The Kingston Trio – The Ballad Of The Shape Of Things (Guitar)

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Chords

Taken from Kingston Trio “College Concert” where they played in “E” according to my recording, but I’ve read they played in “F” on other recordings. Possibly either different recording speeds, or different tuning. Mine is A=440. 2/4 Time Two of the bars are “two chord” - E/B7 Intro and between verses the following 4 bars, repeated variously. E F#m A B7 These intro bars also work for the first 4 bars of each verse. ---------------- Long intro, referring to song as "Madrigal Style", then intro bars with fingerpicking and [Verse 1]
   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Completely round is the perfect pearl, the oyster manu-factures

     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Completely round is the steering wheel that leads to compound fractures

    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Completely round is the golden fruit that hangs in the orange tree

         E      B7       E / B7    C#m
Yes, the circle shape is quite renowned

    E      B7      E / B7  C#m
And sad to say, it can be found

      E         G#7     C#m     A
In the low-down, dirty run-a-round

   E        B7      E        A        E        B7      E
My true love gave to me,      yes, my true love gave to me
[Verse 2]
   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Completely square is the velvet box, he said my ring would be in

     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Completely square was the envelope, he said farewell to me in

    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Completely square was the handkerchief I flourish constantly

     E      B7            E / B7    C#m
As I dry my eyes of the tears I've shed

    E      B7       E / B7          C#m
And blows my nose what turns bright red

      E       G#7          C#m         A
For a perfect square is my true love's head

   E       B7      E   A     E        B7      E
He will not marry me; no he will not marry me
[Verse 3]
   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Rectangular was the hotel door my true love tried to sneak through

     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Rectangular was the transom hole by which I had to peek through

    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Rectangular was the hotel room I entered angrily

         E      B7       E / B7    C#m
And, rectangular was the wooden box

      E       B7            E / B7    C#m
Where lies my love 'neath the golden flox

      E      G#7        C#m     A
They say he died of the chickenpox

   E      B7      E   A    E        B7      E
In part I must agree; one chick too many had he
[Verse 4]
   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Triangular is the piece of pie I eat to ease my sorrow

     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Triangular is the hatchet blade I plan to hide tomorrow

    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Triangular the relationship that now has ceased to be

       E      B7       E / B7    C#m
And triangular is the garment thin

      E      B7         E / B7    C#m
That fastens on with the safety pin

      E      G#7     C#m     A
To a prize I had no wish to win

         E     B7   E   A        E        B7      E
It's a lasting memory: that my true love gave to me