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Kingfisher

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GWhose is the hand that FI will Amhold
GWhose is the face I Fwill Csee
GWhose is the name Dthat I Amwill call
When GI Am called to Fmeet Athee
Am  C  G  F Am
GIn this life who Fdid you Amlove
GBeneath the drifting FasChes
GBeneath the sheeting Dbanks of Amair
That Gbarrenly pour our FraAtions
Am  C  G  F Am
GWhen I could speak it Fwas too Amlate
GDidn't you hear me FcaClling
GDidn't you see my Dheart leap Amlike a
GPup in the constant FbarAley
Am  C  G  F Am
GIn this life where Fdid you Amcrouch
GWhen the sky had set to bFoiCling
GBurning within Dseen from Amwithout
In your Ggut was a serpent FcoAiling
And Amfor the sake of that Cpit of snakes
For Gwhom did you allay your Dshyness
And Amspend on your mercy and Cmadness and grace
In a Gday beneath the bending FcyAmpress
F#mIt was not on Aprinciple, Dshow, pro-Cheart, that you Ghave got Fgall
F#mA mirAacle: DI can bear A Clot but Gnot that Fpall
AmI can bear a lot but Cnot that pall, Gkingfisher sound the aDlarm
Say, "DmSweet little darling, Cnow come to my arms"
Tell Gme all about the love you left Fon Gthe Amfarm"
AmHe was a kind and Churried man, with a Gheavy lip and a Dsteady hand
Dm7But he loved me just like a Clittle child, a Glittle child loves a Flittle Amlamb
GThrown to the ground by Fsomething Amdown there
GBitten by the bad air while the Fclouds Ctick
GTrying to read Dall the Amsigns
PreGparing for when the Fbombs Ahit
Am  C  G  F Am
GHung from the Dunder-Dsus2belly Amof
The Gearth while the Dstars skid Dsus2away Cbelow
GGormless and Dbrakeless, gEmravel-loose Dfalling
Dmsilent as Agavels Cin the Emsnow
AmLa la la, Cla la la la, Gla la la la la la la, Fla, Amla
F#mI lay back and Aspit in my chaw
Dwrapped in the lCong arm Gof the Flaw
F#mWho has seen it Aall
DI can bear Ca lot but Gnot that Fpall
AmI can bear a lot but Cnot that pall, GKingfisher, cast your Dfly
DmOh, lord it happens Cwithout even trying
When GI sling a low look from my FshutGtering Ameye
GBlows rain upon the Fone you Amloved
GAnd though you were only FspaCrring
There's Gblood in the eye unDlace the Amglove
Say Ghoney, I am not FsoArry
Am  C  G  F Am
GStand here and name the Fone you Amloved
GBeneath the drifting FasChes
GAnd in naDming rise Amabove
GTime as it, flashing, FpasAses
AmOooh COooh GOooh DOooh
AmOooh COooh GOooh DOooh
AmWe came by Cthe boatload aGnd were immDobilized
AmWorshipping Cvolcanoes, cGharting the Dloping skies
AmThe tides of Cthe earth left Gus bound and Dcalcified, and made us
AmObstinate as Cobsidian, Gunmoving Dsave our eyes
AmJust mooning Cand blinking, Gfrom faces Dmarked with coal
AmAsh cooling Cand shrinking, Gcracks loud as Dthunder rolling, I swear
AmI know you, Cyou know me, Gwhere have we Dmet before, tell me true
AmTo whose autChority Gdo you conDsign your soul?
AmI had a dream you Ccame to me, said, G"You shall not do me harm Danymore"
AmAnd with your knife you evictCed my life from its littGle lighthouse on the seasFhoAmre
AmAnd I saw that my blood haCd no bound, Gspreading in a circle like an Datom bomb
DmSoaking and felling everCything in its path, and Gwelling in my heart like a Fbird-Ambath
AmIt is too short Cthe day we are born Gwe commence with our Ddying
DmTrying to serve with the Cheart of a child, GKingfisher, lie with the FliAon

All chords in this song (11)

