Chord John Allyn Smith Sails by Okkervil River

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? 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!