Kiris Piano
View chords used in this chart
## NOTE: ~ = Walk-Down from C ##
CAPO: 4th Fret
Intro: C G C G C
Cadd9 Am F
Of all of Kiri Ito's joys, the thing she loved the best
C ~ Am D7 F C
Was to play her prized piano when the sun had gone to rest
Cadd9 Am F C
I used to hear the notes drift down along the silent water
~ Am D7 F C
As Kiri played the notes and scales for her dear sons and daughters
~ C Cadd9 Am F C
Now me, I played piano, though not as good as Kiri
~ Am D7 F C
She went in for that long haired stuff, but my she played it pretty
~ C Cadd9 Am F C
The old piano had a tone, would set my heart to aching
~ Am D7 F
It always sounded sweetest, though, when it was Kiri playing
INTERLUDE: G C F G
C ~ C Am F C
In December when the seventh fleet was turned to smoke and ashes
~ Am D7 F C
The order came to confiscate their fishing boats and caches
~ C Am F C
And Kiri's husband forced to go and work in labour camps
~ Am D7 F
And Kiri left alone to fend and hold the fort as best she can
C ~ C Cadd9 Am F C
But the music did not drift as often, up the cove at Kiri's house
~ Am D7 F
And when it did it sounded haunted, played with worry, played with doubt
C ~ C Cadd9 Am F
For Kiri knew that soon she too would be compelled to leave
C ~ Am D7 F
And the old upright would stay behind and Kiri she would grieve
INTERLUDE: F G C F G
C ~ C Am F C
I loaded Kiri on the bus with stoic internees
~ Am D7 F C
The crime that they were guilty of was that they were not like me
~ C Am F
And if I was ashamed, I didn't know it at the time
C ~ Am D7 F C
They were flotsam on the wave of war, they were no friends of mine
~ C Cadd9 Am F C
And I went up to Kiri's house to tag all their belongings
~ Am D7 F C
And set them out for auctioneers who'd claim them in the morning
~ C Cadd9 Am F
One piece that I thought I'd keep and hold back for myself
C ~ Am D7 F G C F G C
Was that haunting ivory upright that Kiri played so well
INTERLUDE: G C F G C
~ C Cadd9 Am F C
Kiri had not left it there for me to take as plunder
~ Am D7 F C
She'd rolled it down onto the dock and on into the harbour
~ C Am F C
That old upright in strangers' hands was a thought she couldn't bear
~ Am D7 F
So she consigned it to the sea to settle the affair
C ~ C Cadd9 Am F C
So many years have come and gone since Kiri's relocation
~ Am D7 F
I look back now upon that time with shame and resignation
C ~ C Cadd9 Am F
For Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free
C ~ Am D7 F C
Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity
C ~ C Cadd9 Am F
Yes, Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free
C ~ Am D7 F
Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity
How to play Kiris Piano
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.