The Only Thing Chords

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Difficulty:	absolute beginner
Tuning:	E A D G B E
Capo:	8th fret

Author blackpaddy [pro] 85.

2 contributors total, last edit on Feb 26, 2020

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[Intro]
 
C  G  Am  C D
Am G  Am  C D
 
 
[Verse]
 
C          G           Am            G            D
The only thing that keeps me from driving this car
Em          G        Am        C         D
Half-light Jackknife into the canyon at night
C          G        Am       G             D
Signs and Wonders: Perseus aligned with the skull
Em      G      Am        C              D
Slain Medusa: Pegasus alight from us all
 
 
[Chorus]
 
    Em         G             C                           D
Do I care if I survive this? Bury the dead where they're found
     Em            G          C                          D
In a veil of great surprises, I wonder did you love me at all
 
 
[Verse]
 
C        G            Am             G          D
The only thing that keeps me from cutting my arm
Em         G        Am       C              D
Cross-hatch warm bath Holiday Inn after dark
C          G       Am         G           D
Signs and Wonders: water stain writing the wall
Em       G       Am          C                D
Daniel's message: blood of the moon on us all
 
 
[Chorus]
 
       Em       G           C                        D
Do I care if I despise this? Nothing else matters, I know.
       Em           G        C                        D
In a veil of great disguises, how do I live with your ghost?
 
 
[Verse]
 
          Em                      D
Should I tear my eyes out now?
   Em        C   G                D
Everything I see returns to you somehow.
           Em                     D
Should I tear my heart out now?
     Em      C   G                  D
Everything I feel returns to you somehow. mmmm
          C                   D
I want to save you from your sorrow.
 
 
[Interlude]
 
C  G  Am  G D
Em  G  C  D
 
 
[Verse]
 
C        G      Am      G         D
The only reason why I continue at all
Em     G        Am         C                D
Faith in reason, I wasted my life playing dumb.
C         G        Am       G           D
Signs and Wonders: Sea Lion caves in the dark.
Em          G         Am       C                   DE
Blind faith, God's grace, nothing else left to impart.
 
 
[Chorus]
 
    Em        G              C                          D
Do I care if I survive this? Bury the dead where they're found.
     Em             G        C                        D
In a veil of great surprises, hold onto my head til I drown.
 
         Em           G  C                      D
Should I tear my eyes out now before I see too much?
        Em           G   C                         D
Should I tear my arms off now, I want to feel your touch.
 
 
        Em                      D
Should I tear my eyes out now?
     Em      C  G                  D
Everything I see returns to you somehow.
         Em                     D
Should I tear my heart out now?
     Em      C   G                  D
Everything I feel returns to you somehow.
 
 
[Outro]
 
C  G  Am  G D
Em  G  C  D  C  G
X

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The Only Thing – Sufjan Stevens

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"The Only Thing"

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8 comments

does anyone know the plucking pattern?

If it doesn't get corrected the Am on line 4, starting "Slain Medusa" should be Em. Clearly an oversight of the person who amended this but there you go.

Who corrected this? Because now it's wrong.