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Karen

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Cminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[intro]
  G   C(repeat)
[verse]
  G   C(alternate)
Karen, I'm not taking sides
I don't think I'll ever do that again
I'll end up winning and I won't know why
I'm really trying to shine here, I'm really trying
You're changing clothes and closing windows on me all the time
[chorus]
CmWell, whatBbever you Abdo, listen, Bbyou better Cmwait for me
No, BbI wouldn't Abgo out Bbalone into AEbmerica
WhatBbever you Cmdo
Listen, and Abyou better Ebwait for me
No, BbI wouldn't Cmgo out alone
[verse]
  G   C(alternate)
Karen, we should call your father, maybe it's just a phase
He'll know the trick to get a wayward soul to change his ways
It's a common fetish for a doting man
to ballerina on the coffee table cock in hand
[chorus]
CmWell, whatBbever you Abdo, listen, Bbyou better Cmwait for me
No, BbI wouldn't Abgo out Bbalone into AEbmerica
WhatBbever you Cmdo
Listen, and Bbyou better Ebwait for me
No, BbI wouldn't Cmgo out alone
[middle]
Bb  Gm  Dm  Cm
BbWithout warm water in my Gmhead
All I see is black and white and Dmred
I feel mechanical and Cmthin
Hear me play my violin aBbgain
I'm living in the target's Gmshoes
All I see is black and white and Dmblue.
Idle, idle, idle, idle, Cmprotect the nest
Protect the titleG  C  
[verse]
  G   C(alternate)
Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink
I've lost direction, and I'm past my peak
I'm telling you this isn't me
No, this isn't me
Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet
[chorus]
CmWell, whatBbever you Abdo, listen, Bbyou better Cmwait for me
No, BbI wouldn't Abgo out Bbalone into AEbmerica
WhatBbever you Cmdo
Listen, and Bbyou better Ebwait for me
No, BbI wouldn't Cmgo out alone
end
BbWithout warm water in my Gmhead
All I see is black and white and Dmred
I feel mechanical and Cmthin
Hear me play my violin aBbgain
I'm living in the target's Gmshoes
All I see is black and white and Dmblue.
Idle, idle, idle, idle, Cmprotect the nest
Protect the title
BbI must be me, I'm in my head
Black Gmbirds are circling my bed
I Dmmust be me, I must be me
Black Cmfeathers are falling on my feet
BbIdle, idle, idle, idle, proGmtect the nest
Protect the title
DmIdle, idle, idle, idle, proCmtect the nest
Protect the title
[repeat]
end
G  C

All chords in this song (8)

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Karen

by The National

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[intro]

G C

(repeat)

[verse]

G C

(alternate)

Karen, I'm not taking sides

I don't think I'll ever do that again

I'll end up winning and I won't know why

I'm really trying to shine here, I'm really trying

You're changing clothes and closing windows on me all the time

[chorus]

Cm Bb Ab Bb Cm

Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me

Bb Ab Bb Eb

No, I wouldn't go out alone into America

Bb Cm

Whatever you do

Ab Eb

Listen, and you better wait for me

Bb Cm

No, I wouldn't go out alone

[verse]

G C

(alternate)

Karen, we should call your father, maybe it's just a phase

He'll know the trick to get a wayward soul to change his ways

It's a common fetish for a doting man

to ballerina on the coffee table cock in hand

[chorus]

Cm Bb Ab Bb Cm

Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me

Bb Ab Bb Eb

No, I wouldn't go out alone into America

Bb Cm

Whatever you do

Bb Eb

Listen, and you better wait for me

Bb Cm

No, I wouldn't go out alone

[middle]

Bb Gm Dm Cm

Bb Gm

Without warm water in my head

All I see is black and white and red

I feel mechanical and thin

Hear me play my violin again

I'm living in the target's shoes

All I see is black and white and blue.

Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest

G C

Protect the title

[verse]

G C

(alternate)

Karen, put me in a chair, fuck me and make me a drink

I've lost direction, and I'm past my peak

I'm telling you this isn't me

No, this isn't me

Karen, believe me, you just haven't seen my good side yet

[chorus]

Cm Bb Ab Bb Cm

Well, whatever you do, listen, you better wait for me

Bb Ab Bb Eb

No, I wouldn't go out alone into America

Bb Cm

Whatever you do

Bb Eb

Listen, and you better wait for me

Bb Cm

No, I wouldn't go out alone

end

Bb Gm

Without warm water in my head

All I see is black and white and red

I feel mechanical and thin

Hear me play my violin again

I'm living in the target's shoes

All I see is black and white and blue.

Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest

Protect the title

I must be me, I'm in my head

Black birds are circling my bed

I must be me, I must be me

Black feathers are falling on my feet

Bb Gm

Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest

Protect the title

Dm Cm

Idle, idle, idle, idle, protect the nest

Protect the title

[repeat]

end

G C

About Karen Chords by The National

Learn how to play Karen by The National with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Karen chords”, “Karen guitar chords”, or “The National Karen 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 Karen chords and for experienced players who want accurate Karen lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, C, Cm, Bb, Ab, Eb.

FAQ — Karen by The National

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The chords for "Karen" show the original chord names (including G, C, Cm, Bb, Ab, Eb). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.