Surprise, Surprise – Brett Dennen
Chords
This is such a great and hugely underappreciated song! I’m almost certain that Brett
doesn’t do it this way, and there is a ton of adlibbing in the recorded version, but
it’s a
good hasty-made foundation. Can be transposed and Capo’d if desired. It sounds like it’s
on a higher fret in the recording. Listen to the song
for the strum pattern, it’s sort of syncopated.
Intro:
Am C Fbar Gbar x2
Verse 1:
Am C
Dark clouds gather in the afternoon
F
Come together just to cry
G
Seagulls struggling against the wind
Am
Falling out of the sky
Am C
Grandma's gathering aluminum cans
F
In a rusty shopping cart
G
Born-againers getting their lives together
Am
While my whole world's falling apart
Chorus:
F
Open up your eyes
G
It's happening all around you
F
If it hasn't found you
G
Well you know it's just a matter of time
F
Surprise, surprise
G
What do you think the world owes you
F
It's not the way it's supposed to go
G
Well you know it's just a matter of time
Verse 2:
Am C
Songbird sitting in a tree house
F
With a trumpet to her lips
G
I'm laying on my back in the tall green grass
Am
Staring up at the eclipse
Am C
Whispers lurking in the alley behind
F
Where the children wear no shoes
G
Call girls and corner kids hustling
Am
Saying what do you got to lose
Chorus
Bridge:
E F
And there's nowhere you can run to
C E
Because the eyes are upon you
Verse 3:
Am C
Some of the coming up hard and hungry
F
Stepping up to take your turn
G
Some of them throwing their money in the fire
Am
Just to watch it burn
Chorus
It's just a matter of
It's just a matter of time
