The Hold Steady - The death of the punchline
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Tuning: E A D G B E
[Intro]
B Bsus4
B A
[Verse]
EGemini genuflects and saAys a Hail Mary
EFor his money on the MonAday night game.
EThe girl in the sequins Alet him buy her a Sea Breeze
EBut he still don't thinkA she's using her real name.
EMe I'm on the border witAh my back in the corner
EThey way it's been sinceA we closed out the war.
BI've seen this whole scene play out here before.
F#mGemini flying high until he screams when he sees what the score is.
[Verse]
EBack in my homeland our Aheroes were hardcore.
EMan, our martyrs booked Athe matinee shows.
EThe theme of our prom waAs Banned in DC
EAnd the last dance was WAe Gotta Know.
EMy date came in late weaAring clove cigarettes
ELike some uptown DraculaA debutante.
BThe sketch looked like extras from the set of River's Edge
F#mAnd the straights kind of seemed like old astronauts
EFrom back in the 5B0s floating freely on black anAd white TVs.
EBaring their teeth to seAll junk in the ads before moviesE.
[Verse]
EI got out of the service and got in some business
EWith a guy that I met at Fort Jackson.
EHe said Pensacola's under his cousin's control
EBut he could probably cut me in on some action.
F#mLong story quick my partAb5ner got sick
ABut he showed me how to shake the right hands. C#m Ab5
BStayed in the biz. Took a hit. Did a bid.
ANow I'm trying to manage some bands.
ELooking for sad Bkids writing antAhems for the big time.
EHands in the air and a flag at hBalf mast on the grapevine. E A
EMourning the American dream and Bthe death of the punchline. E A
[Solo]
E B A
E B A
E B E A
E
[Verse]
EI was watching the news and they showed me this dude Who made 2 billion bucks playing videos.
EI printed up cards that said Seeker of Stars For the people I don't already know.
F#mI haven't hit yet but I'Ab5ve sharpened my pitch
AAnd this one guy brought me out to his restaurant. C#m Ab5
BWhen he made the proposal to merge and go global
AHe was touching me under the table.
EWith his eyes onB the TV And his Athree points on the home team. (A whole lifetime.)
EGin in his blood from a Blifetime in front of some barkeeEp. (A whole lifeAtime.)
EJokes in his head to breBak up the ice at the parties. (AE whole lifetime.A)
ETrying to find someone tBo laugh After the death of the punchlineE.