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Tuning:
I suspect Sufjan plays this song on the ukulele, so another tuning might simplify this song. I only play
guitar, so I tabbed it out using a nylon string guitar. A lot of the inversions used are quite specific,
therefore I tabbed out the right grips to use for this song. In some parts of the song there are some subtle
patterns that can be learnt better if I tabbed them out too.
Chords and patterns for the verses:
E F# B/D# B/F# A G#m E/B B F#/A# C#7sus4 E/G#
e|-4----6--------------9----7--------------------------------------|
B|-5----7----7----7----10---9--------------7-----7-------5---------|
G|-4----6----8----8----9----8----9----8----6-----4-------4---------|
D|-2----4----9----9----7----6----9----9----8-----4-------2---------|
A|-----------6----9--------------11---9----------4-----------------|
E|-------------------------------7----7----6-------------4---------|
Pattern 1: Badd9/D# B/D#
Badd9/D# B/D#
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|------6----8--------------|
D|--------9-------9---------|
A|---6---------------6------|
E|--------------------------|
Pattern 2: [B E/B B]
B E/B B
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|----------4-----4h5--4----|
D|--------4---4---4-4--4----|
A|------4---------4h6--4----|
E|---7------------7-7--7----|
Chords and patterns for the bridge:
B F#/A# Gm F# E B/D# F#/C# E/G#
e|-11----9-----7----6----4----------6------------------------------------------|
B|-12----11----9----7----5----7-----7----5-------------------------------------|
G|-11----11----8----6----4----8-----6----4-------------------------------------|
D|-9-----8-----6----4----2----9-----4----2-------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------6-----4------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------4-------------------------------------|
Pattern 1: [B E/B B]
B E/B B
e|--------------------------|
B|--------------------------|
G|----------4-----4h5--4----|
D|--------4---4---4-4--4----|
A|------4---------4h6--4----|
E|---7------------7-7--7----|
VERSE 1
E Light stF#ruck from the B/D#lemon treeB/F#
A G#m F# E [B E/B B]
What if I’d never seen hysterical light from Eugene?
E/B Lemon yBoghurF#/A#t, remember I pulled at your shirt C#7sus4
I dropped the ashtray on the flE/G#oor
[B E/B B]
I just wanted to be near you
VERSE 2
E Emerald PF#ark, wonders nB/D#ever cease B/F#
A G#m F# E [B E/B B]
The man who taught me to swim, he couldn't quite say my first name
E/B Like a FBather he F#/A#led community water on my head C#7sus4
And he called me “SubaE/G#ru”
[B E/B B]
And now I want to be near you
BRIDGE
B SincF#/A#e I was G#mold enF#ough to spEeak I've B/D#said it with alF#/C#arm
B Some F#/A#part ofG#m me was lF#ost in your slEeeve
Where you B/D#hid your cigaF#/C#rettes
No I’ll never forE/G#get
[B E/B B]
I just want to be near you
VERSE 3
E Still I pF#ray to what I cB/D#annot see B/F#
A G#m F# E [B E/B B]
In the sprinkler I mark the evidence known from the start
E/B From the bBed near your F#/A#death, and all the machines that made a mess C#7sus4
Far away the falcoE/G#n flew
[B E/B B]
Now I want to be near you
VERSE 4
E What’s lF#eft is only bB/D#ittersweet B/F#
A G#m F# E [B E/B B]
For the rest of my life, admitting the best is behind me
E/B Now I’m drBunk and aF#/A#fraid, wishing the world would go away C#7sus4
What’s the point of singing sE/G#ongs
If they’ll never even hBear you? E/B B
Enjoy!