Iron & Wine – Caught In The Briars (Guitar)

Key
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Versions (2)

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Chords

Here's the most accurate chording for Caught in the Briars for both the Off The Record and WERS 88.9 sessions. They include the additional song "Sundown," denoted below. I also included the cool little riff he plays in Tab form. There's another version of this song that I much prefer, which is in DADGAD, but this is an easier, mellower version that doesn't require retuning or excessive hand movements. (Note: Minor chords are to be bar chords in the A-minor shape along the 1,2,3,4, and 5th strings at the 3rd, 2nd, and open frets, you can see how these are played in the variations options when highlighting chords.) ENJOY! [Verse 1]
                    C
The back alley's full of rain

                    G
And everything's shining

                   C
As holy as she can be

                      G
The trick's in the timing
[Verse 2]
                   C
Free as a morning bird

               G
Fragile as china

                             C
She's stuck in the weakest heart

               G
Of South Carolina
[Chorus]
                        Cm
Where all of the naked boys

                 Bm
Lay down beside her

                       Am
Sing her the saddest song

                     G
All caught in the briars
C (C's are flourished by playing open and one on the B String) G (G's are flourished by hammering open and two on the A and D strings) C G [Verse 3]
                  Cm
I never meant to fall

                   Bm
So hard in the doorway

                      Am
And all the sinners here

                     D
Have crosses for Sunday
[Verse 4]
                       Cm
Kissed at the county fair

                Bm
Frisked in the city

                              Am
Which proves as an answered prayer

                G
But ain't it a pity
[Chorus]
                        C
Where all of the naked boys

                  G
Lay down beside her

                        C
Sing her the saddest song

                     G
All caught in the briars

C
G (flourish then move into strumming)
[Sundown]
                           C
There go the cops with the tomcat teeth

                                     G
Here come the church mice trying too hard

                     C
She had a way to be kind with words

                                 G
I had a knife in the back of my car

                       C
Nobody knows when the rain may come

                             G
Nobody wants wake up and be cruel

                            C
She locked the door and the sun went down

                                   G
In South Carolina with nothing to lose

                  Cm           Bm
All of her naked boys

                  Am           G
And not even I was true
[BONUS} Riff he was playing at the beginning of the videos
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