Understudies chords by
The Hold Steady

N/A

Key: A minor

Intro 1

Verse 1
Am Am 
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In the window of the storefront
C C 
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There's a mugshot for a manhunt
F F 
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And those cakes all decorated
Dm Dm 
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with cartoons.
Am Am 
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Piñatas shaped like parrots. Secrets

Verse 2
Am Am 
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C C 
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leaking from the gas tanks
Dm Dm 
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In the back while they were twisting
Am Am 
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E E 
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up balloons.
Am Am 
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The helium

Verse 3

was noble

And the nitrous was obnoxious

And the neon lit the stage

For the patrons in their boxes.

Verse 4
Am Am 
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And the scarecrow stepped
on set
C C 
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He stumbled then recovered.
Dm Dm 
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Started on his steps
Em Em 
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then said whatever

Verse 5

This is showbiz.

Hit the spotlight.

If you really want to dance then

put your shoes on

Verse 6

And the diamond

In his tie pin

Was blinking like an isolated

G#dim

neutron.

Verse 7

He said it's perfect when you're

fi nally performing

But all this waiting around just

gets so boring.

Verse 8

When the show is over

Then people in theater

Stand up and start to clap

Try to take this whole thing back.

Verse 9

But the night is just beginning

For the actor and the gaffer

He's taking off his makeup

And they meet up by the back door

Verse 10
Am Am 
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In the alley there's an taxi
C C 
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G G 
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When they get in it starts
C C 
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moving
F F 
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And the driver gets a feeling
Dm Dm 
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That he knows just
G G 
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where they're going

Verse 11
Am Am 
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And it's quiet and he listens
G G 
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C C 
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To the actor the gaffer
Am Am 
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F F 
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Discuss the things they're getting
C C 
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Dm Dm 
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G#dim G#dim 6
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And where they're going after.
E E 
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And if

Verse 12
C C 
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4am's the night
Em Em 
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F F 
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time or the morning?
Am Am 
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It's hard to get to sleep
F F 
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C C 
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after performing.
Em Em 
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When a star is born the habit
F F 
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begins forming.
Am Am 
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F F 
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It's hard to get to sleep
C C 
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after performing.

Verse 13

The ad renaline it kicks in

When the stagehand hits the curtain.

It's exciting when you're working

You get to be a different person.

Verse 14
Am Am 
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Dm Dm 
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But later when it's over
Am Am 
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A A 
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And they're sweeping up
Dm Dm 
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Am Am 
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the lobby and
Dm Dm 
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Am Am 
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You're still on that wavelength.
And it's sometimes hard to shake it.

Verse 15

The bakery is a business

That's pretty unsuspecting.

They're busy on the third shift and

The doors are always open.

Verse 16

The actor and the gaffer

They enter through the kitchen

When the baker sees them coming

He starts taking off his apron.

Verse 17
Dm Dm 
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Now it's showtime.
Em Em 
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Hit the spotlights.
Am Am 
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But the gaffer never turned up
Dm Dm 
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And his phone's been
dead since last night.
E E 
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Now it's

Verse 18

showtime.

Cue the dancers.

The director phones the actor

But the actor doesn't answer.

Verse 19
Am Am 
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Call the back up.
C C 
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Get the new guy.
F F 
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They're pacing around backstage
Dm Dm 
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G G 
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Trying to brush up on their lines.
E E 
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The understudy

Verse 20

Plays the savior.

Comes in and does the part without

The dangerous behavior.

Verse 21
C C 
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Em Em 
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But when a star is born the habit
F F 
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begins forming.
Am Am 
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F F 
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C C 
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It's hard to get to sleep after performing.
Em Em 
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F F 
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Is 4am the night time or the morning?
Am Am 
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F F 
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C C 
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It's hard to get to sleep after performing.

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TunerE A D G B E

ChordsAm C F Dm E...

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Understudies chords by
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