John Allyn Smith Sails

this is all my original work . it was transcribed both by ear
and by examining live performances of will sheff and his band
playing this song , so naturally it is consistent with what he
plays live . this is a fantastic song despite the dark subject
matter and i hope all of you enjoy playing and singing this song!

at the beginning i’ve drawn up a general outline of the chord
progressions for each part , to ease memorization . this song can
get a little convoluted given will sheff’s writing style , but
i’ve tried to minimize that as much as possible . to do this , i
have attempted to label the parts as verses , choruses , etc .
but don’t hold it against me if those aren’t the correct names
of the parts , this song is a little unconventional in that it’s
hard to determine the parts of it .

important : capo at 2nd fret
tuning : standard

verses :
D A Bm G A D

ending of each verse :
Em

bridge :
Bm G A

ending of 3rd bridge :
Em F# G A

pre – chorus and chorus :
D G D G
D G D G
D G D A
D G D G
D A D

intro :
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 0 – – – – – |
A | – – 0 – – 2 – – 4 – – 0 – – – – – – – – |
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

verse 1 :
D A
by the second verse , dear friends
Bm G
my head will burst , my life will end
A
so , i’d like to start this one off by saying
D
“live and love”

D A
i was young and at home in bed
Bm G
and i was hanging on the words some poem said
A
in ’31
D
i was impressionable

Em
i was upsettable

bridge :
Bm G A
i tried to make my breathing stop , my heart beat slow
Bm G A
so , when my mom and john came in , i would be cold

verse 2 :
D A
from a bridge on washington avenue ,
Bm G
the year of 1972
A
broke my bones and skull ,
D
and it was memorable
D A
it was half a second in; i was halfway down –
Bm G
do you think i wanted to turn back around
A
and teach a class
D
where you kiss the ass
Em
that i’ve exposed to you?

bridge :
Bm G A
and at the funeral , the university
Bm G A
cried at three poems they’d present in place of a broken me

verse 3 :
D A
i was breaking in a case of suds
Bm G
at the brass rail , a fall – down drunk
A
with his tongue torn out
D
and his balls removed
D A
and i knew that my last lines were gone ,
Bm G
while stupidly i lingered on ,
A
oh , but wise men know
D
when it’s time to go
Em
and so i should , too

bridge :
Bm G A
and so i fly into the brightest winter sun
Bm G A
of this frozen town . i’m stripped down to move on ,
Em F# G A
my friends : i’m gone

pre – chorus and chorus :
D G D G
well , i hear my father fall
D G D G
and i hear my mother call
D G D A
and i hear the others all whisper “come home”
D G D
i’m sorry to go
D G
i loved you all so
D A D G D
but this is the worst trip i’ve ever been on

D G D G
so , hoist up the john B . sail
D G D G
see how the main sail sets
D G D A
i’m full in my heart and my head and i wanna go home
D G D
with a book in each hand
D G
in the way i had planned
D A D
well , this is the worst trip i’ve ever been on

D G D G
so , hoist up the john B . sail
D G D G
see how the main sail sets
D G D A
i’m full in my heart and my head and i wanna go home
D G D
with a book in each hand
D G
in the way i had planned
D A D
i feel so broke up , i wanna go home .

that’s it , enjoy!