New Slang

Words & Music:

James Mercer (The Shins)

 

This is transcribed in the July 2008 issue of Acoustic Guitar.

 

Am               C              F         C         G

Gold teeth and a curse for this town were all in my mouth.

     C            F            Am   G

Only I don't know how they got out, dear.

Am           C        F     C           G

Turn me back into the pet I was when we met.

      C       F            Am   G

I was happier then with no mindset

 

CHORUS:

               G       C         F    C            G

And if you'd a-took to me like a gull takes to the wind,

                        C

Well, I'd a-jumped from my tree.

    F     C               F           C

And I'd a-danced like the king of the eyesores,

        F           C              G

And the rest of our lives would've fared well.

 

New slang when you notice the stripes, the dirt in your fries.

Hope it's right when you die old and bony.

Dawn breaks like a bull through the hall; never should've called.

But my heads to the wall and I'm lonely.

 

CHORUS:

 

INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE:

F  C | F  C  G | C  G  C | F  |  F  C | F  C  G   | C  Am  G | C

 

God speed all the bakers at dawn.

May they all cut their thumbs & bleed into their buns 'til they melt away.

 

Chorus 2:

            G         C                    F      C        G

I'm looking in on the good life I might be doomed never to find.

                      C                 F   C         G

Without a trust or flaming fields, am I too dumb to refine?

                       C

And if you'd a took to me like,

      F     C               F            C

Well, I'd a-danced like the queen of the eyesores.

        F           C              G

And the rest of our lives would've fared well.

 

REPEAT INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE AND OUT: