The Ballad Of The Shape Of Things

Intro and between verses the following 4 bars, repeated variously.


E    F#m    A    B7

These intro bars also work for the first 4 bars of each verse.

E|----------------| 

Long intro, referring to song as "Madrigal Style", then intro bars with fingerpicking and


[Verse 1]

   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Completely round is the perfect pearl, the oyster manu-factures
     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Completely round is the steering wheel that leads to compound fractures
    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Completely round is the golden fruit that hangs in the orange tree
         E      B7       E / B7    C#m
Yes, the circle shape is quite renowned
    E      B7      E / B7  C#m
And sad to say, it can be found
      E         G#7     C#m     A
In the low-down, dirty run-a-round
   E        B7      E        A        E        B7      E
My true love gave to me,      yes, my true love gave to me


[Verse 2]

   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Completely square is the velvet box, he said my ring would be in
     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Completely square was the envelope, he said farewell to me in
    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Completely square was the handkerchief I flourish constantly
     E      B7            E / B7    C#m
As I dry my eyes of the tears I've shed
    E      B7       E / B7          C#m
And blows my nose what turns bright red
      E       G#7          C#m         A
For a perfect square is my true love's head
   E       B7      E   A     E        B7      E
He will not marry me; no he will not marry me


[Verse 3]

   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Rectangular was the hotel door my true love tried to sneak through
     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Rectangular was the transom hole by which I had to peek through
    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Rectangular was the hotel room I entered angrily
         E      B7       E / B7    C#m
And, rectangular was the wooden box
      E       B7            E / B7    C#m
Where lies my love 'neath the golden flox
      E      G#7        C#m     A
They say he died of the chickenpox
   E      B7      E   A    E        B7      E
In part I must agree; one chick too many had he


[Verse 4]

   E        E            E       B7         A      F#      B7    B7
Triangular is the piece of pie I eat to ease my sorrow
     B       B           E        C#m        F#7      F#7      B7      B7
Triangular is the hatchet blade I plan to hide tomorrow
    E       F#m          A      B7        E            F#7     B7       B7
Triangular the relationship that now has ceased to be
       E      B7       E / B7    C#m
And triangular is the garment thin
      E      B7         E / B7    C#m
That fastens on with the safety pin
      E      G#7     C#m     A
To a prize I had no wish to win
         E     B7   E   A        E        B7      E
It's a lasting memory: that my true love gave to me