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Blackout Sam
Chords
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1/13
Sound:
Step 1 / 13Position: 2
1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO open
The piano doesn't translate that well to guitar. This is how I play the first line of the song, to give a
general idea.
Am/b C/e G Gsus4/D G Gsus4/D
e|-----------0---|-7----------------------------|----7-----------------------------3-----|
B|-------1-------|-8--------------------------3-|----8-------------------------3------3--|
G|-2-----0-------|-0--------------------------5-|----0-------------------------5---------|
D|-2-----2---2---|----------------------------0-|------------------------------0---------|
A|-0--2--3-------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
That winter we were dealing with unrest in the interior
e|-C------------------Bm-----------------------Am----|
B|-5-----------------3----------------------1---|
G|-5-----------------4----------------------2---|
D|-5-----------------4----------------------2---|
A|-3-----------------2----------------------0---|
E|----------------------------------------------|
Careful when they mention local legends
==============================================================================================================
[Chords]
Gsus4/D: xx0533
[Verse 1]
Am/b C/e G Gsus4/D G Gsus4/D
That winter we were dealing with unrest in the interior
C Bm Am/b C/e
Careful when they mention local legends
He was Gdown there in the trenchesGsus4/D, Gshe was holding down home officeGsus4/D
CStill in Bmconstant correspAmondence
Bm CBlackout Sam has got BmcredentEmials
He keeps Cflashing them his Dlaminate
He keeps C/Escratching at his D/F#neck
[Verse 2]
The Ggeneral made a gesture of contritionGsus4/D
CLaw of Bmaverages says somAmething's gotta giveBm
We were Gstuck up in survival mode, you were twisting on the teGsus4/Dlephone
Giving Cblanket dBmenials to that Amone persistent kid
Bm CBlackout Sam don't have the BmanswEmer
He keeps Amwaking up in pBmarking ramps
He can Cnever find his Dkeys
[Break]
G Cmaj7
G Cmaj7
G Cmaj7
[Chorus 1]
Now Ampromise me you won't fBmorget
The Cnights that haven't Dhappened yetG
Cmaj7Separate the smoke from all the cGinders
Cmaj7Put another sticker on the Gvan
Cmaj7Carpet at the party house
AmTear it up and tBmake it out
C DN.C.
Somebody should check on Blackout Sam
[Verse 3]
While we Gstood there at the service with her hand up on my shoulderGsus4/D
CWe could feel like Bmevery single thingAm Bm
GPush the pill right through the foil, check the engine, Gsus4/Dchange the oil
CSpent the summer Bmwishing it was springAm
BmThey Csent another man to sing the BmantheEmm
But the Ammonitor malfunctionBmed
And he Ccouldn't find the Dkey
[Chorus 2]
G Cmaj7I always try to take it so much furtherG
Cmaj7Spinning like a sparrow through the Gspire
Cmaj7Ingesting every offering
AmTry to make it interesBmting
CCut up and consDumed what we desiredG
Cmaj7Take a little comfort, it's just Gthunder
Cmaj7Put another sticker on the Gvan
Cmaj7Now that it's a haunted house
AmBreak the lease and Bmempty out
CSomebody should Dcheck on Blackout AmSamBm
CSomebody should Dcheck on Blackout EmSamD/F# G Am
[Solo]
G Em D G
G Em D G
[Coda]
GDropped out of school but he Emstill went to church
DHe was a friend of mine and I Ghope it didn't hurt
GCried when he died but tonEmight it felt worse
DSnuff out your smoke and pour your Gdrink in the dirt
GLocal legends with the Emfaraway eyes
DI wanna make you feel protGected and high
GIf you're in the city while Emyou're still alive
DI wanna make you feel proteGcted and high
N.C.
Local legends with the faraway eyes
N.C.
I wanna make you feel protected and high
All chords in this song (10)
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Blackout Sam
by The Hold Steady
Chords in this song · guitar
Am
C
G
Gsus4/D
Bm
Em
D
C/E
D/F#
Cmaj7
The piano doesn't translate that well to guitar. This is how I play the first line of the song, to give a
general idea.
