The Ballad Of Wallis Island
View chords used in this chart
note: For the C#m chord, he plays it 446654 but alternates his second
finger on and off, making it more of a C#madd9 (446644)
Intro
B C#m B C#m
[Verso 1]
B C#m
Time was when I could've been a better man
B
Than the one that I am now
C#m
Sofixatedon the futureI created, I didnt understand
Who Ihurt and how
B C#m
Head down, I didn't see the stars or hear the birds
B
I could look but not deflect
Trapped by ambition, by the end that I'd envisioned
C#m
Only using words for their effect
[Refrão]
C#m G#m E
You led me down to the beach, the waves crashed in front of me
B F#
And you said, "Wash it away"
C#m G#m E
I waded in the silver sea, it knocked the breath right out of me
B F#
And I washed it away
F#7 B E B E B E B E B
And saw the day
[Verso 2]
B C#m
Time was when we couldve had a better life
B
Than the one that we have now
C#m
Being kind, not making up our mind to be man and wife
In case we disavow
B C#m
Head down, reading room, raiding tombs, searching through the dust
B
To try and find something real
C#m
Disconnected from what's mine, the sublime from what I didn't trust
What I wouldn't feel
[Refrão]
C#m G#m E
You led me down, I couldn't see, the waves coursing over me
B F#
And you said, "Wash it away"
C#m G#m E
Diving down the silver sea, it shocked the sense right out of me
B F#
And I washed it away
F#7 B E B E B E B E B
And found the day
Instrumental Break
B C#m B C#m
[Verso 3]
B C#m
Time was when I could've been a better man
B
Than the one that I was then
C#m
I should've listened, not adopted a position, forgot my plans
I should've been a friend
[Refrão]
C#m G#m E
Below a tide upon the beach, the waves crashed in front of me
B F#
And you said, "Wash it away"
C#m G#m E
I complied, the silver sea it sucked the strength right out of me
B F#
And I washed it away
F#7 B E B E B E B E B
And found the day
How to play The Ballad Of Wallis Island
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#m. 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.