella ever had

D7 G G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

and he taught me the poet game.

[Verse 3]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

I had a friend who drank too much and played too much guitar

D7 G

Oh and we sure got along.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

Reel-to-reels rolled across the country near and far

C D7

with letters, poems, and songs

C Em

but these days he don't talk to me and he won't tell me why.

A D7

I miss him every time I say his name.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

I don't know what he's doing or why our friendship died

D7 G G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

while we play the poet game.

[Verse 4]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

The fall rain was pounding down on an old New Hampshire mill

D7 G

and the river wild and high.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

I was talking to her while leaves blew down like a sudden chill.

C D7

And there was wildness in her eyes.

C Em

We made love like we'd been waiting all our lives for this

A D7

Strangers know no shame.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

But she had to leave at dawn and with a sticky farewell kiss

D7 G G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

left me to play the poet game.

[Verse 5]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

I watched my country turn into a coast-to-coast strip mall

D7 G

and I cried out in a song.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

If we could do all that in 30 years, then please tell me whoa

C D7

Why does good change take so long?

C Em

Why does the color of your skin or who you choose to love

A D7

still lead to such anger and pain?

G Gmaj7 G6 G

And why do I think it's any help for me to still dream of

D7 G G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

playing the poet game?

[Verse 6]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

Sirens wail above the fields, another soul gone down

D7 G

another sun about to rise.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

I've lost track of my mistakes like birds that fly around

C D7

and darken half my skies.

C Em

To all of those I've hurt, Oh I pray you will forgive me.

A D7

I to you will freely do the same.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

So many things I didn't see, with my eyes turned inside,

D7 G G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

playing the poet game.

[Verse 7]

G Gmaj7 G6 G

I walk out at night to take a leak underneath the stars.

D7 G

Oh yeah that's the life for me.

G Gmaj7 G6 G

There's Orion and the Pleiades and I guess that must be Mars.

C D7

All as clear as we long to be.

C Em

I've sung what I was given, some was bad and some was good.

A D7

I never did know from where it came

G Gmaj7 G6 G

and if I had it all to do again, I am not sure I would

D7 G

play the poet game.

[Outro]

G Gmaj7 G6 G D7 G

(x3)

About The Poet Game Chords by Greg Brown

Learn how to play The Poet Game by Greg Brown with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “The Poet Game chords”, “The Poet Game guitar chords”, or “Greg Brown The Poet Game 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 Poet Game chords and for experienced players who want accurate The Poet Game lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, B, G6, D7, C.

FAQ — The Poet Game by Greg Brown

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What key is "The Poet Game" in?

The chords for "The Poet Game" show the original chord names (including G, D, B, G6, D7, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.