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Hymn For Sylvia

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[Intro]
D    Em    F#m  Em  D
[Verse 1]
The Dman was trying to Emtalk to me
about F#mthings I did not Emknow
He Dasked me to spend the Emnight with him,
so I F#msaid that I'd have to Ago
For the Dwords spilled out
from the F#7edge of his lips
and Gfell down the side of his Dchin
as my Dmind moved away for a Emshort holiday
with a Ggirl I had seen coming Din
[Verse 2]
In her Dhair, you could smell the Emdiesel fumes
of a F#mmidnight motorEmway
In her Deyes, she keeps the Emsummer times
where F#mhappier memories Aplay
Yes, you Dknow how sometimes,
when you're F#7making up rhymes
and you Gcan't find a word that will Dfit?
Well, Dshe was the one who got Emstuck on your tongue
and Ggave you the option to Dquit
[Interlude]
D    Em    F#m  Em  D
[Verse 3]
She Dsplit the night time Emwith her smile
and F#mbroke up the sky with her Emdreams
and she Ddoesn't believe all the Emmen she has known
were all F#mreal, for that's how it Aseems
In her Dleather shines the F#7darkness
of the Gmetropolitan Dnight
And she'll Dcut out your tongue
with each Emblade that she pulls
though your Gconscience may put up a Dfight
[Verse 4]
So I Dwatched her fumble with cEmigarettes
and a F#mtrembling coffee Emcup
Yet, I'd Dbe there myself if I Emknew where she was,
but she F#msighed and her mind drifted Aoff
Yes, you Dknow how sometimes
when you're F#7watching for signs
and you Gcan't find a look that will Dfit?
Well, Dshe was the one who Emput out the sun
and Ggave me a reason to Dquit
[Interlude]
D    Em    F#m  Em  D
[Verse 5]
DPanes of glass have Emshattered now
and the F#mwind comes racing Emin
to Ddisconnect the Emspiders' webs
that F#mspread their wings round the Abrim
of the Dpots and the bottles
that F#7soak in the dust
with a Gjungle of clothes that she Dkeeps
In case, Dmaybe some day
she Emfeels that she may
become Gqueen of the night as she Dsleeps
[Verse 6]
A Dtrail of broken Emeffigies
lay F#mscattered 'round her Embed
The Dapples, the records, the Emcigarette ash
have F#mmelted into her Ahead
And she Dtakes off her clothes to a F#7Portuguese hymn
that she Gfound in a jar on the Dbeach
She has Dwoven it seems a Embasket of dreams
for the Gfruit that is just out of Dreach
[Interlude]
D    Em    F#m  Em  D
[Verse 7]
At Dlast, she has tasted the Emopium sleep
and F#mwonders just how it will Emfeel
when the Dfingers of fear touch her Eminnermost soul
and the F#mbreath of life becomes Areal
Well, you Dknow how sometimes
you're aF#7lone in your mind
and you've Gjust found a piece that will Dfit?
Well, Dshe was the one
when Emall's said and done
who Ggave me the freedom to Dquit
[Verse 8]
The Dman was still trying to Emtalk to me
about F#mthings I did not Emknow
He Dasked me to enter a Emcontract with him
so I F#msaid that I'd have to Ago
For the Dwords spilled out
from the F#7edge of his mouth
and Gfell down the side of his Dface
but my Dmind was away
on a Emshort holiday
with a Ggirl I'd seen leaving the Dplace
[Outro]
D    Em    F#m  Em  D

All chords in this song (6)

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Hymn For Sylvia

by Bread, Love and Dreams

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

F#m

F#7

[Intro]

D Em F#m Em D

[Verse 1]

D Em

The man was trying to talk to me

F#m Em

about things I did not know

D Em

He asked me to spend the night with him,

F#m A

so I said that I'd have to go

For the words spilled out

F#7

from the edge of his lips

G D

and fell down the side of his chin

D Em

as my mind moved away for a short holiday

G D

with a girl I had seen coming in

[Verse 2]

D Em

In her hair, you could smell the diesel fumes

F#m Em

of a midnight motorway

D Em

In her eyes, she keeps the summer times

F#m A

where happier memories play

Yes, you know how sometimes,

F#7

when you're making up rhymes

G D

and you can't find a word that will fit?

D Em

Well, she was the one who got stuck on your tongue

G D

and gave you the option to quit

[Interlude]

D Em F#m Em D

[Verse 3]

D Em

She split the night time with her smile

F#m Em

and broke up the sky with her dreams

D Em

and she doesn't believe all the men she has known

F#m A

were all real, for that's how it seems

D F#7

In her leather shines the darkness

G D

of the metropolitan night

And she'll cut out your tongue

with each blade that she pulls

G D

though your conscience may put up a fight

[Verse 4]

D Em

So I watched her fumble with cigarettes

F#m Em

and a trembling coffee cup

D Em

Yet, I'd be there myself if I knew where she was,

F#m A

but she sighed and her mind drifted off

Yes, you know how sometimes

F#7

when you're watching for signs

G D

and you can't find a look that will fit?

D Em

Well, she was the one who put out the sun

G D

and gave me a reason to quit

[Interlude]

D Em F#m Em D

[Verse 5]

D Em

Panes of glass have shattered now

F#m Em

and the wind comes racing in

D Em

to disconnect the spiders' webs

F#m A

that spread their wings round the brim

of the pots and the bottles

F#7

that soak in the dust

G D

with a jungle of clothes that she keeps

In case, maybe some day

she feels that she may

G D

become queen of the night as she sleeps

[Verse 6]

D Em

A trail of broken effigies

F#m Em

lay scattered 'round her bed

D Em

The apples, the records, the cigarette ash

F#m A

have melted into her head

D F#7

And she takes off her clothes to a Portuguese hymn

G D

that she found in a jar on the beach

D Em

She has woven it seems a basket of dreams

G D

for the fruit that is just out of reach

[Interlude]

D Em F#m Em D

[Verse 7]

D Em

At last, she has tasted the opium sleep

F#m Em

and wonders just how it will feel

D Em

when the fingers of fear touch her innermost soul

F#m A

and the breath of life becomes real

Well, you know how sometimes

F#7

you're alone in your mind

G D

and you've just found a piece that will fit?

Well, she was the one

when all's said and done

G D

who gave me the freedom to quit

[Verse 8]

D Em

The man was still trying to talk to me

F#m Em

about things I did not know

D Em

He asked me to enter a contract with him

F#m A

so I said that I'd have to go

For the words spilled out

F#7

from the edge of his mouth

G D

and fell down the side of his face

but my mind was away

on a short holiday

G D

with a girl I'd seen leaving the place

[Outro]

D Em F#m Em D

About Hymn For Sylvia Chords by Bread, Love and Dreams

Learn how to play Hymn For Sylvia by Bread, Love and Dreams with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Hymn For Sylvia chords”, “Hymn For Sylvia guitar chords”, or “Bread, Love and Dreams Hymn For Sylvia 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 Hymn For Sylvia chords and for experienced players who want accurate Hymn For Sylvia lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Em, F#m, A, F#7, G.

FAQ — Hymn For Sylvia by Bread, Love and Dreams

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What key is "Hymn For Sylvia" in?

The chords for "Hymn For Sylvia" show the original chord names (including D, Em, F#m, A, F#7, G). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.