the Mountain Goats Wiki

Exegetic Chains
Tabbed by Jonathon McCullough, edits by Rosa

A: x0222x
C#m: x4665x
D: x5777x
E: 022100
Dsus2: xx0230
Dsus6/9: xx0450
F#m: 2442xx


Through most of this song John is just using three strings of each chord like so:
e|-------------|
B|-------------|
G|---2---2---2-|
D|---2---2---2-|
A|-0---0---0---|
E|-------------|etc...

Occasionally he will add in another string, like in the C#m chord or sometimes in the E or Dsus2 for effect. 
Just listen for the timing!

A                                                          C#m
Look closely at the shadows on the ground beneath the trees
D		A
  The labors of Hercules
A		                               C#m
Wild grasses on the hills, rippling in the wind
D  A                  
   Cybele unchained

    E                   
The songs you sing at Christmas time
    Dsus2
The stories that you tell
		     F#m
Well I knew them well
    Dsus2	    F#m	
Yes I knew them well

      E
Say your prayers to whomever
	 Dsus2
You call out to in the night
	 F#m
Keep the chains tight
E
Make it through this year
      Dsus2		Dsus6/9 Dsus2 Dsus6/9 A
If it kills you outright

A		                                          C#m
The coins they toss at dancers whirling in the city square
D  A
   Music on the air
A		                                         C#m
The places where we met to share our secrets now and then
D         A
  We will see them again

E
Change will come
    Dsus2
Stay warm inside the ripple
Of the Panasonic hum
                  F#m	
It grinds and it roars
Dsus2
Headed somewhere better
If I have to crawl there on all fours

         E
Say your prayers to whomever
	 Dsus2
You call out to in the night
	 F#m
Keep the chains tight
E
Make it through this year
      Dsus2
If it kills us outright
e|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|---5---5---5---5---7---7---7---7---9---9---9---9---10--10--|
G|---4---4---4---4---6---6---6---6---8---8---8---8---9---9---|
D|-0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
(repeat last chord here until moved by the spirit)

Outro:
A E Dsus2 (x4)