PETER HAMMILL

We Are Written

Chord transcription by François Couture, fcouture@abacom.com

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Gmin F Bb

Ç It was always going to be like this,

Amin Gmin

whatever you bring yourself to say.

Bb F Eb

Why donÕt you point that thing the other way

(no chord) Gmin F Eb

and telescope this tangled story?

Gmin F Bb

YouÕve got the whole thing at your fingertips,

Gmin F Eb

already scripted in an alien Braille,

Amin (ou C?) Gmin Gmin+A

snagged up under your fingernails. È Oh, so

Bb F Eb

blissful, in ignorance we pin the tail,

Gmin (notes: c bb a bb) C

with smudgy marks we scratch the surface.

Bbmin/G Fmin/G

We are what we were born to be,

Bbmin/G Fmin/G

we are what we become

Bb C F

over time under our thumbs

Bb F

We are written in our fingerprints,

Bb F

in everything we do and see;

Bb F

we are written in our fingerprints,

Bb G# F# F

so very singular the marks of our destiny

Gmin F

So open the hands :

Gmin F ---

this is a lifespan.

Gmin F Bb

I found the future in my grasp,

Gmin F Eb

the line of least resistance, naturally;

Gmin F Bb

joined up the dots and never thought to ask

Amin Gmin Gmin/A

could I somehow do this differently? In the

Bb F Eb

heat of the moment itÕs impressed on me

Gmin (notes: c bb a bb) C

whatÕs done is done in understanding.

Bbmin/G Fmin/G

And if I had a choice to make

Bbmin/G Fmin/G

I ignored it as such

Bbmin/G Fmin/G

So our lifelines accumulate like the

Bb C F

dust on the things we have touched

Bb F

We are written in our fingerprints,

Bb F

all our virtues, all our vice.

Bb F

We are written in our fingerprints,

Bb F

Once upon a time the story :

Bb F

we wonÕt go through these motions twice.

Bb F

We are written in our fingerprints.

Bb F

We are written in our fingerprints.

Bb F

Bb F

G# F# F

G# F# F

We donÕt get to do this thing twice,

Gmin F

so letÕs play out the hand,

Gmin F Eb

unconsciously pre-planned.

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