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Australia

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Emajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/5

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 5Position: 7

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

This is the opening riff is like this, the other part is done with la's, but if 
you want to play it too, just play 9 on the G, 11 then 9 on the D string.
The intro is just an E chord. It sounds better with a 5th root barre chord, how 
James Mercer plays it. When James does the intro acoustically, he sometimes 
removes all but the barred root while playing, gives a nice sound when played this way.
[Intro]
N.C.
"Time to put the ear covers on!"
N.C.
"No!"
e|---------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------9-----11-------------|
A|-----7-----9-----11--------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------|
[Verse]
EBorn to multC#miply or born to gaze intF#mo night skies,
 F#mall G#myou Awant's one moG#mre SaF#mturday.
EBut look here, until thC#men
They're gonna buy your F#mlife's time
 F#mSo keG#mep your wick in Athe air and your fG#meet in the F#mfetters
[Chorus]
BTil the day, we come in doing cartEwheels
We all crawl out by ourBselves, and your shape on the danEce floor
Will have me thinking such fiBlth I'll gouge my eyes.
You'll be dC#mamned to be Aone of us girl
FC#maced with the dAodo's conundrum
      E  F#mI felt like I could just Afly
But nG#mothing happened every time I BtriAedG#m.F#m  
[Verse]
EDuotone on the waC#mll, the selfless fool who hoped he'd F#msaved us all
   F#mneG#mver dreAamt of such sG#mterile F#mhands
EYou keep them folded in your C#mlap, or raise them up to F#mbeg for scraps
F#mYou G#mknow he's hoAlding you down with the tG#mips of his finF#mgers, jBust the same
[Chorus]
Will you be pulled from the oEcean? But just a minute too laBte?
Or changed by a poEtion, and find a handsome young mBate for you to love
you'll be damC#mned to pining through the wiAndow panes, you know
C#myou'll trade your life for any ordinAary joEe's,    F#mwell do it now or grow Aold
Cos your nightmares oG#mnly need a year or two to unBfoAldG#m  F#m  
[Solo]
  E    C#m    F#m    G#m    A    G#m    F#mx2
[Bridge]
BBeen alone since you were 21, Eyou haven't laughed since January
BYou try and make like this is so much fun, Ebut we know it to be be quite contrary
BLa la la la la la
[Chorus]
C#mDare to be onAe of us, girl, facC#ming the androAid's conundrum
   EI     F#mfelt like I should just cAry
G#mBut nothing happens every time I tAake one on the chin
Yeah HimG#mmler in your coat you don't know hAow long I've been
G#mWatching the lanAtern dim, stG#marved of oxygeAn, oh
so gF#mive me your hand and lets juAmp out the wiBndow
[Outro]
E(until end)

All chords in this song (6)

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Australia

by The Shins

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

C#m

F#m

G#m

This is the opening riff is like this, the other part is done with la's, but if

you want to play it too, just play 9 on the G, 11 then 9 on the D string.

The intro is just an E chord. It sounds better with a 5th root barre chord, how

James Mercer plays it. When James does the intro acoustically, he sometimes

removes all but the barred root while playing, gives a nice sound when played this way.

[Intro]

N.C.

"Time to put the ear covers on!"

N.C.

"No!"

e|---------------------------------------------|

B|---------------------------------------------|

G|---------------------------------------------|

D|------------------------9-----11-------------|

A|-----7-----9-----11--------------------------|

E|---------------------------------------------|

[Verse]

E C#m F#m

Born to multiply or born to gaze into night skies,

F#m G#m A G#m F#m

all you want's one more Saturday.

E C#m

But look here, until then

F#m

They're gonna buy your life's time

F#m G#m A G#m F#m

So keep your wick in the air and your feet in the fetters

[Chorus]

B E

Til the day, we come in doing cartwheels

B E

We all crawl out by ourselves, and your shape on the dance floor

Will have me thinking such filth I'll gouge my eyes.

C#m A

You'll be damned to be one of us girl

C#m A

Faced with the dodo's conundrum

E F#m A

I felt like I could just fly

G#m B A G#m F#m

But nothing happened every time I tried.

[Verse]

E C#m F#m

Duotone on the wall, the selfless fool who hoped he'd saved us all

F#m G#m A G#m F#m

never dreamt of such sterile hands

E C#m F#m

You keep them folded in your lap, or raise them up to beg for scraps

F#m G#m A G#m F#m B

You know he's holding you down with the tips of his fingers, just the same

[Chorus]

E B

Will you be pulled from the ocean? But just a minute too late?

E B

Or changed by a potion, and find a handsome young mate for you to love

C#m A

you'll be damned to pining through the window panes, you know

C#m A E F#m A

you'll trade your life for any ordinary joe's, well do it now or grow old

G#m B A G#m F#m

Cos your nightmares only need a year or two to unfold

[Solo]

E C#m F#m G#m A G#m F#m

[Bridge]

B E

Been alone since you were 21, you haven't laughed since January

B E

You try and make like this is so much fun, but we know it to be be quite contrary

La la la la la la

[Chorus]

C#m A C#m A

Dare to be one of us, girl, facing the android's conundrum

E F#m A

I felt like I should just cry

G#m A

But nothing happens every time I take one on the chin

G#m A

Yeah Himmler in your coat you don't know how long I've been

G#m A G#m A

Watching the lantern dim, starved of oxygen, oh

F#m A B

so give me your hand and lets jump out the window

[Outro]

(until end)

About Australia Chords by The Shins

Learn how to play Australia by The Shins with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Australia chords”, “Australia guitar chords”, or “The Shins Australia 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 Australia chords and for experienced players who want accurate Australia lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, D, E, C, B, A.

FAQ — Australia by The Shins

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Is "Australia" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Australia" in?

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