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The Poet

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Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
G
[Verse]
I was Gwallowing in squalor when a note came through the mail
From a Clight-fingered acquaintance who'd been lingering in Gjail
He had Cserved a year of sentence when the fools had set him Gfree
And he'd Dhad a good idea he said he'd like to put to Gme
[Verse]
I said Gcome on then, let's have it, there's a twinkle in his eye
He says Clet me put it this way, have you ever wondered Gwhy
The Crich have so much money when, if push should come to Gcrunch
You can Donly be in one room and only eat one Glunch
[Verse]
A Gcogent observation, but I didn't have the time
I preCsumed this exposition must be leading to a Gcrime
He said Cwait a precious moment I am trying to set the Gscene
If you Dliberate your mind my friend you'll soon see what I Gmean
[Verse]
He said Gmhave you ever wondered how a horse becomes a glue?
Or Cmhow my uncle's pencil reached a garden in PeGmru?
And Cmhave you tried valerian, the side-effects are Gmstrange
There is Gno such thing as accident, for Deverything's arGmranged
[Verse]
I said Glisten friend your time inside has clearly flipped your mind
These are Cmerely hypotheticals I haven't got the Gtime
If it's Cblackmailing on Snapchat or a hold-up count on Gme
But this Dclaptrap that you're spouting now just sounds like Gpoetry
[Verse]
Do not Gmbe so narrow-minded, my erstwhile accomplice trilled
I've had Cmlots of time for poetry it's left me rather Gmthrilled
I've been Cmreading the New York School: Frank O'Hara, Kenneth GmKoch
And they've Ggiven me more pleasure than a Dthousand dirty Gmjokes
[Break]
G  G
C  G
C  G
D  G
[Verse]
Well he's Gmpublished by Macmillan now, he got a big advance
Which he Cmspent on buying a farmhouse in a pleasant part of GmFrance
His Cmfirst book won a Pulitzer, he's up for a NoGmbel
They say you Gcan't change human nature but he's Ddoing rather Gmwell
[Outro]
G  G
C  G
C  G
D  G

All chords in this song (5)

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The Poet

by Momus

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Intro]

[Verse]

I was wallowing in squalor when a note came through the mail

C G

From a light-fingered acquaintance who'd been lingering in jail

C G

He had served a year of sentence when the fools had set him free

D G

And he'd had a good idea he said he'd like to put to me

[Verse]

I said come on then, let's have it, there's a twinkle in his eye

C G

He says let me put it this way, have you ever wondered why

C G

The rich have so much money when, if push should come to crunch

D G

You can only be in one room and only eat one lunch

[Verse]

A cogent observation, but I didn't have the time

C G

I presumed this exposition must be leading to a crime

C G

He said wait a precious moment I am trying to set the scene

D G

If you liberate your mind my friend you'll soon see what I mean

[Verse]

He said have you ever wondered how a horse becomes a glue?

Cm Gm

Or how my uncle's pencil reached a garden in Peru?

Cm Gm

And have you tried valerian, the side-effects are strange

G D Gm

There is no such thing as accident, for everything's arranged

[Verse]

I said listen friend your time inside has clearly flipped your mind

C G

These are merely hypotheticals I haven't got the time

C G

If it's blackmailing on Snapchat or a hold-up count on me

D G

But this claptrap that you're spouting now just sounds like poetry

[Verse]

Do not be so narrow-minded, my erstwhile accomplice trilled

Cm Gm

I've had lots of time for poetry it's left me rather thrilled

Cm Gm

I've been reading the New York School: Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch

G D Gm

And they've given me more pleasure than a thousand dirty jokes

[Break]

G G

C G

D G

[Verse]

Well he's published by Macmillan now, he got a big advance

Cm Gm

Which he spent on buying a farmhouse in a pleasant part of France

Cm Gm

His first book won a Pulitzer, he's up for a Nobel

G D Gm

They say you can't change human nature but he's doing rather well

[Outro]

G G

C G

D G

About The Poet Chords by Momus

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

FAQ — The Poet by Momus

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Is "The Poet" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "The Poet" in?

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