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Polaroids

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Dmajor

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Capo 4th fret (Key of F#)
[Verse 1]
DPlease, no more therapy, D/BMother take care of me,
DPiece me together with a Emneedle and thread.
DWrap me in eiderdown, D/Blace from your wedding gown.
DFold me and lay me down Emon your bed.
Or Gliken me to a shoe, D/F#blackened and spit-shone through
Fmaj7Kicking back home to you, smiling back home.Aadd9  
DSinging back home to you. D/BLaughing back home to you,
Em7Dragging back home to you.D  
[Verse 2]
DI was so wary then, D/Bthe ugly American
DThinner than oxygen, Emtough as a whore
DI said you can lie to me, D/BI own what's inside of me
DNothing surprises me, Emanymore
GBut forests in Germany, D/F#kids in the Tuileries
Fmaj7Broken-down fortresses, in Aadd9old Italy
DAnd claiming his victoryD/B, shrouded in mystery
Em7He went running away witDh me
[Verse 3]
DBack in our home New D/BYork, walking these streets forlorn
DWe all in our uniformEms, black and black
DDoing that slouch and jiveD/B, the artist must survive
DWe got all we need we Emcried, and don't look back
GThinking we had it made, D/F#poised for the hip parade
Fmaj7Knee deep in accolades, thAadd9e conceptual pair
DBut ever the malcontent, D/Bhe left without incident
Em7Vanished into thin airD  
[Verse 4]
DNow I am always amazD/Bed, words can fill up the page
DPages full up the dayEms, between him and me
DBut the vows that we never D/Bkeep, from bedrooms to business-speak
DMake me remember how cEmheap, words can be
GAnd the letters I wrote D/F#you of, were those of the desperate stuff
Fmaj7Like begging for love in a Aadd9suicide threat
DBut I am too young to diD/Be, too old for a lullaby
Em7Too tired for life on thDe ledge
[Verse 5]
DBut I had a dream laD/Bst night, of lovers who walked the plank
DOut on the edge of tiEmme, amidst ridicule
DThey laughed as they rockeD/Bd and reeled, over the mining fields
DComing to rest on this Emship of fools
GBut he just took polaroiD/F#ds of her smile in the light
Fmaj7Of the dawn of the menacinAadd9g sky
DAnd before they went oveD/Brboard, she turned and held up a card
Em7And it said, ValentineD  
Chord Diagrams:
String    654321
          EADGBE
D/B:      X2OO33
Fmaj7:    133210 (thumb for bass note)
Aadd9:    X02200
D/F#:     200232 (thumb for bass note)

All chords in this song (8)

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Polaroids

by Shawn Colvin

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 4 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

D/B

D/F#

Fmaj7

Aadd9

Em7

Capo 4th fret (Key of F#)

[Verse 1]

D D/B

Please, no more therapy, Mother take care of me,

D Em

Piece me together with a needle and thread.

D D/B

Wrap me in eiderdown, lace from your wedding gown.

D Em

Fold me and lay me down on your bed.

G D/F#

Or liken me to a shoe, blackened and spit-shone through

Fmaj7 Aadd9

Kicking back home to you, smiling back home.

D D/B

Singing back home to you. Laughing back home to you,

Em7 D

Dragging back home to you.

[Verse 2]

D D/B

I was so wary then, the ugly American

D Em

Thinner than oxygen, tough as a whore

D D/B

I said you can lie to me, I own what's inside of me

D Em

Nothing surprises me, anymore

G D/F#

But forests in Germany, kids in the Tuileries

Fmaj7 Aadd9

Broken-down fortresses, in old Italy

D D/B

And claiming his victory, shrouded in mystery

Em7 D

He went running away with me

[Verse 3]

D D/B

Back in our home New York, walking these streets forlorn

D Em

We all in our uniforms, black and black

D D/B

Doing that slouch and jive, the artist must survive

D Em

We got all we need we cried, and don't look back

G D/F#

Thinking we had it made, poised for the hip parade

Fmaj7 Aadd9

Knee deep in accolades, the conceptual pair

D D/B

But ever the malcontent, he left without incident

Em7 D

Vanished into thin air

[Verse 4]

D D/B

Now I am always amazed, words can fill up the page

D Em

Pages full up the days, between him and me

D D/B

But the vows that we never keep, from bedrooms to business-speak

D Em

Make me remember how cheap, words can be

G D/F#

And the letters I wrote you of, were those of the desperate stuff

Fmaj7 Aadd9

Like begging for love in a suicide threat

D D/B

But I am too young to die, too old for a lullaby

Em7 D

Too tired for life on the ledge

[Verse 5]

D D/B

But I had a dream last night, of lovers who walked the plank

D Em

Out on the edge of time, amidst ridicule

D D/B

They laughed as they rocked and reeled, over the mining fields

D Em

Coming to rest on this ship of fools

G D/F#

But he just took polaroids of her smile in the light

Fmaj7 Aadd9

Of the dawn of the menacing sky

D D/B

And before they went overboard, she turned and held up a card

Em7 D

And it said, Valentine

Chord Diagrams:

String 654321

EADGBE

D/B: X2OO33

Fmaj7: 133210 (thumb for bass note)

Aadd9: X02200

D/F#: 200232 (thumb for bass note)

About Polaroids Chords by Shawn Colvin

Learn how to play Polaroids by Shawn Colvin with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Polaroids chords”, “Polaroids guitar chords”, or “Shawn Colvin Polaroids 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 Polaroids chords and for experienced players who want accurate Polaroids lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F, D, D/B, Em, G, D/F#.

FAQ — Polaroids by Shawn Colvin

How do I play "Polaroids" by Shawn Colvin on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Polaroids" to a different key?

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Is "Polaroids" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Polaroids" in?

The chords for "Polaroids" show the original chord names (including F, D, D/B, Em, G, D/F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.