Sunset Rubdown performed this song acoustically in a cab, as can be seen here:
http://blackcabsessions.com/sessions.php?type=1&id=1211923942&sort=chronological
It's not very hard and great to fool around with, so i will just give you some
basic pointers and leave the rest to interpretation:
!Capo 3rd Fret! all chords relative to it
Most of the song is played in downstrokes, one pattern that is used prominently goes like this:
E|x-x-4-4-x-x-4-x|x-x-5-5-x-x-5-x|x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x|x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x|
B|x-x-5-5-x-x-5-x|x-x-5-5-x-x-5-x|x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x|x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x|
G|x-x-6-6-x-x-6-x|x-x-6-6-x-x-6-x|x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x|x-x-1-1-x-x-1-x|
D|x-x-6-6-x-x-6-x|x-x-7-7-x-x-7-x|x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x|x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x|
A|x-x-4-4-x-x-4-x|x-x-7-7-x-x-7-x|x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x|x-x-2-2-x-x-2-x|
E|x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x|x-x-5-5-x-x-5-x|x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x|x-x-0-0-x-x-0-x|
And that's already most of it. There's a lot of repetition, so you should be able
to figure out most of the switches by listening
C#m A E
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
C#m A E
and I'd like to watch the white flash of your heels as they take turns
breaking the desert heat to beckon me in languages I've never learned
and I'd like to have you navigate to hills where no musicians live
and on the way decide what mendings of your will you're willing to forgive
A
C#m A E
and I'd like to think the actors never banded
and I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed
and I'd like to think I am not one of them but I know I am
so I'd like to just follow you awhile
you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
and you go on ahead for awhile
I would like to just follow you awhile
C#m A
when me and the boys were out
E
we killed a thousand butterflies
so I put their wings into my mouth and said a prayer for our safe arrival
and then a big black car crossed our path
and I wondered whether or not that shit was empty
you go
BREAK
C#m, C#m, E, E (x2)
C#m A E
Ohohohohoh ohohohoh Ooooohhh
C#m A E
Oooohhhh Ooooohhh ooooohhh
A E
see the sirens and the lizards flick their tongues behind the stage
see the actor keep a ritual to keep them all at bay
he would like to come home naked without war paint on his face
A
and appear before you, virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
C#m A
so when you've got to wait
E
and you've got to wait
and you've got to wait
C#m
and you've got to wait
A
and you've got to wait
E
and you've got to wait for me
C#m A E
and I will appear before you virgin white if virgin's are still chaste
then I'd like to just follow you awhile
KEY/TEMPO CHANGE
Em C G
and if there are two eyes in my head there are four seasons in a year
and reflections on the water of a burning yellow sphere
and the days add up to weeks add up to months
and add up
and add up to years