I tried to figure this one out by ear, so it might need adjusting -- please comment if so.
This is as close as I could get to matching the song on a guitar. It sounds good to me.
-- NOTES --
- All the chords (even those with *s) are formatted, so this can be transposed up/down if it's too difficult.
- I mostly palm-mute downward strums, roughly following the background beat (for most of the song, anyway).
- For heavier sections you can add a slap for every other beat, again matching the background rhythm.
- The A and D work well as barre chords (moving from C#m to D to A is comfy), but can also be played open.
- Chords with an asterisk(*) are just hit once -- usually as a transition (middle step) between other chords.
-- CHORDS --
Chords (BARRE): -- OR -- Alternative Shapes:
A D E F#m C#m Bm A D
e|--5-----5-----0-----1-----4-----2--| e|--0-----2--|
B|--5-----5-----0-----1-----5-----3--| B|--2-----3--|
G|--6-----7-----1-----1-----6-----4--| G|--2-----2--|
D|--7-----7-----2-----3-----6-----4--| D|--2-----0--|
A|--7-----5-----2-----3-----4-----2--| A|--0-----x--|
E|--5-----x-----0-----1-----x-----x--| E|--x-----x--|
TUNING: STANDARD
NO CAPO
--INTRO--
A A A A
(Let it ring, or pick a few notes, whatever you like; the pre-singing bit is just A)
--VERSE--
A
What is this about?
D
Where is everybody going?
A
What am I doing here?
D
Can't separate what I really need to know and
A
What I just want to hear
D
Maybe I'm alone maybe everybody's lost too
A
Looking for their own way out
D
Maybe I don't know maybe I don't even want to
--BRIDGE 1--
(A) F#m
Just don't want to be let down
C#m D A E F#m
There is no sureness, I kind of just stumble along
C#m D A E
There must be purpose in trying to keep on
--CHORUS--
D F#m
What do I know? I’m a child
E A*
Just trying to talk like a mother does
D F#m
Seeing life come and go all the time
E A*
It's never as long as you wish it was
D F#m
Ohh-ooh, Ohh-oh, Ohh-ooh, Maybe I’m
F#m E
still trying to see like a child does
--VERSE--
A F#m
And I always feel like I did when I was younger
D
Can't talk sense into me
A D
How do you decide when to know or how to wonder
F#m
Or how to just get free
C#m D A E F#m
There’s no certainty, I kind of just stumble along
C#m D A E
Doesn't bother me, I'm trying to keep on
--CHORUS--
D F#m
What do I know? I’m a child
E A*
Just trying to talk like a mother does
D F#m
Seeing life come and go all the time
E A*
It's never as long as you wish it was
D F#m
Ohh-ooh, Ohh-oh, Ohh-ooh, Maybe I’m
F#m E
still trying to see like a child does
--BRIDGE 2--
Bm
I seen both sides and felt it all
D F#m
I'm not a child anymore but I can't stand in here
E
The way I did when I was a kid
--CHORUS x2--
D F#m
What do I know? I’m a child
E A*
Just trying to talk like a mother does
D F#m
Seeing life come and go all the time
E A*
It's never as long as you wish it was
D F#m
What do I know? I’m a child
E A*
Just trying to talk like a mother does
D F#m
Seeing life come and go all the time
E A*
It's never as long as you wish it was
D F#m
Ohh-ooh, Ohh-oh, Ohh-ooh, Maybe I’m
F#m E
still trying to see like a child does
D F#m
Ohh-ooh, Ohh-oh, Ohh-ooh, Maybe I’m
F#m E A*
still trying to see like a child does