Intro: Clean/Fingerpicked

E|-------------------|-------------------|
B|-1--3p1-5--------3-|-1--3p1-5----------|
G|---2-------1-2-4---|---2-------1-4-----|
D|-------------------|---------------2---|
A|-0------3----------|-0------3----------|
E|-----------0---3---|-----------0-------|

E|-------------------|
B|-1--3p1-5--------3-|
G|---2-------1-2-4---|
D|-------------------|
A|-0------3----------|
E|-----------0---3---|

"I do not exist," we faithfully insist,
Sailing in our separate ships and from each tiny caravel.

E|-------------------|
B|-1--3p1-5----------|
G|---2-------1-------|
D|-------------------|
A|-0------3----------|
E|-----------0-------|

Tiring of trying, there's a unnecessary dying,
Like the horseshoe crab in its proper season sheds its shell. 

E|-------------------|
B|-1--3p1-5--------3-|
G|---2-------1-2-4---|
D|-------------------|
A|-0------3----------|
E|-----------0---3---|

Such distance from our friends, Like a scratch across the lens,
Made everything look wrong from anywhere we stood.

E|-------------------|
B|-1--3p1-5----------|
G|---2-------1-4-----|
D|---------------2---|
A|-0------3----------|
E|-----------0-------|

And our paper blew away before we'd left the bay.
So half-blind, we wrote these songs on sheets of salty wood.

Main Verse: Clean/Reverb

Am                    C                            E 
You caught me making eyes at the other boatman's wives,
                        G                                 Am
And heard me laughing louder at the jokes told by their daughters.
                        C                    E
I'd set my course for land, but you well understand,
                                                Am
It takes a steady hand to navigate adulterous waters.
                           C                                 E
The propeller's spinning blades held acquaintance with the waves,
                          G                    Am
As there's mistakes I've made no rowing could outrun.
                      c                    E
The cloth low on the mast, I say I got no past,
                                              Am
I'm nonetheless the librarian and secretary's son.
                    C                       E
The tarnish on my brass, the mildew on my glass-
                            G                           Am
I'd never want someone so crass as to want someone like me.
                            C                      E
But a few leagues off the shore, I bit a flashing lure,
                                                   Am
And I assure you, it was not what I expected it to be!
                    C                          E
I still tastes its kiss, that dull hook in my lip
                  G                        Am
Is a memory as useless as a rod without a reel.
                     C                    E
To an anchor ever dropped, sea-sick yet still docked,
                                                    Am
Captain spotted napping with his first mate at the wheel.
                       C                         E
Floating forgetfully along, with no need to be strong,
                          G                                Am
We keep our confessions long, but when we pray we keep it short.
                           C
I drank a thimble full of fire,
                     E
I'm not ever coming back...
       Am
Oh, my God.
            C                      E
"I do not exist," we faithfully insist,
                          G                            Am
While watching sink the heavy ship with everything we knew.
                      C                          E
And if ever you come near, I'll hold up high a mirror.

Lord, I could never show you anything as beautiful as you!

Outro: Clean/Reverb (Transcribe for one guitar)

Optional: 

*Guitar 1: Notes played on low E string
*Guitar 2: Notes played on A,D,G, and B string

E|---------------|---------------|
B|---------------|---------------|
G|---------------|---------------|
|-77777777777777|77777777777777-| 
E|---------------|---------------|
B|---------------|---------------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|-------5~------|---------7~----|
G|--------| 5~----|---------------|
D|-----------7~--|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-5~------------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|--------5~-----|---------7~----|
G|----------5~---|---------------|
D|------------7~-|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|--------5~-----|---------------|
G|----------5~---|---------------|
D|------------7~-|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|--------5~-----|---------------|
G|----------5~---|---------------|
D|------------7~-|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|---------------|---------7~----|
G|---------------|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|--------5~-----|---------7~----|
G|----------5~---|---------------|
D|------------7~-|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|--------5~-----|---------7~----|
G|----------5~---|---------------|
D|------------7~-|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|--------5~-----|---------------|
G|----------5~---|---------------|
D|------------7~-|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
E|-3-3/5~--------|-5-5/10~-------|

E|---------------|---------------|
B|---------------|---------------|
G|---------------|---------------|
D|---------------|---------------|
A|---------------|---------------|
|-55-5-55-5-55-5|5-55-5-55-5-55-|