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From A Balance Beam

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In no way did I write this. I found it on xguitar.com, and its much more accurate than
the other chords on this site. This is one of my favorite Bright Eyes songs. I was
bummed they didnt play it when I went to see em last month. Enjoy.
DThere is a man holding a megaphone, so he Amust have been the voice of God.
The bystandD7ers claimed they saw angels flying uGp and down the block.
                     Gm(300230)
Well, they must have been attached to wires. I saw one laying in
the Bmlawn  with a brAoken arm,
so I called A911. So that is one lDess founded opinion. One more Acause for a dispute.
So the sD7treet filled, like a basin, up with cGameras and their crews
and they Gmwashed away the rumors leaving jBmust the concrete truth. It was a sApectacle.
No, I mean a Amiracle. So then I Dfell like that girl from a bAalance beam.
A gymD7nasium of eyes were all hoGlding on to me. I lifted one fooGmt to cross the other
and I fBmelt myself slipping. It was a sAmall mistake. Sometimes that is Aall it takes.
   BmNow I'm staring at my wrGist, hoping that the timing is rAight. When the
planes wDill align.
There will be no planets to Galign. Just the carcass of the Gmsun
and those little painted mGmarbles spinning endless through an endless black sky.
D              D             D            D
It was in a fDoreign hotel's bathtub I baptAized myself in change.
And D7one by one I drowned all of the pGeople I had been.
I emGmerged to find the parallels were Bmfewer. I was cleansed. I looked Ain the mirror
and someone Anew was there. Still, I was as hDelpless as a chess piece
when I was lifted Aup by someone's hand and deD7livered from the corner my
enemiGes had got me in.
But in Gmall of my salvation I still Bmfelt imprisoned inside that hoAlding cell
that is Amyself.
So I wDait for the day when I'll hAear the key as it D7turns in the lock
and the Gguard will say to me, "Oh my patient prisoner you have waited for
this dayBm  
and finally you are fAree! You are free! You are Afreezing."
  BmNow I'm staring at the suGn, waiting for it to exAplode. Because a day is
gonna cDome,
don't know when but it will Gcome and then we will finally know the Gmway out of here.
GmAnd I will throw away this wrinkled map and my chart of stars and compass, cracked.
And I'll climb out that tree all wet with sap to avoid the hungry beasts below.
I'll cut out my love's tongue and sing of a graveyard gray and a garden green and
then we won't have to worry no more. No we won't ever worry again abouthow this song
or story ends about how this song and story will end.
D D D

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

"From A Balance Beam" is a song from Bright Eyes, the indie rock project founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst. The band is known for its rotating lineup of collaborators, primarily from the Omaha indie music scene, with multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis and arranger Nate Walcott as core members alongside Oberst. This song appears on the release "There Is No Beginning to the Story." It plays with a sense of delicate introspection, reflecting on precarious moments in life.

AI-written from these sources:Bright Eyes (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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From A Balance Beam

by Bright Eyes

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

In no way did I write this. I found it on xguitar.com, and its much more accurate than

the other chords on this site. This is one of my favorite Bright Eyes songs. I was

bummed they didnt play it when I went to see em last month. Enjoy.

D A

There is a man holding a megaphone, so he must have been the voice of God.

D7 G

The bystanders claimed they saw angels flying up and down the block.

(300230)

Well, they must have been attached to wires. I saw one laying in

Bm A

the lawn with a broken arm,

A D A

so I called 911. So that is one less founded opinion. One more cause for a dispute.

D7 G

So the street filled, like a basin, up with cameras and their crews

Gm Bm A

and they washed away the rumors leaving just the concrete truth. It was a spectacle.

A D A

No, I mean a miracle. So then I fell like that girl from a balance beam.

D7 G Gm

A gymnasium of eyes were all holding on to me. I lifted one foot to cross the other

Bm A A

and I felt myself slipping. It was a small mistake. Sometimes that is all it takes.

Bm G A

Now I'm staring at my wrist, hoping that the timing is right. When the

planes will align.

G Gm

There will be no planets to align. Just the carcass of the sun

and those little painted marbles spinning endless through an endless black sky.

D D D D

D A

It was in a foreign hotel's bathtub I baptized myself in change.

D7 G

And one by one I drowned all of the people I had been.

Gm Bm A

I emerged to find the parallels were fewer. I was cleansed. I looked in the mirror

A D

and someone new was there. Still, I was as helpless as a chess piece

A D7

when I was lifted up by someone's hand and delivered from the corner my

enemies had got me in.

Gm Bm A

But in all of my salvation I still felt imprisoned inside that holding cell

that is myself.

D A D7

So I wait for the day when I'll hear the key as it turns in the lock

and the guard will say to me, "Oh my patient prisoner you have waited for

this day

A A

and finally you are free! You are free! You are freezing."

Bm G A

Now I'm staring at the sun, waiting for it to explode. Because a day is

gonna come,

G Gm

don't know when but it will come and then we will finally know the way out of here.

And I will throw away this wrinkled map and my chart of stars and compass, cracked.

And I'll climb out that tree all wet with sap to avoid the hungry beasts below.

I'll cut out my love's tongue and sing of a graveyard gray and a garden green and

then we won't have to worry no more. No we won't ever worry again abouthow this song

or story ends about how this song and story will end.

D D D

About From A Balance Beam Chords by Bright Eyes

Learn how to play From A Balance Beam by Bright Eyes with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “From A Balance Beam chords”, “From A Balance Beam guitar chords”, or “Bright Eyes From A Balance Beam 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 From A Balance Beam chords and for experienced players who want accurate From A Balance Beam lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, A, D7, G, Gm, Bm.

FAQ — From A Balance Beam by Bright Eyes

How do I play "From A Balance Beam" by Bright Eyes on guitar?

Open the free chords for "From A Balance Beam" by Bright Eyes on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "From A Balance Beam" by Bright Eyes free?

Yes. The chords for "From A Balance Beam" by Bright Eyes are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "From A Balance Beam" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "From A Balance Beam" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "From A Balance Beam"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "From A Balance Beam" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "From A Balance Beam" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "From A Balance Beam" by Bright Eyes with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Bright Eyes below.

What key is "From A Balance Beam" in?

The chords for "From A Balance Beam" show the original chord names (including D, A, D7, G, Gm, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.