MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER What to keep and what to throw away Chords

[N] _ [C] _ _ _ _ [F] _ _ _
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[C] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[Bb] _ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _
These are your [Bb] instructions _ should you choose to [C] follow
_ Down with pen and [Bb] paper
_ begin with something
[C]
The _ last words [Bb] he offered _
kind of [C] explanation
_ The only take up [Bb] space
Do not need [C] to say
_ _ _ [Bb] _
_ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
Open up [Bb] closet _
Find this winter [C] cold day
[F] Check inside the [Bb] pockets
_ Find a couple [C] more things
Milk and Sunday [Bb] paper and hearts smudged [C] in blue _ _
Fold it up and [Bb] box it
Before you've time [C] to think _ _ _ _
[Bb] _ _ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _
_ Sundays are [Bb] the hardest
Avoid familiar [C] back roads
Embrace the old [Bb] phone numbers
Delete all the [C] photos
_ Those you [Bb] haven't heard from
Come as no [C] surprise
They made their calculations
_ [Bb] _ _ And they [C] chose a side _ _ _
_ [Bb] _ _ _ _ _ _ [C] _
_ _ [F] _ _ _ [Bb] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ [C] _ _ [F] These are your [Bb] instructions
When you become [C] reclusive
Old friends say [Bb] they miss you
And sleep becomes [C] _
elusive
Fill up every [Bb] journal _
Empty every [C] shoebox
_ _ Burn the lists [Bb] and letters
_ Sweep out all the [C] old thoughts
Shake off all [Bb] the covers
Throw every window [C] open _
Stand here in [Bb] your bare feet
Welcome in [C] the morning
_ [F] These are your [Bb] instructions
_ _ Grace has left [C] you stranded
You are [Bb] lost and wounded _
Bleeding and [C] in the hand _ _
_ [Bb] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[C] _ _ _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _
_ _ _ _ [C] _ _ Use a tourniquet for [Bb] pressure
_ Let time do its [C] healing
Use your prayers for good [Bb] measure
When you think you've lost all [C] feeling
Walk into [Bb] the guest room
The last place he was [C] sleeping
See the outline [Bb] on the pillow
Smooth it without [C] weeping
_ _ _ _ _ [Bb] _ _
_ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
One last final [Bb] walk through
Remove the bags [C] and boxes
From front porch on to [Bb] back seat
Falling away the [C] losses
_ These are your [Bb] instructions _
If you choose [C] to follow
Stop and take a [Bb] big breath
_ Begin with [C] something humble
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