• Song:

    I Should Live In Salt

  • Artist:

    The National

The song is a bit tricky solely because of the unusual strumming pattern and time signature. 
The intro and verses in this song are in 17/8, a very weird time signature. 
It helps when playing to count to 9, then count to 8, then back to 9, etc. 
The bridge (I should leave it alone part) and the chorus are in regular 4/4. 
Listen to the song very carefully to get the exact strumming pattern right.

During the verses, only play the Em once.
The C in the verses don't have the high e, its just x3201x.
The F is 133211.


C
Don't make me read your mind
C   Em    F
You should know me better than that
C
It takes me too much time
C   Em    F
You should know me better than that
C
You're not that much like me
C   Em    F
You should know me better than that
C
We have different enemies
C   Em    F
You should know me better than that

Am                                     C
I should leave it alone but you're not right
Am                                     C
I should leave it alone but you're not right

C
Can't you write it on the wall?
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that
C
There's no room to write it all
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that
C
Can you turn the TV down?
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that
C
There's too much crying in the sound
C  Em   F
I should know you better than that

Am                                     C
I should leave it alone but you're not right
Am                                     C
I should leave it alone but you're not right
Am                                F   C         
I should live in salt for leaving you behind   
F   C          F  C
     Behind       Ohhhhh

C
Think about something so much
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that
C 
Start to slide out of touch
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that
C
Tell yourself it's all you know
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that
C
Learn to appreciate the void
C   Em     F
You should know me better than that

Am                                F   C
I should live in salt for leaving you behind
F  C         F   C
    Behind        Ohhhhh
Am                                F   C
I should live in salt for leaving you behind
F   C        F  C    
    Behind       Ohhhhhh


Am F C F C F C (x2)


Am                                F   C
I should live in salt for leaving you behind
F   C        F   C
    Behind        Ohhhhh


Repeat intro/verse chord progression once more, then ending on C.
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