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The Sporting Life

The Decemberists

 

Main Strum:  D D D DU U UDUDU   Mute with left hand

             1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

 

Cmaj7 Strum: D  U UD  U UDUDU   Play only during Cmaj7's

             1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

 

Chord Guide
1 342 Gmaj7:  3x443x	1342 Em:   x7998x	1333 C:    x3555x	13411 Am:   57755x
1333 D:    x5777x	32 Cmaj7: x32000

 

 

Gmaj7 (2)

        I fell on the playing field

Em (2)

      The work of an errant heel

C (2)

     The din of the crowd and the loud commotion

Am                        D

     Went deafening silence and soft emotion

Gmaj7 (2)

     The season was almost done

Em (2)

     We'd managed it twelve to one

C (2)

     So far I had known no humiliation

Am                              D

      In front of my friends and close relations

 

Cmaj7 (2)                                   Gmaj7 (2)

        There's my father looking on

Cmaj7 (2)                                             Gmaj7

        And there's my girlfriend arm in arm

               Em

With the captain of the other team

       C

And all of this is clear to me

         D                                     C

They condescend to fix on me a frown

Am              D

How they love

         Gmaj7 (2)

The sporting life

 

Gmaj7 (2)

     And father had had such hopes

Em (2)

     For a son who would take the ropes

C (2)

     And fulfill all his old athletic aspirations

Am                           D

     But apparently now there's some complications

Gmaj7 (2)

      But while I am lying here

Em (2)

     Trying to fight the tears

C (2)

     I'll prove to the crowd that I come out stronger

Am                                    D

      Though I think I might lie here a little longer

 

Cmaj7 (2)                                                     Gmaj7 (2)

      'Cause there's my coach, he's looking down

Cmaj7 (2)                                               Gmaj7

      The disappointment in his knitted brow

    Em

I should have known he thinks again,

    C

"I never should have put him in"

      D                                        C

He turns to load the lemonade away

        Am                 D

And breathes in deep

         Gmaj7 (2)

The sporting life

         Em (2)

The sporting life

          C (2)

The sporting life

          Gmaj7 (2)

How he loves

 

Interlude:

Hold 2 measures (Drum Break)

/ Gmaj7 - - - / - - - - / Em - - - / - - - - /

/ C - - - / - - - - / Gmaj7 - - - / - - - - /

 

Cmaj7 (2)                                 Gmaj7 (2)

     There's my father looking on

Cmaj7 (2)                                           Gmaj7

     And there's my girlfriend arm in arm

              Em

With the captain of the other team

       C

And all of this is clear to me

          D                                     C

They condescend to fix on me a frown

Am             D (2)

How they love, oh,

         Gmaj7 (2)

The sporting life

         Em (2)

The sporting life

           C (2)

The sporting life

               Gmaj7 (2)

How they love

 

Outro (play 2x):

/ Gmaj7 - - - / - - - - / Em - - - / - - - - /

/ C - - - / - - - - / Gmaj7 - - - / - - - - /      End on Gmaj7

This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.