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Black Flies

Ben Howard

PopMedium for beginners3 chords

How to play it

Fingering diagrams for the shapes in this song. × = don't play, ○ = open string.

F
Am×○○
G○○○

Chords & lyrics

Chord names sit directly above the word where you change.

Text size
 
              Not sure if this is correct but here goes. 
 
Verse one 
F       Am 
Black flies on the windowsill 
 
That we are 
 
That we are 
 
               F 
That we are to know 
        Am 
Winter stole summer's thrill 
                     F 
And the river's cracked and cold 
 
F       Am 
See the sky is no man's land 
        F 
A darkened plume to stay 
        Am 
Hope here needs a humble hand 
        F 
Not a fox found in your place 
 
 
 
Am      G       F 
And no man is an island, oh this I know 
        Am 
But can't you see, oh? 
        G       F 
Maybe you were the ocean, when I was just a stone 
 
 
Verse two 
 
F       Am 
Black flies on the windowsill 
 
That we are 
 
That we are      
                     F 
That we are to hold 
        Am 
Comfort came against my will 
        F 
And every story must grow old 
 
        Am 
Still I'll be a traveller 
        F 
A gypsy's reins to face 
        Am 
But the road is wearier 
        F 
With that fool found in your place 
 
 
Am      G       F 
And no man is an island, oh this I know 
        Am 
But can't you see, oh? 
        G       F 
Maybe you were the ocean, when I was just a stone 
 
F 
So here we are... 
 
Am F Am F Am F 
 
 
Bridge x2 
 
Am      G 
And I don't wanna beg your pardon 
        F 
And I don't wanna ask you why 
 
But if I was to go my own way 
 
Would I have to pass you by?

Details

Rating

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Chord set

F · Am · G

Practice tip

Loop the first two chords slowly until the change is clean, then add the rest.