Basil
View chords used in this chart
| C | E7 | Am | % |
| Am | % |
(Am) C/G F Dm/A
My Saturday job pays six and six down
F
A copy boy at the Chronicle
Am C/G F Dm/A
Five cigarettes and two silver half crowns
F Dm/A
Meeting Vince at Mark Toney's in town
F Am
Boy, do we get around
(Am) C/G F Dm
Basil sits there on the table for subs
F
But not a part of the Bri-nylon club
Am C/G F
Ancient blue sweater, too old for the job
Dm
Bored out of his mind
F
With the Colins and Bobs
C/G Fmaj7
I'm a jack and a lad
C Fmaj7
And I'm up for the world
C F Am
And I've kissed a Gateshead girl
(Am) C/G F Dm
He calls for a copy boy, grumpy as hell
F
Poets have to eat as well
Am C F Dm
What he wouldn't give just to walk out today
F Dm
To have time to think about time
F
And young love thrown away
C Fmaj7
I'm a jack and a lad
C Fmaj7
And I'm up for the world
C F
And I've kissed a Gateshead girl
F C E7
Starlings swarming a cloud
Am
Over Grainger Street
F
Over the black church
Dm C E7
Over the Black Gate
(Am)
And the shadowy Keep
| Am | D9/F# | Bm7/b5 | E7 |
| F | % | C | E7 |
| Am | % |
(Am)
He peers through his wire rims
C/G F Dm
At the fish and chip words
F
He's supposed to dish up and forget
Am C F
His drudgery now has become slightly blurred
Dm F
By one of his Players untipped cigarettes
C Fmaj7
Bury all joy
C Fmaj7
Put the poems in sacks
C F
And bury me here with the hacks
| Am | Am7 | % | Am |
(Am)
In the summer the fair
C/G F
Will stretch over the Moor
Dm/A F
Lovers will lie and make out in the park
Am C/G F Dm/A
Basil puts on his old duffel and scarf
F
And goes out into the dark
| C | Fmaj7 | C | Fmaj7 |
| C | F | % |
| F |
How to play Basil
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.