The Seabirds
View chords used in this chart
[Verso 1]
G
No foreign pair of dark sunglasses
D
will ever shield you from
G
the light that pierces your eyelids,
D
the screaming of the gulls
Em
[Verso 2]
A
Feeding off the bodies of the fish,
Bm
thrashing up the bay till it was red,
F#m
turning the sky a cold dark colour
Em
as they circled overhead.
G A Bm
G A Bm E
[Verso 3]
G
He swam out to the edge of the reef,
D
there were cuts across his skin,
G
saltwater on his eyes and arms,
D
but he could not feel the sting
Em
[Verso 4]
A
There was no one left to hold him back,
Bm
no one to call out his name,
F#m
dress him feed him drive him home,
Em
say "Little boy it doesn't have to end this way !"
G A Bm
G A Bm E
F#m
He announced their trial separation, and
Em
spent the night in a Park Beach Motel bed,
F#m
a total stranger lying next to him,
Em
rain hitting the roof hard over his head
[Verso 5]
A
She said "What's the matter now lover boy,
Bm
has the cat run off with your tongue?
F#m
Are you drinking to get maudlin,
Em
or drinking to get numb?"
G A Bm
G A Bm E
[Verso 6]
G
He called out to the seabirds "Take me now,
D
I'm no longer afraid to die",
G
but they pretended not to hear him,
D
and just watched him with their hard
Em
and bright black eyes
[Verso 7]
A
They could pick the eye from any dying thing
Bm
that lay within their reach, but
F#m
they would not touch the solitary figure
Em
lying tossed up on the beach.
So, where were you?
G A Bm
G A Bm E
G A Bm
G A Bm E
How to play The Seabirds
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 G. 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.