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1988

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Amajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/36

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 36Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

1988
Capo 2
RIFF 1 (built on A chord):
e|-A0---------------------------F#m-2---------------|
B|-2----------------------------2---------------|
G|-2--4p2-----------------------2---------------|
D|-2-------4p2------------------4---------------|
A|-0-----------4p0-0-4-4-2-4-0--4---------------|
E|-x----------------------------2--0h2-0h2------|
e|-A0----------------------------F#m-2--------------|
B|-2-----------------------------2--------------|
G|-2--4p2------------------------2--------------|
D|-2-------4p2-------------------4--------------|
A|-0------------4p0-0-4-4-2-4-0--4--------------|
E|-x-----------------------------2--0h2-0h2-----|
INTRO
 A(RIFF 1)   F#m  E  
VERSE
AThere are four whole people in this house
AAnd I'm F#mthe last one awake again
AAnd tomorrow we'll be biting nails
AAnd bitiEng tongues to higher stakes again
DAnd I'm thinking if I just don't sleep
AThe morning won't sneak up on me
DAs just Eanother yesterday again
CHORUS
DBut I waEs brilliant for just one day
AIn 1988F#m  
DI didn't have to talk, I didn't have to think
EThey flushed my sins right down a sink
ATen fingF#mers and ten toes, and you're okay
F#mI think Ethat's what they say
EWell how about today?
A (RIFF 1) F#m
VERSE
I think the world has got my number
Oh my God, there's digits in my eyes
I think that I've been dancing 'round
The brightest rooms in a cellophane disguise
Everybody still remembers
Things that I said last September
Oh, but worst of all, so do I
CHORUS
But I was a stranger for just one day
Born with the cleanest slate
My mother loved me before she knew me
Gave me a name that didn't suit me
But hey that's okay
I've kept it anyway
What if I threw it away?
VERSE
And to me God's just a metaphor
A metaphor for everything that's strange
I take his name in vain a lot
But I'm not sure just what that means these days
Sometimes I wish that I were still religious
Along with a lot of other wishes
But I don't think that God would know my name
CHORUS
But I was forgiven for just one day
When I still knew how to pray
And all the words were etched in gold
On the little Bible that I stole
From my teacher in second grade
The one I didn't mean to take
Oh what would Jesus say?
CHORUS
DThings wEere perfect for a time
F#mIn 1999A  
DI was eleven years old, and we drove south
EYeah, down to my grandfather's house
AAnd everF#mything was fine
F#mIt was rEight before he died
EWe were all so goddamn fine
A (RIFF 1) F#m
EWe were all so goddamn fine.
A (RIFF 1) A

All chords in this song (4)

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1988

by Lauren O'Connell

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

1988

Capo 2

RIFF 1 (built on A chord):

A F#m

e|-0----------------------------2---------------|

B|-2----------------------------2---------------|

G|-2--4p2-----------------------2---------------|

D|-2-------4p2------------------4---------------|

A|-0-----------4p0-0-4-4-2-4-0--4---------------|

E|-x----------------------------2--0h2-0h2------|

A F#m

e|-0-----------------------------2--------------|

B|-2-----------------------------2--------------|

G|-2--4p2------------------------2--------------|

D|-2-------4p2-------------------4--------------|

A|-0------------4p0-0-4-4-2-4-0--4--------------|

E|-x-----------------------------2--0h2-0h2-----|

INTRO

A F#m E

(RIFF 1)

VERSE

There are four whole people in this house

A F#m

And I'm the last one awake again

And tomorrow we'll be biting nails

A E

And biting tongues to higher stakes again

And I'm thinking if I just don't sleep

The morning won't sneak up on me

D E

As just another yesterday again

CHORUS

D E

But I was brilliant for just one day

A F#m

In 1988

I didn't have to talk, I didn't have to think

They flushed my sins right down a sink

A F#m

Ten fingers and ten toes, and you're okay

F#m E

I think that's what they say

Well how about today?

A (RIFF 1) F#m

VERSE

I think the world has got my number

Oh my God, there's digits in my eyes

I think that I've been dancing 'round

The brightest rooms in a cellophane disguise

Everybody still remembers

Things that I said last September

Oh, but worst of all, so do I

CHORUS

But I was a stranger for just one day

Born with the cleanest slate

My mother loved me before she knew me

Gave me a name that didn't suit me

But hey that's okay

I've kept it anyway

What if I threw it away?

VERSE

And to me God's just a metaphor

A metaphor for everything that's strange

I take his name in vain a lot

But I'm not sure just what that means these days

Sometimes I wish that I were still religious

Along with a lot of other wishes

But I don't think that God would know my name

CHORUS

But I was forgiven for just one day

When I still knew how to pray

And all the words were etched in gold

On the little Bible that I stole

From my teacher in second grade

The one I didn't mean to take

Oh what would Jesus say?

CHORUS

D E

Things were perfect for a time

F#m A

In 1999

I was eleven years old, and we drove south

Yeah, down to my grandfather's house

A F#m

And everything was fine

F#m E

It was right before he died

We were all so goddamn fine

A (RIFF 1) F#m

We were all so goddamn fine.

A (RIFF 1) A

About 1988 Chords by Lauren O'Connell

Learn how to play 1988 by Lauren O'Connell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “1988 chords”, “1988 guitar chords”, or “Lauren O'Connell 1988 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 1988 chords and for experienced players who want accurate 1988 lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, F#m, B, G, D, E.

FAQ — 1988 by Lauren O'Connell

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Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "1988" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "1988"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "1988" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "1988" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "1988" in?

The chords for "1988" show the original chord names (including A, F#m, B, G, D, E). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.