[Intro]
C
[Verse 1]
C
You left your typewriter at my apartment
F
Straight from the tourtured poets department
C F
I think some things I never say
Like, "Who uses typewriters anyway?"
Am G
But you're in self-sabotage mode
C
Throwing spikes down on the road
F
But I've seen this episode and still love the show
Am G
Who else decodes you?
[Chords]
C F
And who's gonna hold you like me?
C F
And who's gonna know you if not me?
I laughed in your face and said,
Am G
"You're not Dylan Thomas. I'm not Patti Smith.
C F
This ain't the Chelsea Hotel. We're modern idiots."
Am G C
And who's gonna hold you like me?
F
Nobody
C
No-fucking-body
F
Nobody
[Verse 2]
C
You smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate
F
We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist
C F
I scratch your head, you fall asleep
Like a tattooed golden retriever
Am G C
But you awakened with dread, pounding nails in your head
F
But I've read this one where you come undone
Am G
I chose this cyclone with you
[Chorus]
C F
And who's gonna hold you like me? (Who's gonna hold you? Who's gonna hold you?)
C F
And who's gonna know you like me? (Who's gonna know you?)
I laughed in your face and said,
Am G
"You're not Dylan Thomas. I'm not Patti Smith.
C F
This ain't the Chelsea Hotel. We're modern idiots."
Am G C
And who's gonna hold you like me?
C F C F
[Bridge]
C
Sometimes I wonder if you're gonna screw this up with me
F
But you told Lucy you'd kill yourself if I ever leave
C
And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen
F
Everyone we know understands why it's meant to be
C F
'Cause we're crazy
C F
So tell me, who else is gonna know me?
Am G
At dinner you take my ring off my middle finger, and
C F
Put it on the one people put wedding rings on
Am G
And that's the closest I've come to my heart exploding
[Alt Chorus]
C F
And who's gonna hold you? ...Me
C F
And who's gonna know you? ...Me
Am G
And you're not Dylan Thomas. I'm not Patti Smith.
C F
This ain't the Chelsea Hotel. We're two idiots.
Am G C
Who's gonna hold you?
C F C F
[Outro]
Am G
You left your typewriter at my apartment
C F
Straight from the tourtured poets department
Am G C F
Who else decodes you?
C F C F
How to play "The Tortured Poets Department" by Taylor Swift on guitar
Chords Needed:
- C major
- F major
- Am (A minor)
- G major
Intro:
- Start with a simple strum on the C chord.
Verse Strumming Pattern:
- Use a down-down-up-up-down-up pattern for each chord.
- Focus on the first and last downstrums to emphasize the rhythm.
Verse 1:
- Begin with C, moving to F, maintaining a conversational tone with the lyrics.
- Example lyric: "You left your typewriter at my apartment"
- Common mistake: not maintaining consistent timing. Use a metronome if needed.
Chorus:
- The progression is C to F repeated.
- Increase strumming intensity slightly to differentiate from the verses.
- Lyrics highlight: "And who's gonna hold you like me?"
- It's crucial to cleanly switch between C and F to keep the flow seamless.
Bridge:
- Starts on C, moves to F, back to C, and then F again, creating a reflective mood.
- Example lyric: "Sometimes I wonder if you're gonna screw this up with me"
- Watch the dynamics; the bridge should feel more introspective.
Alternate Chorus:
- Similar to the main chorus but ends on a more personal note with
"And who's gonna hold you? ...Me"
- Keep the strumming pattern consistent but play with slightly
more subdued dynamics.
Outro:
- Revisit the intro's simplicity with the Am and G leading back to C and F.
- Close with the reflective lines using the same chords from the intro.
- Example lyric: "You left your typewriter at my apartment"
General Tips:
- Regularly check your guitar's tuning, especially when using frequent
capo changes or after new string changes.
- Practice chord transitions without strumming to ensure finger placement accuracy.
- Emphasize lyrical delivery to connect with the song's emotional content.
Lyrics Meaning:
- This song explores the complex dynamics of a relationship marred by intense
emotions and dramatic declarations, framed within the context of tortured
poets and their tumultuous lives.
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