The Thing About Things
Amanda Palmer
Practice the chords, follow the lyrics and adjust the key to play at your own pace.
More chord sheet options
You can edit the lyrics and chords directly in the sheet below.
Tom : G
G Gsus2 C
I’ve loaned a lot of things to a lot of friends Like records and dresses and books
G Gsus2
And a lot of the time I never see them again
G C
And in a weird way I think that that works
C D
Because the thing about things is they start turn evil
G C
When you start to forget what they’re for
C C
And so if you’re not sure what you did with my sweater
D G Gsus2
I’ll just have to love you a little bit more
[Verse 2]
G Gsus2 C
I had a ring it belonged to my grandfather He was a mason and gay
G Gsus2
And he was distant and bitter for all of my childhood
C
We never had much to say
G Gsus2 C
He wasn’t the type to give tokens of affection So I stole ring when he died
G Gsus2
And then twenty years on when I lost it at a bar
C
I thought that’s fine I don't want him in my life
C D
Because the thing about things is that they can start meaning things
G C
Nobody actually said
G Gsus2
And if he couldn’t make something mean something for me
D G
I had to make up what it meant
[Bridge]
C G D A
I can carry everything I need in one collapsing suitcase
C G D A
I can carry everyone I love in one phone application
C A C A
Built to maximize the facetime of the friends I’m bent on making
C A
Actually I want to be alone
C
To mourn the loss
A
Of what it cost
[Verse 3]
G Gsus2
I think it’s a poem and I think it keeps going
C
And I’ve borrowed and loaned lots of things
G Gsus2
And 3 nights ago in the bar where I lost it
C
the bartender gave me the ring
G Gsus2 C G
I lie in bed With my phone in my hand Thinking what can I fix with which app
G Gsus2
And I call my grandfather And he doesn’t answer
C G
And I have to make peace with that fact
C D
Because the thing about things Is that they can start meaning
G C
nobody actually said
G Gsus2
And if you’re not allowed to love people alive
D G
Then you learn how to love people dead
C D G C
The thing about things is that they can start meaning things nobody actually said
G Gsus2
And if you’re not allowed To love people alive
D G
Then you learn how to love people dead
Rate this chord sheet
Version available for community feedback.
Looking for a chord sheet you couldn’t find?
We can generate it for you. Upload audio or paste a YouTube link to get started.
Song chords
View all chord diagrams →Chords used in this sheet
Reference guitar fingerings for the chords in this version.
Kit Ferramentas Reparação E Cuidados Guitarra Luthier 25pcs
Kit profissional completo para manutenção, limpeza e reparo de guitarras, ideal para músicos, luthiers e técnicos.
Kit Violão Acústico Clássico Iniciante Afinador + estojo
Com design moderno e atraente, sendo ideal para iniciantes devido ao braço largo e leveza. O melhor custo-benefício, com muitos acessórios incluídos.
How to practice this chord sheet
A practical summary of the chords, key and tempo to help you start playing this version.
Progression and practice
Detected progression: G → Gsus2 → C → G → Gsus2 → G → C → C
There are more changes or chord shapes. Practice in sections and slow down the tempo.
- Start at 60 BPM. Speed up once you can keep time without stopping.
- Practice the two hardest chord changes first, then go back to the whole song.
- Use the transpose button if the key feels uncomfortable for your voice or the chord shapes you know.
Listen to the chords
Listen to a reference for each chord before you start. Your browser generates the sound.
Community chord sheet subject to review. Composition and lyrics belong to their respective rights holders. Copyright · Request a review