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Kingfisher

by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

Dm7

Dsus2

G F Am

Whose is the hand that I will hold

G F C

Whose is the face I will see

G D Am

Whose is the name that I will call

G F A

When I Am called to meet thee

Am C G F Am

G F Am

In this life who did you love

G F C

Beneath the drifting ashes

G D Am

Beneath the sheeting banks of air

G F A

That barrenly pour our rations

Am C G F Am

G F Am

When I could speak it was too late

G F C

Didn't you hear me calling

G D Am

Didn't you see my heart leap like a

G F A

Pup in the constant barley

Am C G F Am

G F Am

In this life where did you crouch

G F C

When the sky had set to boiling

G D Am

Burning within seen from without

G F A

In your gut was a serpent coiling

Am C

And for the sake of that pit of snakes

G D

For whom did you allay your shyness

Am C

And spend on your mercy and madness and grace

G F Am

In a day beneath the bending cypress

F#m A D C G F

It was not on principle, show, pro-heart, that you have got gall

F#m A D C G F

A miracle: I can bear A lot but not that pall

Am C G D

I can bear a lot but not that pall, kingfisher sound the alarm

Dm C

Say, "Sweet little darling, now come to my arms"

G F G Am

Tell me all about the love you left on the farm"

Am C G D

He was a kind and hurried man, with a heavy lip and a steady hand

Dm7 C G F Am

But he loved me just like a little child, a little child loves a little lamb

G F Am

Thrown to the ground by something down there

G F C

Bitten by the bad air while the clouds tick

G D Am

Trying to read all the signs

G F A

Preparing for when the bombs hit

Am C G F Am

G D Dsus2 Am

Hung from the under-belly of

G D Dsus2 C

The earth while the stars skid away below

G D Em D

Gormless and brakeless, gravel-loose falling

Dm A C Em

silent as gavels in the snow

Am C G F Am

La la la, la la la la, la la la la la la la, la, la

F#m A

I lay back and spit in my chaw

D C G F

wrapped in the long arm of the law

F#m A

Who has seen it all

D C G F

I can bear a lot but not that pall

Am C G D

I can bear a lot but not that pall, Kingfisher, cast your fly

Dm C

Oh, lord it happens without even trying

G F G Am

When I sling a low look from my shuttering eye

G F Am

Blows rain upon the one you loved

G F C

And though you were only sparring

G D Am

There's blood in the eye unlace the glove

G F A

Say honey, I am not sorry

Am C G F Am

G F Am

Stand here and name the one you loved

G F C

Beneath the drifting ashes

G D Am

And in naming rise above

G F A

Time as it, flashing, passes

Am C G D

Oooh Oooh Oooh Oooh

Am C G D

Oooh Oooh Oooh Oooh

Am C G D

We came by the boatload and were immobilized

Am C G D

Worshipping volcanoes, charting the loping skies

Am C G D

The tides of the earth left us bound and calcified, and made us

Am C G D

Obstinate as obsidian, unmoving save our eyes

Am C G D

Just mooning and blinking, from faces marked with coal

Am C G D

Ash cooling and shrinking, cracks loud as thunder rolling, I swear

Am C G D

I know you, you know me, where have we met before, tell me true

Am C G D

To whose authority do you consign your soul?

Am C G D

I had a dream you came to me, said, "You shall not do me harm anymore"

Am C G F Am

And with your knife you evicted my life from its little lighthouse on the seashore

Am C G D

And I saw that my blood had no bound, spreading in a circle like an atom bomb

Dm C G F Am

Soaking and felling everything in its path, and welling in my heart like a bird-bath

Am C G D

It is too short the day we are born we commence with our dying

Dm C G F A

Trying to serve with the heart of a child, Kingfisher, lie with the lion

About Kingfisher Chords by Joanna Newsom

Learn how to play Kingfisher by Joanna Newsom with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Kingfisher chords”, “Kingfisher guitar chords”, or “Joanna Newsom Kingfisher 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 Kingfisher chords and for experienced players who want accurate Kingfisher lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, F, Am, C, D, A.

FAQ — Kingfisher by Joanna Newsom

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What key is "Kingfisher" in?

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