Outside Looking In
View chords used in this chart
[Actually in A; capo 2.]
[I'm unsure about the pre-chorus and bridge, where I've written
F/A F/A Am Am. It might in fact be Am Am F/A F/A. Frankly, it
sounds okay either way. See which sounds best for you.]
G F Am Am G F Am Am
[intro]
G D/F# C/E C
Everywhere I see the signs, pointing one direction
G D/F# C/E C
No more twists or crooked turns, leaving room for doubt
G D/F# C/E C
Where I used to take the time for quiet and reflection
G D/F# C/E C
Now I only hear the noise of what I am without
G G C(9)/G C(9)/G
I see them walking hand in hand, and my eyes just want to linger
G G C(9)/G C(9)/G
On those golden wedding bands, wrapped around their fingers
F/A F/A Am Am
By the time I turn away, I feel it once again
G D/F# Am7 C
I'm back in this familiar place, outside looking in
G D/F# Am7 C
[instrumental]
Baby, all the tears between us couldn't fill the spaces
And all the word we grasped at, they just fell away
I kept waiting on forgiveness to fix the broken places
But nothing even like it ever came my way
And tonight I drove around, and the street came up before me
I took a turn and then I found this old house coming toward me
I heard the sound a heart must make when a memory's caving in
Oh baby, what a hungry place, outside looking in
G F Am Am G F Am Am
[instrumental]
G G C(9)/G C(9)/G
It's the hardest kind of need that never knows a reason
G G C(9)/G C(9)/G
Are we such a lonely breed, or just born in a lonely season
F/A F/A Am Am
Baby, it's all in the eyes, it's where the reckoning begins
F/A F/A Am Am
It's where we linger like a sigh, it's where we long to be pulled in
F/A F/A Am Am(?)
It's where we learn to say goodbye without saying anything
G D/F# Am7 C
Standing on the borderline, outside looking in
G D/F# Am7 C G D/F# Am7 C
[instrumental; repeat and fade]
- Adam Schneider, schneider@pobox.com
How to play Outside Looking In
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 A. 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.