[Verse 1]
Bm
Drowning in the Blue Nile
G
He sent me Downtown Lights
D
I hadn't heard it in a while
Bm
My boredom was bone deep
G
This cage was once just fine
D
Am I allowed to cry?
Bm
I dream of cracking locks
G
Throwing my life to the wolves
Bm
Or the ocean rocks crashing into him tonight
He's a paradox
I'm seeing visions
G Bm
Am I bad or mad or wise?
[Chorus]
D
What if he's written "mine" on my upper thigh
A G
Only in my mind?
D
One slip, I'm falling back into the hedge maze
A G
Oh, what a way to die
D
I keep recalling things we never did
A
Messy top lip kiss
G
How I long for our trysts
A
Without ever touching his skin
N.C. Bm
How can I be guilty as sin
[Verse 2]
Bm G
I keep these longings locked
D Bm
In lowercase inside a vault
G
Someone told me there's no such things as bad thoughts
D
Only your actions talk
Bm
These fatal fantasies
D
Giving way too labored breath
Taking all of me
Bm
We've already done it in my head
G
If it's make believe, why does it feel like a vow we'll both uphold somehow?
[Chorus]
D
What if he's written "mine" on my upper thigh
A G
Only in my mind?
D
One slip, I'm falling back into the hedge maze
A G
Oh, what a way to die
D
My bedsheets are ablaze, I screamed his name
A G
Building up back waves crashing over my grave
A
Without ever touching his skin
N.C. D
How can I be guilty as sin
[Bridge]
Bm G
What if I roll the stone away?
A
They're gonna crucify me anyway
D Bm
What if the way you hold me
G
Is actually what's holy
D Bm G
If long-suffering propiety is what they want from me
A D
They don't know how you've haunted me so stunningly
Bm G
I choose you and me, religously
[Chorus]
D
What if he's written "mine" on my upper thigh
A G
Only in my mind?
D
One slip, I'm falling back into the hedge maze
A G
Oh, what a way to die
D
I keep recalling things we never did
A
Messy top-lip kiss
G
How I long for our trysts
A
Without ever touching his skin
N.C. D
How can I be guilty as sin
[Outro]
A G
He sent me downtown lies
D
I hadn't heard it in a while
A G
Am I allowed to cry?
How to play "Guilty As Sin" by Taylor Swift on guitar
[Verse Chords]
- Chord Progression: Bm G D
- The haunting melody is well represented by these chords, which set a
somber and reflective tone.
[Chord Details]
- Bm Minor: Barre chord on the 2nd fret, using the A minor shape.
- G Major: Open chord.
- D Major: Open chord.
- A Major: Open chord.
[Strumming Pattern]
- Suggested Pattern: Down-Up, Up-Down-Up, Down-Up
- This pattern adds a bit of tension and release, reflecting the lyrical
themes of longing and restraint.
[Chorus Chords]
- Chord Progression: D A G
- Shift to a slightly more intense strumming pattern here to highlight the
emotional escalation that the chorus brings.
[Common Mistakes]
- Not capturing the emotional weight of the lyrics through dynamic strumming.
Vary your strumming intensity to match the song's emotional highs and lows.
- Rushing through the chord changes, especially during the more lyrically
dense sections. Maintain a steady tempo to let each chord resonate.
[General Tips]
- Pay attention to the lyrical content to guide the emotional expression in
your playing.
- Practice transitioning smoothly between the minor and major chords to
maintain the melodic flow of the song.
[Bridge Chords]
- Chord Progression: Bm G A D
- The bridge offers a moment of lyrical and melodic climax. Consider using
a mix of strumming and arpeggiation to emphasize the introspective and
confessional quality of this section.
[Lyrics Meaning]
- "Guilty As Sin" delves into themes of forbidden desires, emotional conflict,
and the inner turmoil of feeling morally conflicted yet irresistibly drawn
to a taboo affection. The song portrays the protagonist's struggle between
societal expectations and personal feelings, using vivid imagery and
metaphors to express the intensity of these internal conflicts.
