Return to the Mary Chapin Carpenter chords page

Printable version of this song Transpose this song up or down:
APRIL RAIN (Mary Chapin Carpenter)
----------------------------------
[Actually in F; capo 3.]
[Each chord is one measure, except two chords joined by a hyphen are one measure total.]

 Bm(4)/A: x04430
  G6maj7: 3x4430
 D(9)/F#: 2x0230
Dmaj9/F#: 2x0220
    G(9): 3x0203
    A(9): x02200
D7(9)/F#: 2x0210

Bm    Bm(4)/A    G6maj7    G6maj7
[intro]

Bm    Bm(4)/A    G6maj7    G6maj7
[intro]

Em    Em         D(9)/F#   D(9)/F#   (or maybe Dmaj9/F#?)
[intro]

G(9)  G(9)       A(9)      A(9)
[intro]


D(9)/F#            D(9)/F#       G(9)             A7
  Going back, I'd have to say, love was just a charm
F#m              F#m              G(9)             G(9) - G(9)/F#
  Dangling from a bracelet hanging freely from my arm
         Em              Em    A             A
It was a hollow silver heart,  shiny and engraved
          F#                F#              G(9)   G(9) - G(9)/F#
With the faintest trace of letters from my name

        Em                 Em              D(9)/F#       D(9)/F#
When it tarnished, I took to it with some polish and a cloth
           G(9)           G(9)           D(9)/F#      D(9)/F#
And when I figured I outgrew it, I just left it in a box
        Em                   Em              A               A
For the charms of love were something that a woman wouldn't lack
     F#              F#            G(9)   G(9) - G(9)/F#
As I made my way to you across the tracks

       Em                A                 D   -   D/C#         D/B   -   D/A
'Cause you were from the other side of the silver rails and the wooden ties
G                      A              D/F#        D7(9)/F#
  That long ago could not divide us, even with a train
            G                     A                F#m                 Bm - Bm(4)/A
And now the tracks are there, but you are not, and in your place there is a spot
      G6maj7 -   G6maj7/F#   Em          G(9)   A
Where flowers  grow but      weeds will not     in April rain

Bm    Bm(4)/A    G6maj7    G6maj7
[instrumental, like first part of intro]
Bm    Bm(4)/A    G6maj7    G6maj7
[instrumental, like first part of intro]

And now the world has kept on moving, but I am standing still
Every urge to keep on running only goes against my will
I can feel you at my fingertips, I can smell you on my clothes
I can wear that silver heart and say I know

But boys without true fathers become men without true aims
And hearts without each other only look about the same
I'm as paralyzed in loving as a cripple with a cane
I forgive but can't forget you all the same

'Cause you were from the other side of the silver rails and the wooden ties
That long ago could not divide us, even with a train
And now the tracks are there, but you are not, and in your place there is a spot
Where flowers grow but weeds will not in the April rain

[instrumental: 16 bars, repeat full intro]

So you can blame it on your daddy, or you can blame it on your pride
You can blame on the trains that never come to town on time
You can blame your knack for losing, on your eyes but not on me
'Cause I loved you more than you ever chose to see

But you were from the other side of the silver rails and the wooden ties
That long ago could not divide us, even with a train
And now the tracks are there, but you are not, and in your place there is a spot
Where flowers grow but weeds will not in the April rain

[instrumental, like first part of intro; end on the weird G6maj7 chord.]



- transcribed by Adam Schneider, http://adamschneider.net/

Return to the Mary Chapin Carpenter chords page