The Hold Steady – The Death Of The Punchline (Guitar Solo)

E                       A
Gemini genuflects and says a Hail Mary

E                       A
For his money on the Monday night game.

E                       A
The girl in the sequins let him buy her a Sea Breeze

E                       A
But he still don't think she's using her real name.

E                       A
Me I'm on the border with my back in the corner

E                       A
They way it's been since we closed out the war.

B
I've seen this whole scene play out here before.

A
Gemini flying high until he screams when he sees what the score is.

E                       A
Back in my homeland our heroes were hardcore.

E                       A
Man, our martyrs booked the matinee shows.

E                       A
The theme of our prom was Banned in DC

E                       A
And the last dance was We Gotta Know.

E                       A
My date came in late wearing clove cigarettes

E                       A
Like some uptown Dracula debutante.

B
The sketch looked like extras from the set of River's Edge

A
And the straights kind of seemed like old astronauts

E                 B                             A
From back in the 50s floating freely on black and white TVs.

C#m                     B                               E     A
Baring their teeth to sell junk in the ads before movies.

E
I got out of the service and got in some business

E
With a guy that I met at Fort Jackson.

E
He said Pensacola's under his cousin's control

E
But he could probably cut me in on some action.

F#m                     G#5
Long story quick my partner got sick

A                                              C#m G#5
But he showed me how to shake the right hands.

B
Stayed in the biz. Took a hit. Did a bid.

A
Now I'm trying to manage some bands.

              E               B                    A
Looking for sad kids writing anthems for the big time.

C#m                      B                            E     A
Hands in the air and a flag at half mast on the grapevine.

C#m                      B                               E     A
Mourning the American dream and the death of the punchline.

E
I was watching the news and they showed me this dude who made 2 billion bucks playing videos.

E
I printed up cards that said Seeker of Stars for the people I don't already know.

F#m                     G#5
I haven't hit yet but I've sharpened my pitch

A                                                  C#m G#5
And this one guy brought me out to his restaurant.

B
When he made the proposal to merge and go global

A
He was touching me under the table.

                     E            B                  A
With his eyes on the TV and his three points on the home team. (A whole lifetime.)

C#m                     B                               E               A
Gin in his blood from a lifetime in front of some barkeep. (A whole lifetime.)

C#m                     B                               E               A
Jokes in his head to break up the ice at the parties. (A whole lifetime.)

C#m                     B                                       E
Trying to find someone to laugh after the death of the punchline.