Paid to Keep

(Verse 1)

[C] The sky is heavy [C/B] like a closing eye

[Am7] A silver tether [Fmaj7] to a hollow sky

[C] I take the water [C/B] and I take the grain

[Am7] I wash the salt [Fmaj7] from the winter rain

[C] There’s a quiet [C/B] in the way I stand

[Am7] Resting my weight [Fmaj7] on a steady hand.

(Chorus)

[Am] But you don’t bite [G] the hand, no, you [F] don’t snap the [C] bone

[Am] Unless you want [G] to find out how it [F] feels to be alone

[Am] The sadness is [G] a season, or a [F] blanket made of [C] lead

[Am] You swallow down [G] the words you wish [F] you would have said

[Am] Look at the sun [G] with a [F] ghost behind [C] your face

[Am] Keeping the [G] hunger [F] in its place.

(Verse 2)

[C] The air is thin [C/B] and the light is gray

[Am7] I watch the wildness [Fmaj7] drift away

[C] It’s a gentle [C/B] kind of slow decay

[Am7] To be kept so [Fmaj7] well and have nothing to say

[C] There’s a hollow [C/B] living in my chest

[Am7] Even when the [Fmaj7] heart is given a rest.

(Bridge)

[Dm] I could run [Am] until the air [G] runs thin

[Dm] But the gravity [Am] of mercy [E7] always wins

[Dm] It’s a velvet [Am] knot, it’s a [G] golden rope

[Dm] Dying of [Am] thirst on a [E7] drop of hope.

(Chorus)

[Am] No, you don’t bite [G] the hand, no, you [F] don’t snap the [C] bone

[Am] Unless you want [G] to find out how it [F] feels to be alone

[Am] The sadness is [G] a season, or a [F] blanket made of [C] lead

[Am] You swallow down [G] the words you wish [F] you would have said

[Am] Look at the sun [G] with a [F] ghost behind [C] your face

[Am] Keeping the [G] hunger [F] in its place.

(Outro)

[C] The hand stays [Fmaj7] open.

[C] The well stays [Fmaj7] deep.

[C] Promises I’m [Fmaj7] paid to keep.

[C] I’m doing [Fmaj7] fine.

[Cmaj7] I’m doing really

fine.