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Backwater

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Emixolydian

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
E   E7 E   A E
[Verse 1]
EBackwater
We're E7saiEling at the Aedges of Etime
EBackwater
We're E7drifEting at the AwaterEline
[Chorus 1]
Oh we're Dfloating in the Acoastal waters
DYou and me and the Aporter's daughters
G#mOoh what to Edo not a G#msausage to Edo
And the Dshorter of the Aporter's daughters
DDips her hand in the Adeadly waters
G#mOoh what to Edo in a G#mtiny Ecanoe
[Verse 2]
EBlack water
There were E7six of Eus but now Awe are Efive
EWe're all talking
To keep the E7conEverAsation aElive
[Chorus 2]
There was a Dsenator from EAcuador
Who Dtalked about a Ameteor
That G#mcrashed on a Ehill in the G#msouth of EPeru
And Dwas found by a conAquistador
Who Dtook it to the Aemperor
And G#mhe passed it Eon to a G#mTurkish Eguru
[Verse 3]
EHis daughter
Was slaE7ted Efor beAcoming Edivine
EHe taught her
He taught E7her Ehow to Asplit and dEefine
[Chorus 3]
But if you Dstudy the loAgistics
And heurDistics of the Amystics
You G#mwill find that Etheir minds rarely G#mmove in a lEine
So it's Dmuch more reaAlistic
To aDbandon such Aballistics
And G#mresign to be tErapped on a G#mleaf in the Evine
[Instrumental]
E   E7 E   E7 E  A E
E   E7 E   E7 E  A E
D    A  D   A
G#m  E  G#m E
D    A  D   A
G#m  E  G#m E
[Verse 4]
EBackwater
We're E7saiEling at the Aedges of Etime
EBackwater
We're E7drifEting at the AwaterEline
[Chorus 4]
Oh we're Dfloating in the Acoastal waters
DYou and me and the Aporter's daughters
G#mOoh what to Edo not a G#msausage to Edo
And the Dshorter of the Aporter's daughters
DDips her hand in the Adeadly waters
G#mOoh what to Edo in a G#mtiny Ecanoe
[Outro]
E   E7 E   E7 E  A E
E   E7 E   E7 E  A E
D    A  D   A
G#m  E  G#m E
D    A  D   A
G#m  E  G#m E
E   E7 E   E7 E  A E
E   E7 E   E7 E  A E
D    A  D   A
G#m  E  G#m E
D    A  D   A
G#m  E  G#m E

All chords in this song (5)

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Backwater

by Brian Eno

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

G#m

[Intro]

E E7 E A E

[Verse 1]

Backwater

E7 E A E

We're sailing at the edges of time

Backwater

E7 E A E

We're drifting at the waterline

[Chorus 1]

D A

Oh we're floating in the coastal waters

D A

You and me and the porter's daughters

G#m E G#m E

Ooh what to do not a sausage to do

D A

And the shorter of the porter's daughters

D A

Dips her hand in the deadly waters

G#m E G#m E

Ooh what to do in a tiny canoe

[Verse 2]

Black water

E7 E A E

There were six of us but now we are five

We're all talking

E7 E A E

To keep the conversation alive

[Chorus 2]

D A

There was a senator from Ecuador

D A

Who talked about a meteor

G#m E G#m E

That crashed on a hill in the south of Peru

D A

And was found by a conquistador

D A

Who took it to the emperor

G#m E G#m E

And he passed it on to a Turkish guru

[Verse 3]

His daughter

E7 E A E

Was slated for becoming divine

He taught her

E7 E A E

He taught her how to split and define

[Chorus 3]

D A

But if you study the logistics

D A

And heuristics of the mystics

G#m E G#m E

You will find that their minds rarely move in a line

D A

So it's much more realistic

D A

To abandon such ballistics

G#m E G#m E

And resign to be trapped on a leaf in the vine

[Instrumental]

E E7 E E7 E A E

D A D A

G#m E G#m E

D A D A

G#m E G#m E

[Verse 4]

Backwater

E7 E A E

We're sailing at the edges of time

Backwater

E7 E A E

We're drifting at the waterline

[Chorus 4]

D A

Oh we're floating in the coastal waters

D A

You and me and the porter's daughters

G#m E G#m E

Ooh what to do not a sausage to do

D A

And the shorter of the porter's daughters

D A

Dips her hand in the deadly waters

G#m E G#m E

Ooh what to do in a tiny canoe

[Outro]

E E7 E E7 E A E

D A D A

G#m E G#m E

D A D A

G#m E G#m E

E E7 E E7 E A E

D A D A

G#m E G#m E

D A D A

G#m E G#m E

About Backwater Chords by Brian Eno

Learn how to play Backwater by Brian Eno with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Backwater chords”, “Backwater guitar chords”, or “Brian Eno Backwater 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 Backwater chords and for experienced players who want accurate Backwater lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include E, E7, A, D, G#m.

FAQ — Backwater by Brian Eno

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What key is "Backwater" in?

The chords for "Backwater" show the original chord names (including E, E7, A, D, G#m). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.