C                                  F
Remember (what?) today that you are loved
                  C                                   F
(They're still so small) Think back to days in hidden caves

(I gave them everything)
       C
They'd paint your eyes with sunsets
   (my saints, my sighs, my upsets)
         F
(And the days I couldn't cope)
        C          F
And the waves, oh, the waves

C                               F
Remember (I forgot to pack them lunches), they are safe
          C
(I need a drink or two)
             Think back
            F
To paddling pools and rainy days where they would
                                            (With)
C
Harmonize with echoes
(charcoal eyes, stilettos)
             F
(They're not ready) Nor are you
        C          F
But the waves, oh, the waves



[Bridge]
C     F   C  F
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
                     C
I don't want them to go
      F
Oh-oh-oh
     C                                 F
Just tell them what your haggard mother told you long ago


[Chorus: both]
          C                                F
Pick your chords well, loves, but sing your notes off key
    C                                  F
You can't rehearse the chorus, but the verse is sweet
    C                                     F
And if your voice begins to crack and you ever feel alone
           C
They might laugh because you're leaving
    F                                      C
But know we'll sing your name when you come home


[Verse 2]
C
Remember today            F
        I know they think I'm nightmare)
                C
Hey, we did our best (I guessed)
                   F
Come paddle by the shore
               (and pushed them, and pushed them all)
    C
You are your own magician
(and by my own admission)
        F
Let the ocean give to you
(had no notion what to do)
    C          F
Its waves, oh, the waves
(ah, bollocks to your waves)

C                        F
Remember (please), today you're enough
               (don't do this)        (my heart is breaking)
    C
You know they love you (but I raged!)
    F                                    C
You tried (so much), you did, but so did they

We built our castles
(they are my rascals)
        F
Just to watch them wash away
(I can't let them walk away)
       C                         F
In the waves (hold my hand), oh, the waves


[Bridge]
C     F   C  F
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
               C
I need them to stay
      F
Oh-oh-oh
         C                            F
Just remember those wicked words your mother used to say


[Chorus]
          C                                 F
Pick your chords well, loves, but sing your notes off key
     C                              F
Your dad will forget the words (and uh, fucking bastard, what is it?)
    C                                     F
And if your voice begins to crack and you ever feel alone
           C
They might laugh because you're leaving
    F                                      C  F   C F
But know we'll sing your name when you come home, home


C F
Home
C F
Home


[Both]
C                               F
Walk into your waves, my loves, tell 'em all your names
   C                              F
Go tell 'em how we failed you and gift to us all your blame
            C                               F
'Cause we'll be all that you hate about yourself so you can grow
       C                               F
'Cause life begins by leaving, and our love is shown in the letting go

   C                                 F
Go walk into your dawn, you snotrags! tell 'em that we never cared
   C                                  F
Go tell 'em how we fucked you up and, oh my God, it's so unfair
   C                                   F
We were the winter nights so you could be the morning snow
     C                              F
Your life begins by leaving and our love is shown
F                F
In the letting go

   C        F         C        F
Be good (be good), be safe (be safe)
   C        F
Be kind (be kind)
    C
And know we'll always love you
     F
Even though you're leaving us behind
      C         F         C        F
And be good (be good), be safe (be safe)
   C        F
Be kind (be kind)
    C
And know we'll always love you
     F                       C
Even though you're leaving us behind