G              Bm                  Am            C
Standing tall as a woman but acting tough as can be
G                  Bm           Am        C
Curling your lip directing your poetry at me
G
When I know it was written for another time and place
     Am               G         Bm              Am          C
It doesn't touch me - You're so bitter the past so close behind
G                     Bm                    Am            
You're so curling and churning how could your angel give in
G               Bm              Am       C
When there's nothing to blame but your pride

Chorus:
Am                               G
And I guess you need an excuse to fall
A                   C             E
If you're gonna pretend to fly at all

G     Bm      Am      C    ----    G      Bm      Am     C

G           Bm            Am       C
You can curl up cradled in your past
G                       Bm                Am         C
But it isn't as warm there is it will nothing ever last
G                   Bm                         
Your painting your pictures with shards of your pain
Am                                C
You'd prick your fingers for blood to paint
G            Bm             Am        C
You sing your strife like a sonnet I believe
 
Chorus:
Am                               G
And I guess you need an excuse to fall
   A                      C       E
If you're gonna pretend to fly at all

Bridge:   
    F             C           G
You sing your strife like a sonnet
F                        C                      G
But you buy your hat with a sweat stained brim already on it
F                   C              G
Chaos and fate your enemies at least that's the way you've sold them to be
Am                         C               D
You can put yourself on a cross but not for me

G      Bm      Am      C (x4)

Chorus:
Am                               G
And I guess you need an excuse to fall
A                           C      Em     D
If you're gonna pretend to fly at all

Am                               G
And I guess you need an excuse to fall
A                           C      Em     
If you're gonna pretend to fly at all