The Manuscript - Taylor Swift

The Manuscript chords

[Intro]
C  G    F
C  G    F
 
[Verse]
C                               G
Now and then she rereads the manuscript
                        F
Of the entire torrid affair
C
They compared their licenses
    G
He said, "I'm not a donor but
                              F
I'd give you my heart if you needed it"
     C
She rolled her eyes and said
               G
"You're a professional"
                               F
He said, "No, just a good samaritan"
    C                                G
He said that if the sex was half as good as the conversation was
                          F
Soon they'd be pushin' strollers

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        C
But soon it was over
 
[Instrumental]
G   F
C   G    F
 
[Verse]
        C                               G
In the age of him, she wished she was thirty
                                     F
And made coffee every morning in a Frеnch press
C                               G
Afterwards she only atе kids' cereal
                                         F
And couldn't sleep unless it was in her mother's bed
C                                 G
Then she dated boys who were her own age
                                        F
With dart boards on the backs of their doors
      C                                 G
She thought about how he said since she was so wise beyond her years
                           F
Everything had been above board
            C
She wasn't sure
 
[Instrumental]
G    F
C    G    F
 
[Bridge]
         G
And the years passed
       Am          F
Like scenes of a show
        G              Am             F
The Professor said to write what you know
         G
Lookin' backwards
       C           G            F
Might be the only way to move forward
          G
Then the actors
      Am            F
Were hitting their marks
         G
And the slow dance
      Am              F
Was alight with the sparks
          G
And the tears fell
     C       G              F
In synchronicity with the score
        G
And at last
          C           G           F
She knew what the agony had been for
 
[Verse]
     C                                G
The only thing that's left is the manuscript
                                        F
One last souvenir from my trip to your shores
C                             G
Now and then I reread the manuscript
                         F
But the story isn't mine anymore




How to play "The Manuscript" by Taylor Swift on guitar

Playing Style: Emphasize a clear and expressive delivery
throughout the song, particularly focusing on the
emotional weight of the lyrics.

[Intro]
- Use a simple strumming pattern: Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up.
  This pattern is both reflective and rhythmic.
  C -> G -> F
  C -> G -> F

[Verse]
- Continue the strumming pattern established in the intro.
  Pay attention to the lyrical phrasing to enhance the
  storytelling.
  "Now and then she rereads the manuscript..."
  C -> G -> F

[Instrumental]
- Keep the same chord progression as the verse but allow
  some chords to ring out to provide a break in the vocal
  narrative.
  G -> F -> C -> G -> F

[Bridge]
- Change the dynamics here to build tension. Use a
  combination of strumming and letting chords ring.
  "And the years passed, Like scenes of a show..."
  G -> Am -> F -> G -> Am -> F
  "Then the actors, Were hitting their marks..."
  G -> Am -> F -> G -> C -> G -> F

[Verse]
- Return to the strumming pattern from earlier verses.
  Close the song with a reflective tone on the lyrics.
  "The only thing that's left is the manuscript..."
  C -> G -> F

General Tips:
- Tuning: Standard tuning (E A D G B E) is appropriate for
  this song.
- Practice the chord changes to ensure smooth transitions
  that match the lyrical flow of the song.
- Emphasize emotional expression over technical complexity
  to truly convey the song's narrative.

Lyrics Meaning:
"The Manuscript" explores themes of reflection and
nostalgia, with a narrative that delves into past
relationships and personal growth. The manuscript serves
as a metaphor for memories and experiences that shape one's
identity, ultimately highlighting the process of letting go
and moving forward with newfound understanding.