The Best Of Times Chords by Sage Francis

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [E] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ I spent a long and lonely trip but I'm glad I took it, it was well worth it.
Got to read a couple books and do some research before I reached my verdict.
Never thought that I was perfect, always thought that I had a purpose.
I used to wonder if I'd live to see [G#m] my first kiss.
_ The [C#m] most difficult thing that I did was recite my own words at a service,
[A] realizing the person I was addressing [C#m] probably wasn't looking down from heaven.
[A]
Or cooking up something in hell's kitchen, trying to listen in or
eavesdrop from some other dimension.
It was self-serving just like this is.
_ [E]
Conveniently religious, on Easter Sunday and on Christmas,
the television went from being a babysitter to a mistress.
[B] Technology made it easy for us to stay in touch while keeping a distance.
So we just stay distant and never touch.
Now all we do is text too much.
[C#m] I don't remember much from my youth, maybe my memory is repressed.
Or I just spent too much time wondering if I'd live to have sex.
Found in love [A] for the first time in fourth grade, but
I didn't have the courage to talk to her.
In eighth grade, I wrote the note and slipped it in somebody else's locker.
Considered [E] killing myself because of that.
It was a big deal, it was a blown cover.
It was over for me, my goose was cooked, stick a fork in me, the jig is [G#m] up.
Blew my chances, the rest is history, our [E] future was torn asunder.
It [B] became abundantly clear, I was only brought here to suffer.
At least [C#m] I didn't include my name.
Thankfully I wrote the whole note in code and
it had ten layers of scotch tape safety seal, making it impossible to open.
[A] Plus it was set to self-destruct.
Whoever read it probably died laughing.
I wonder if they lived long enough to [D#] realize what happened.
[A] A year later, [E] came to understand that wasn't love that I was feeling for her.
I had someone else to obsess over.
I was older, I was very mature.
[G#m] I forged my time signature while [B] practicing my parents' autograph,
because I was failing math.
Disconnected the [G#m] phone when I thought the teacher would call my [C#m] home.
Checked the mailbox twice a day.
The end of a long dirt road.
Seemed open a couple envelopes, like I [C#] was in private detective mode.
[A] If you snoop around long enough for something in particular,
you're guaranteed to find it.
For better or worse, that's how I learned it's best to just keep [D#] some things private.
_ [B] _ [E] It was the best of times, _ _ _ _ _ was the end of [C#m] times.
_ _ _ [E] _ _ Best of times, was the end of [A] times.
It was the best of times, was the end of [E] times.
Best of times, the end of times.
I was always on deck, I was next in [A] line.
An only child with a pen and pad, writing a list of things I could never [D#] have.
Walls in my house were paper [C#m] thin, every squabble seemed to get deafening.
[E] My memory served me correctly and made it a point to avoid and forget some [B] things.
Proudly to keep from being [C#m] embarrassed.
Never meant to upset or get briefed.
My [E] parents kept my secrets, hidden my talents.
In my head, never run to the mattress.
Therapy couldn't break me.
Never learned a word that would ensure safety, so [A] I spoke softly.
Then I tiptoed off, and the door to my room was like a big old [E] coffin.
The way that it creaked when I closed it shut.
Anxiety's peak when it opened [A] up.
If everything that I was thinking would be exposed, I'd still sleep fully [B] _ clothed.
It was the [A] best of times.
_ _ [E] _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [B] It was beautiful, it was brutal, [A] it was cruel.
It was business as [E] usual.
Heaven, it was hell.
Used to wonder if I lived to see 12.
When I did, I figured that I was immortal.
Loved to dance, but couldn't make it to the formal.
[A] Couldn't bear watching my imaginary girlfriend bust a move with any other dudes.
[E] Tone low, was talking about a wild thing that was still caught up with some child [A] things.
Scared of a god who couldn't spare the rod, who was clearly a brimstone of fire [B] things.
_ Hyromaniac, [A] kleptomaniac.
Couldn't explain my desire to [E] steal that fire.
Now I add it to my rider, like please, oh please don't kill me, and I [B] pass a briar.
It was the [A] best of times.
_ _ [E] _ _ It was the end of times.
The school counselor was clueless, cause I never skipped classes.
Perfect pretendence, imperfect [A] accent.
Speech impediments they could never really fix.
And I fake bad eye sight, so I wear [E] glasses.
Consider doing something that would cripple me.
Wanted a wheelchair, wanted the [A] sympathy.
Wanted straight teeth, so then came braces.
Four years of ped gear helped me [B] change faces.
It was the [A] best of times.
_ _ [E] It was the end of times. _
_ _ [B] Now I wonder if I'll live to see marriage.
[A] Wonder if I'll live long enough to have kids.
Wonder if [E] I'll live to see my kids have kids.
If I do, I'ma tell them how it is.
Don't listen when they tell you that these be your best years.
Don't let anyone protect [A] your ears.
It's best that you hear what they don't want you to hear.
[E] Better to have pressure from peers than not have fear.
Fear won't give you chest hair.
Spicy food won't make you [A] curl.
When you think you got it all figured out and then everything [E] collapses.
Trust me, kid.
It's not the end of the world. _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ [N] _