These are the chords I refer to in the tab:

    G   F#/G   Em   D    C   B/C   Am    G7    C7
e | --3----2-----0---------0----0----0-----1------0---------------------------- | 
B | --0----0-----0----3----1----1----1-----0------1---------------------------- | 
G | --0----0-----0----2----0----0----2-----0------3---------------------------- | 
D | --0----0-----2----0----2---------2-----0------2---------------------------- | 
A | --2----------2---------3----2----0-----2------3---------------------------- | 
E | --3----2-----0-------------------------3----------------------------------- | 


The verse is just a simple chord progression:

*Note: The chords are pretty much above the exact syllables
       of each lyric.

Verse 1:

G   F#/G        Em     D
    Dead in the water   
C          B/C      Am
It's not a paid vacation
G      F#/G       Em           D       C
    The sons and daughters of city officials 
 B/C          Am
Attend demonstrations
G       F#/G      Em        D
    It's hardly a sink or swim
     C         B/C       Am
When all is well if the ticket sells

Break 1:
G  F#/G  Em  D  C  B/C  Am  Am


Verse 2:
G   F#/G       Em    D
    Out with a wimper
C          B/C      Am
It's not a blaze of glory
G           F#/G            Em
    You look down from your temple 
   D        C        B/C         Am
As people endeavor to make it a story
G       F#/G     Em      D
    And chisel a marble word
    C        B/C         Am
But all is lost if it's never heard

Break 2:
G   C7   G   G7
Chorus:
C
But I've got someone to make reports
D
That tell me how my money's spent
C
To book my stays and draw my blinds
D
So I can't see what's really there
D
And all I need's a great big congratulations


G  F#/G  Em  D  C  B/C  Am  Am


Just repeat for the rest of the song:

Verse 3:

I'll keep your dreams
You pay attention for me
As strange as it seems 
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me
The ground may be moving fast
But I tied my boots to a broken mast

Break 1

Verse 4:

The difference is clear
You throw it in your cauldron
Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn
Steinways and Baldwins
You start with a simple stock of all the waste
And salt to taste

Break 2

Chorus 2:

But damn my luck and damn these friends
That keep on combing back their smiles
I save my grace with half-assed guilt
And lay down the quilt upon the lawn
Spread my arms and soak up congratulations 


Word.