Alas I Cannot Swim chords by Laura Marling (Official Version)

GuitarPianoUkulele

Bb/C
Bb/D
Eb
Ab
Bb/F
Cm/G
Cm
Eb/G

Verse 1
Bb/C 
Bb/D 
Eb 
 (B flat/C) There's  (B flat/D) a       (E flat major) house across the river,
Ab 
Eb 
but alas  (A flat major) I cannot  (E flat major) swim
And a garden of such beauty
Bb/F 
that the  (B flat/F) flowers seem to grin
Bb/C 
Bb/D 
Eb 
 (B flat/C) There's  (B flat/D) a       (E flat major) house across the river,
Ab 
Eb 
but alas  (A flat major) I cannot  (E flat major) swim
I'll live my life regretting
Ab 
Eb 
that I  (A flat major) never jumped  (E flat major) in

Interlude 1

There's a

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Verse 2

boy across the river

with short black curly hair

He wants to be my lover

and I want to be his peer

There's a boy across the river,

but alas I cannot swim

And I never will get

to put my arms around him

Interlude 2

There's a

Verse 3
Eb 
 (E flat major) life across the river
Ab 
Eb 
that was  (A flat major) meant for  (E flat major) me
Bb/F 
Instead I live my life in constant  (B flat/F) misery
Bb/C 
Bb/D 
Eb 
 (B flat/C) There's  (B flat/D) a       (E flat major) life across the river
Ab 
Eb 
but I  (A flat major) do  not  (E flat major) see
Why I should please those
Bb/F 
Eb 
who will  (B flat/F) never  be  (E flat major) pleased

Interlude 3

There is

Chorus 1
Cm/G 
 (C minor/G) gold   across the river,
Ab 
Cm/G 
but I  (A flat major) don't want  (C minor/G) none
There is gold across the river,
Ab 
Eb 
but I  (A flat major) don't want  (E flat major) none
Cm 
Ab 
Eb/G 
Gold is  (C minor) fleeting, gold is  (A flat major) fickle, gold is  (E flat/G) fun
Cm/G 
Ab 
Eb/G 
Gold is  (C minor/G) fleeting, gold is  (A flat major) fickle, gold is  (E flat/G) fun
Bb/C 
Bb/D 
 (B flat/C) There   (B flat/D) is

Outro 1
Eb 
 (E flat major) gold across the river,
Ab 
Eb 
but I  (A flat major) don't want none  (E flat major) 
I would rather be dry
Bb/F 
then held up  (B flat/F) by     a golden gun
Eb 
Saying work  (E flat major) more, earn more,
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) live more, have more  (E flat major) fun
Saying work more, earn more,
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) live more, have more  (E flat major) fun
Saying work more, earn more,
Ab 
Eb 
 (A flat major) live more, have more  (E flat major) fun

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GuitarPianoUkulele

Bb/C
Bb/D
Eb
Ab
Bb/F
Cm/G
Cm
Eb/G

Tuning: E A D G B EDifficulty: IntermediateKey: Eb majorBPM: 151

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Finger positions, low to high (E A D G B e). 0 is open, x is muted.

Bb/C: x-3-x-3-3-1
Bb/D: x-5-3-3-6-x
Eb: x-6-8-8-8-x
Ab: 4-6-6-5-4-4
Bb/F: 1-x-3-3-3-x
Cm/G: 3-x-5-5-4-x
Cm: x-3-5-5-4-x
Eb/G: x-x-5-3-4-3

Accurately transcribed by the GuitarTuna team.

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This is the definitive original version of Alas I Cannot Swim by Laura Marling, transcribed exactly as it was recorded in the studio. Unlike our simplified arrangement, this chart preserves the precise chord voicings and progressions in the original key of Eb major. It is designed for guitarists ready to move past the basics and capture the true feel of Laura Marling's performance.