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Soft As Chalk

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DSo, so Clong ago
GAnd so far awDay
DWhen time Cwas just a line
That you feGd me
When you wanted to Dstay
DWe'd talk as sCoft as chalk
Till moGrning came, as pale as Da pearl
DNo time, noC, no time
Now, I Ghave got all the time in tDhe world
DSay, honey, did yBbou belong to me
TEbell me, honey, was your Dmheart at rest when, dFarling
All the mourning Cdoves were howling us
A Bbsong of love's oh god-Dmawful lawlessCness, lDmaw-FlesDms-ness!
DSay, honey, did Bbyou belong to me
EbTell me, honey, did I Dmpass your test
I laFy, as still as death, untiCl the dawn
Whereupon I Bbwrested from your god-aDmwful lawlessnCess,
DmLaw-Fless-Dmness!
I Droam around the tiCdy grounds
Of my dapGpled sanatorDium
DCoatless, I sit amongst the Cmotes, adrift
And I dGote upon my pinesap Dgum
And the Dlight, through the pines in Cbrassy tines
Lays Gover me, dim as Drum
And thDick as molasses, and Cso time passes
And Gso, my heart, tomorrow Dcomes
DI feel you, leaning
Out bBback with the crickets
Loyal Ebheart marking the Dmsoon-ness darkness
TFonight, still the mourning Cdoves
Will summon us their Bbsong
Of love's neverDmdoneing lawlessCness, lDmaw-lFessDm-ness!
While, Dover and over
Rear Bbup, stand down, lay round
TrEbying to sound-out or gueDmss the reasons
To Fsleep like a soldier, Cwithout rest
But there is no treBbason
Where there is Dmonly lawlessCness, DmlawF-lesDms-ness!
Dm
MIDDLE SECTION:
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
DmfastBberGm  C  
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
In the Eblast week
Of the last year I Gmwas aware
I took a bliDbnd shot, across the creek
At the Abblack bear
When he roEbused me in the night
And left me Dbcowering with my light
Calling out
WAbho is thFmere
Who's Cmthere
Who is Ebthere
Bb  Fm  Am  C
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
Dm  Bb  Gm  C
I wEbatched you sleep
RGmepeating my prayer
GDbive love a little shove
And it becAbomes terror
And now I am Ebcalling
In a sadness beyond anger
And beyond Dbfear
AbWho is Fmthere
Who's Cmthere
Who is Ebthere
Bb  Fm  Am  C  D
D  C  G  D
D  C  G  D
I Dglare and nod
Like the Ccharacter, God
Bearing Gdown upon the houses and Dlawns
I kDnew a little bit,
But, dCarling, you were it
And, daGrling, now it is long goneD  
DSweetheart, in your Cclean, bright start
GBack there, behind a hill, and a Ddell
And a sDtate line or two, I'll be Cthinking of you
Yes, I’ll be tGhinking and be wishing you Dwell
WDe land, I stanCd, but I wait for Gthe sound of the bDell
DI have to cCatch a cab and my baGgs are at the Dcarousel
And tDhen Lord, just Cthen, time alone wDill only tell
You morning dove

All chords in this song (13)

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Soft As Chalk

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

D C

So, so long ago

G D

And so far away

D C

When time was just a line

That you fed me

When you wanted to stay

D C

We'd talk as soft as chalk

G D

Till morning came, as pale as a pearl

D C

No time, no, no time

G D

Now, I have got all the time in the world

D Bb

Say, honey, did you belong to me

Eb Dm F

Tell me, honey, was your heart at rest when, darling

All the mourning doves were howling us

Bb Dm C Dm F Dm

A song of love's oh god-awful lawlessness, law-less-ness!

D Bb

Say, honey, did you belong to me

Eb Dm

Tell me, honey, did I pass your test

F C

I lay, as still as death, until the dawn

Bb Dm C

Whereupon I wrested from your god-awful lawlessness,

Dm F Dm

Law-less-ness!

D C

I roam around the tidy grounds

G D

Of my dappled sanatorium

D C

Coatless, I sit amongst the motes, adrift

G D

And I dote upon my pinesap gum

D C

And the light, through the pines in brassy tines

G D

Lays over me, dim as rum

D C

And thick as molasses, and so time passes

G D

And so, my heart, tomorrow comes

I feel you, leaning

Out back with the crickets

Eb Dm

Loyal heart marking the soon-ness darkness

F C

Tonight, still the mourning doves

Will summon us their song

Dm C Dm F Dm

Of love's neverdoneing lawlessness, law-less-ness!

While, over and over

Rear up, stand down, lay round

Eb Dm

Trying to sound-out or guess the reasons

F C

To sleep like a soldier, without rest

But there is no treason

Dm C Dm F Dm

Where there is only lawlessness, law-less-ness!

MIDDLE SECTION:

Dm Bb Gm C

faster

Dm Bb Gm C

In the last week

Of the last year I was aware

I took a blind shot, across the creek

At the black bear

When he roused me in the night

And left me cowering with my light

Calling out

Ab Fm

Who is there

Who's there

Who is there

Bb Fm Am C

Dm Bb Gm C

I watched you sleep

Repeating my prayer

Give love a little shove

And it becomes terror

And now I am calling

In a sadness beyond anger

And beyond fear

Ab Fm

Who is there

Who's there

Who is there

Bb Fm Am C D

D C G D

I glare and nod

Like the character, God

G D

Bearing down upon the houses and lawns

I knew a little bit,

But, darling, you were it

G D

And, darling, now it is long gone

D C

Sweetheart, in your clean, bright start

G D

Back there, behind a hill, and a dell

D C

And a state line or two, I'll be thinking of you

G D

Yes, I’ll be thinking and be wishing you well

D C G D

We land, I stand, but I wait for the sound of the bell

D C G D

I have to catch a cab and my bags are at the carousel

D C D

And then Lord, just then, time alone will only tell

You morning dove

About Soft As Chalk Chords by Joanna Newsom

Learn how to play Soft As Chalk by Joanna Newsom with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Soft As Chalk chords”, “Soft As Chalk guitar chords”, or “Joanna Newsom Soft As Chalk 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 Soft As Chalk chords and for experienced players who want accurate Soft As Chalk lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, C, G, Bb, Eb, Dm.

FAQ — Soft As Chalk by Joanna Newsom

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