Be Calm

(intro) ( Abm C#m Abm )
        ( Abm C#m F# )
        ( B   Bbm6 )
        ( Abm C#m F# )

  Abm                                    C#m
As I walk through the streets of my new city
   F#                             B
my back feeling much better, I suppose
Bbm6  Abm                      C#m
I've reclaimed the use of my imagination
    F#                               B
for better or for worse, I've yet to know
Bbm6   Abm                              C#m
but I always knew you'd be the one to understand me,
               F#                                B  Bbm6
I guess that's why it took so long to get things right.
Abm
Suddenly I'm lost
       C#m
On my street

On my block
   F#
Oh why, Oh why
   B               E
Oh why haven't you been there for me?
          F#                 B         Bbm6
Can't you see, I'm losing my mind this time?
Abm                C#m
This time it's for real, I can see

F#*     Abm*      Bbm*    C#m*
All the trees are turning red
    F#*     Abm* Bbm*    C#m*   F#*
The beggars near bodegas grin at me
F#*     Abm*      Bbm*    C#m*
I think they want something
  F#*     Abm*      Bbm*    C#m*  F#*
I close my eyes, I tell myself to breathe
       B
and be calm.

Be calm.
           E                          B
I know you feel like you are breaking down.
       Abm          C#m              E
Well I know that it gets so hard sometimes.
   F#
Be calm.

  Abm                              C#m
I'm scared that everyone is out to get me.
       F#                             B  Bbm6
"These days before you speak to me you pause."
  Abm                             C#m
"I always see you looking out your window."
    F#                                        B  Bbm6
"After all, you lost your band, you left your mom."
    Abm                       C#m
Now every single crack, every pain that I pass,
     F#                                B  Bbm6
says I should either leave or pick it up
    Abm
But with every single buck I've made
    C#m
I'm saddled with bad luck that came
    F#
the moment I was baptized
                                       F#*
or when I found out one day I'm gonna die
   Abm*    Bbm* C#*      F#*     Abm*        C#m*
if only I could find my people or my place in life
    F#*       Abm*   Bb*      C#m*
then when they come to 'carolin'
  F#*       Abm*       Bbm*    C#m*
so loud, so bright, the theremin
    F#*  Abm*   Bbm*
will lead us to a chorus
C#m*  F#*     Abm*      Bbm*      C#m*      F#
where we'll all rejoice and sing a song that goes:
      B
Oh be calm.

Be calm.
           E                          B
I know you feel like you are breaking down.
  Abm          C#m              E
I know that it gets so hard sometimes,
   F#
Be calm.
             B                              D#m
Take it from me, I've been there a thousand times.
              Abm
You hate your pulse because it thinks you're still alive
   Abm A#m* B*       C#m
and e-very--thing's wrong
        E                C#m
It just gets so hard sometimes
   F#
Be calm.

  Abm      F#    D#m       C#m
I don't remember much that night,
     B        F#       B       F# F#* Ab* B*
Just walking, thinking fondly of you
 Abm     F#      D#m      C#m    B
Thinking how the worst is yet to come
F#               B      F#     B
From that street corner came a song
    B* C#m*  D#m* E*
And I can't remember the man,
   F#                 B Bbm6
The panhandler or his melody.
    Abm     F#          D#m   C#m    F#
The words exchanged had far exceeded any change I'd given thee.

      B
Oh be calm.

Be calm.
           E                          B
I know you feel like you are breaking down.
  Abm          C#m              E
I know that it gets so hard sometimes,
   F#
Be calm.
             B                              D#m
Take it from me, I've been there a thousand times.
              Abm
You hate your pulse because it thinks you're still alive
   Abm A#m B       C#m
and e-very--thing's wrong
        E                C#m
It just gets so hard sometimes
   F#
Be calm.
   Abm
Be calm.

(D*  G*)