Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Cannibals Hymn (Guitar)

Key
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Versions (2)

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Chords

The D in the verse is just a fraction of a measure, for color. I play it in the rhythm Em/\/\/\D/ \ (or twice as many strums in the same tempo - Em/\/\/\/\/\/\D/\/ - if I'm feeling energetic) The lyrics slur across the chord changes a lot. Hopefully I got close enough for you. Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D
Em               D   Em           D
You have a heart and I have a key 

Em               D  Em           D
Lie back and let me unlock you 

Em                      D  Em                  D
Those heathens you hang with down by the sea 

Em                      D  Em                  D
All they want to do is defrock you 

Am
I know a river, where we can dream 

Am
It will swell up, burst its banks, 

Am        Em                      D
babe, and rock you 
Em D Em D Em D Em D
Bm                                 C
But if you're gonna dine with them cannibals

Bm                                        C       D
Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten

G
But I'm glad you've come around here 

D
with your animals

         Em                        C
And your heart that is bruised but unbeaten

    F              D
And beating like a drum
Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D
Em         D   Em                D
I will sit like a bird on a fence

Em                   D  Em           D
Sing you songs with a   happy ending

Em                     D   Em                   D
Swoop down and tell you that it don't make much sense

Em                      D     Em           D
To attack the very thing you're defending

Am
Didn't I just buy that dress for you?

Am
That pink paper pinafore 

Am            Em                  D
that you keep mending
Em D Em D Em D Em D
Bm                                 C
Well, if you're gonna dine with the cannibals

Bm                                        C       D
Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten

G
But I'm glad you've come around

     D
here with your animals

         Em                        C
And your heart that is banging and beating

    F              D
And banging like a gong
Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D
Em               D   Em           D
I can see that they've hurt you, dear

Em               D     Em           D
Here is some moonlight to cloak us

Em               D   Em           D
And I will never     desert you here

Em            D   Em           D
Unpetaled among the crocus

Am
Allow me, my love, to allay your fear

Am
As I swim, 

Am            Em               D   
in and out of focus
Em D Em D Em D Em D
Bm                                 C
But if you're gonna dine with the cannibals

Bm                                        C       D
Sooner or later, darling, you're gonna get eaten

G
But I'm glad you've come around

     D
here with your animals

         Em                        C
And your heart that is bruised but bleating

    F              D
And bleeding like a lamb
Em D Em D Em D
    F              D
Banging like a gong
Em D Em D Em D
    F              D
Beating like a drum
Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em D Em