This is all my original work. It was transcribed both by ear
and by examining live performances of Will Sheff and his band
playing this song, so naturally it is consistent with what he
plays live. This is a fantastic song despite the dark subject
matter and I hope all of you enjoy playing and singing this song!
At the beginning I've drawn up a general outline of the chord
progressions for each part, to ease memorization. This song can
get a little convoluted given Will Sheff's writing style, but
I've tried to minimize that as much as possible. To do this, I
have attempted to label the parts as verses, choruses, etc.
but don't hold it against me if those aren't the correct names
of the parts, this song is a little unconventional in that it's
hard to determine the parts of it.
IMPORTANT: Capo at 2nd fret
Tuning: Standard
Verses:
D A Bm G A D
Ending of each verse:
Em
Bridge:
Bm G A
Ending of 3rd bridge:
Em F# G A
Pre-chorus and chorus:
D G D G
D G D G
D G D A
D G D G
D A D
Intro:
e|--------------------|
B|--------------------|
G|--------------------|
D|--------------0-----|
A|--0--2--4--0--------|
E|--------------------|
Verse 1:
D A
By the second verse, dear friends
Bm G
My head will burst, my life will end
A
So, I'd like to start this one off by saying
D
"Live and love"
D A
I was young and at home in bed
Bm G
And I was hanging on the words some poem said
A
In '31
D
I was impressionable
Em
I was upsettable
Bridge:
Bm G A
I tried to make my breathing stop, my heart beat slow
Bm G A
So, when my mom and John came in, I would be cold
Verse 2:
D A
From a bridge on Washington Avenue,
Bm G
The year of 1972
A
Broke my bones and skull,
D
and it was memorable
D A
It was half a second in; I was halfway down-
Bm G
Do you think I wanted to turn back around
A
and teach a class
D
Where you kiss the ass
Em
that I've exposed to you?
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/o/okkervil_river/john_allyn_smith_sails_crd.html ]
Bridge:
Bm G A
And at the funeral, the University
Bm G A
Cried at three poems they'd present in place of a broken me
Verse 3:
D A
I was breaking in a case of suds
Bm G
At the Brass Rail, a fall-down drunk
A
with his tongue torn out
D
and his balls removed
D A
And I knew that my last lines were gone,
Bm G
while stupidly I lingered on,
A
Oh, but wise men know
D
when it's time to go
Em
And so I should, too
Bridge:
Bm G A
And so I fly into the brightest winter sun
Bm G A
Of this frozen town. I'm stripped down to move on,
Em F# G A
my friends: I'm gone
Pre-chorus and Chorus:
D G D G
Well, I hear my father fall
D G D G
And I hear my mother call
D G D A
And I hear the others all whisper "Come home"
D G D
I'm sorry to go
D G
I loved you all so
D A D G D
But this is the worst trip I've ever been on
D G D G
So, hoist up the John B. sail
D G D G
See how the main sail sets
D G D A
I'm full in my heart and my head and I wanna go home
D G D
With a book in each hand
D G
In the way I had planned
D A D
Well, this is the worst trip I've ever been on
D G D G
So, hoist up the John B. sail
D G D G
See how the main sail sets
D G D A
I'm full in my heart and my head and I wanna go home
D G D
With a book in each hand
D G
In the way I had planned
D A D
I feel so broke up, I wanna go home.
That's it, enjoy!
