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Dress Blues

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Dress Blues- Jason Isbell
Chords Used:
G:    320033
Em/G: 022033
C/G:  x32033
D:    xx0232
F#/G: 2x0033
Bm:   x24432
[Intro]
G  Em/G  G  Em/G
[Verse]
GWhat can you see from your Em/Gwindow?
GI can't see anything from Em/Gmine.
GFlags on the side of the Em/Ghighway
and C/Gscripture on grocery store Gsigns.D  
GMaybe eighteen was too Em/Gearly.
GMaybe thirty or forty is Em/Gtoo.
GDid you get your chance to make Em/Gpeace with the man
beforC/Ge he sent down his angels for you?G  D  
[Chorus]
Em/GMamas and F#/Ggrandmamas love Gyou
'causEm/Ge that's all they F#/Gknow how to Gdo.F#/G  
Em/GYou never planned on the Bmbombs in the sand
or C/Gsleeping in your dress bluesG.D  
[Instrumental]
G  Em/G  G  Em/G
[Verse]
GYour wife said this all would be Em/Gfunny
Gwhen you came back home in a Em/Gweek.
GYou'd turn twenty-two and we'd Em/Gcelebrate you
C/Gin a bar or a tent by the creeGk.D  
GYour baby would just about be Em/Ghere.
GYour very last tour would be uEm/Gp
Gbut you won't be back. They're all drEm/Gessing in black
C/Gdrinking sweet tea in styrofoam cupGs.D  
[Chorus]
Em/GMamas and F#/Ggrandmamas love Gyou
AEm/Gmerican F#/Gboys hate to GlosF#/Ge.
Em/GYou never planned on the Bmbombs in the sand
or C/Gsleeping in your dress bluesG.D  
[Instrumental]
G  Em/G  G  Em/G
[Verse]
GNow the high school gymnasium's Em/Gready,
Gfull of flowers and old legionnEm/Gaires.
GNobody showed up to proEm/Gtest,
C/Gjust sniffle and stare.G  D  
GBut there's red, white, and blue in the Em/Grafters
Gand there's silent old men from the Em/Gcorps.
GWhat did they say when they shEm/Gipped you away
C/Gto fight somebody's Hollywood warG?D  
[Outro]
Em/GNobody herF#/Ge could forget yGou.
You sEm/Ghowed us what we F#/Ghad to lose.G  F#/G  
Em/GYou never planned on the Bmbombs in the sand
or C/Gsleeping in your dress bluesG.D  
Em/GYou never planned on the Bmbombs in the sand
or C/Gsleeping in your dress bluesG. 

All chords in this song (6)

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Dress Blues

by Jason Isbell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Em/G

C/G

F#/G

Dress Blues- Jason Isbell

Chords Used:

G: 320033

Em/G: 022033

C/G: x32033

D: xx0232

F#/G: 2x0033

Bm: x24432

[Intro]

G Em/G G Em/G

[Verse]

G Em/G

What can you see from your window?

G Em/G

I can't see anything from mine.

G Em/G

Flags on the side of the highway

C/G G D

and scripture on grocery store signs.

G Em/G

Maybe eighteen was too early.

G Em/G

Maybe thirty or forty is too.

G Em/G

Did you get your chance to make peace with the man

C/G G D

before he sent down his angels for you?

[Chorus]

Em/G F#/G G

Mamas and grandmamas love you

Em/G F#/G G F#/G

'cause that's all they know how to do.

Em/G Bm

You never planned on the bombs in the sand

C/G G D

or sleeping in your dress blues.

[Instrumental]

G Em/G G Em/G

[Verse]

G Em/G

Your wife said this all would be funny

G Em/G

when you came back home in a week.

G Em/G

You'd turn twenty-two and we'd celebrate you

C/G G D

in a bar or a tent by the creek.

G Em/G

Your baby would just about be here.

G Em/G

Your very last tour would be up

G Em/G

but you won't be back. They're all dressing in black

C/G G D

drinking sweet tea in styrofoam cups.

[Chorus]

Em/G F#/G G

Mamas and grandmamas love you

Em/G F#/G G F#/G

American boys hate to lose.

Em/G Bm

You never planned on the bombs in the sand

C/G G D

or sleeping in your dress blues.

[Instrumental]

G Em/G G Em/G

[Verse]

G Em/G

Now the high school gymnasium's ready,

G Em/G

full of flowers and old legionnaires.

G Em/G

Nobody showed up to protest,

C/G G D

just sniffle and stare.

G Em/G

But there's red, white, and blue in the rafters

G Em/G

and there's silent old men from the corps.

G Em/G

What did they say when they shipped you away

C/G G D

to fight somebody's Hollywood war?

[Outro]

Em/G F#/G G

Nobody here could forget you.

Em/G F#/G G F#/G

You showed us what we had to lose.

Em/G Bm

You never planned on the bombs in the sand

C/G G D

or sleeping in your dress blues.

Em/G Bm

You never planned on the bombs in the sand

C/G G

or sleeping in your dress blues.

About Dress Blues Chords by Jason Isbell

Learn how to play Dress Blues by Jason Isbell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Dress Blues chords”, “Dress Blues guitar chords”, or “Jason Isbell Dress Blues 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 Dress Blues chords and for experienced players who want accurate Dress Blues lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Em/G, C/G, D, F#/G, Bm.

FAQ — Dress Blues by Jason Isbell

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What key is "Dress Blues" in?

The chords for "Dress Blues" show the original chord names (including G, Em/G, C/G, D, F#/G, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.