Am C G Gsus4/D G Gsus4/D
/b /e
e|-----------0---|-7----------------------------|----7-----------------------------3-----|
B|-------1-------|-8--------------------------3-|----8-------------------------3------3--|
G|-2-----0-------|-0--------------------------5-|----0-------------------------5---------|
D|-2-----2---2---|----------------------------0-|------------------------------0---------|
A|-0--2--3-------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E|---------------|------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
That winter we were dealing with unrest in the interior
C Bm Am
e|----------------------------------------------|
B|-5-----------------3----------------------1---|
G|-5-----------------4----------------------2---|
D|-5-----------------4----------------------2---|
A|-3-----------------2----------------------0---|
E|----------------------------------------------|
Careful when they mention local legends
==============================================================================================================
[Chords]
Gsus4/D: xx0533
[Verse 1]
Am C G Gsus4/D G Gsus4/D
/b /e
That winter we were dealing with unrest in the interior
C Bm Am C
/b /e
Careful when they mention local legends
G Gsus4/D G Gsus4/D
He was down there in the trenches, she was holding down home office
C Bm Am
Still in constant correspondence
Bm C Bm Em
Blackout Sam has got credentials
C D
He keeps flashing them his laminate
C/E D/F#
He keeps scratching at his neck
[Verse 2]
G Gsus4/D
The general made a gesture of contrition
C Bm Am Bm
Law of averages says something's gotta give
G Gsus4/D
We were stuck up in survival mode, you were twisting on the telephone
C Bm Am
Giving blanket denials to that one persistent kid
Bm C Bm Em
Blackout Sam don't have the answer
Am Bm
He keeps waking up in parking ramps
C D
He can never find his keys
[Break]
G Cmaj7
G Cmaj7
G Cmaj7
[Chorus 1]
Am Bm
Now promise me you won't forget
C D G
The nights that haven't happened yet
Cmaj7 G
Separate the smoke from all the cinders
Cmaj7 G
Put another sticker on the van
Cmaj7
Carpet at the party house
Am Bm
Tear it up and take it out
C D
N.C.
Somebody should check on Blackout Sam
[Verse 3]
G Gsus4/D
While we stood there at the service with her hand up on my shoulder
C Bm Am Bm
We could feel like every single thing
G Gsus4/D
Push the pill right through the foil, check the engine, change the oil
C Bm Am
Spent the summer wishing it was spring
Bm C Bm Em
They sent another man to sing the anthem
Am Bm
But the monitor malfunctioned
C D
And he couldn't find the key
[Chorus 2]
G Cmaj7 G
I always try to take it so much further
Cmaj7 G
Spinning like a sparrow through the spire
Cmaj7
Ingesting every offering
Am Bm
Try to make it interesting
C D G
Cut up and consumed what we desired
Cmaj7 G
Take a little comfort, it's just thunder
Cmaj7 G
Put another sticker on the van
Cmaj7
Now that it's a haunted house
Am Bm
Break the lease and empty out
C D Am Bm
Somebody should check on Blackout Sam
C D Em D/F# G Am
Somebody should check on Blackout Sam
[Solo]
G Em D G
G Em D G
[Coda]
G Em
Dropped out of school but he still went to church
D G
He was a friend of mine and I hope it didn't hurt
G Em
Cried when he died but tonight it felt worse
D G
Snuff out your smoke and pour your drink in the dirt
G Em
Local legends with the faraway eyes
D G
I wanna make you feel protected and high
G Em
If you're in the city while you're still alive
D G
I wanna make you feel protected and high
N.C.
Local legends with the faraway eyes
N.C.
I wanna make you feel protected and high
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About Blackout Sam Chords by The Hold Steady
Learn how to play Blackout Sam by The Hold Steady with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Blackout Sam chords”, “Blackout Sam guitar chords”, or “The Hold Steady Blackout Sam 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 Blackout Sam chords and for experienced players who want accurate Blackout Sam lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Am, C, G, Gsus4/D, B, D.
FAQ — Blackout Sam by The Hold Steady
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What key is "Blackout Sam" in?
The chords for "Blackout Sam" show the original chord names (including Am, C, G, Gsus4/D, B, D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.