E                   D               A
the day I turned my back on all you people

E         D             A
I felt an itching in my thumbs.

C#m             E7                 F#m           B7
salt air like a broadcast from the distant, dark beyond

A       D              A (Bbmaj7/A) A
when my transformation comes.


I went down to the warm, warm water

saw a pelican fly past

waved once at the highway and then left all that behind me

I went wading through the grass.



Bm             Bbmaj7         Amaj7
and no one was gonna come and get me.

Bm             Bbmaj7      Amaj7
there wasn't anybody gonna know.

F#m           D                C#7                F#m
even though I leave a trail of burnt things in my wake

A         D             A  (Bbmaj7/A) A
every single place I go.


and it was cool, and it was quiet

in the humid marsh down there.

i let my head sink down beneath the brackish water,

felt it gumming up my hair.


the sun was sinking into the atlantic

the last time that I turned my back on you.

I tried to summon up a little prayer as I went under

it was the best that I could do.


and I said,
"let them all fare better than your servant",

the reeds all pricking at my skin.

"here's hoping they have better luck than i had down here with you"

all that water rushing in.