Small Red Boy
View chords used in this chart
Intro: Am Em
Am Em Am
I found a small red boy inside my tummy
C Em Am
With three dollars in change and a milky way light
C Em Am
In my occasional pursuit to find something more meaningful
F G
And yet another word that rhymes with die
Am Em Am
I cut him out and put him on my table
F G Am
His shallow breathing chest would fall and rise
C Em Am
His 'South of Heaven' shirt was way too big for him
F
His horns were long and sharp
G
And then he opened up those eyes that said
C Am Em
"I am, I am, I am, I am the truth."
Am Em
Am Em Am
I showered him with love and adulation
C Em Am
One day he was just as tall as me
C Em Am
I showed him all the books that I was raised on
F G
Your Madeleine L'Engle and D'Aulaires' Mythologies
Am Em Am
And in a montage that could warm the heart of Hitler,
C Em Am
I raised him up so proud and motherly
C Em Am
I swore that I was glancing in a mirror
F G
When in the language that I taught him, oh god, he began to speak, he said
C Am Em
I am, I am, I am, I am the truth
C Am Em
I am, I am, I am, I am the truth
Am Em
Am
And his eyes became a beacon
G Em F
An LCD projector broadcasting all my memories in a clear and vivid picture
F
His tongue became a staircase
G
His uvula the knocker
Em F
Of an ornate wooden door that led me straight into my future
F Em
His throat became a hallway with a thousand baby pictures
G F
And I became forgiveness I transformed into the closure that I lost
F G
When I learned about the tragedy of all of us
Em F
I lost it when I learned about the tragedy of all of us
F G
Incorrigible illness in the loved ones in and out of us
Em F
I lost it when I learned about the tragedy of all of us
F G
I walked through the hallways to a room of only mirrors
Em F
Reflecting me in bondage so I watched myself get freer
F
I let my horns grow longer
G
I observed my skin get redder
Am
My soul became a hammer
C
I started to feel better
F
My hatred to turned to pity
G
My resentment blossomed flowers
Am
My bitter tasting candy
C
My misery was power
F
The truth in me grew brighter
G
My nature and my nurture
C
No more shame
G
No more fear
Am
No more dread
F G Am
I am, I am, I am, I am the truth.
How to play Small Red Boy
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 Am. 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.