Studying Politics

(Throughout verse one play all six strings on a seventh fret harmonic, At
the places where I have chords just strum Down-Up and go right back to scratching)

It’s like a pencil with erasers at both ends
I want it all but we’re dealing in percents
[G5]And these activities that you have engaged in
[E5]This is the politics of seeing you dance with him
[B5]We began with concluding remarks
[B5]Pick up the pieces and examine the parts
[E5]Your words always cut when they're cliché
[Em]But here’s my knife because I came for the buffet

(Switch to chorus with a G octave chord strum Up-Down-Up)
It looks like this:
    U  D  U
E|----------|
B|----------|
[G]|-12-12-12-|
D|--x--x--x-|
[A]|-10-10-10-|
E|----------|

(The chords in parentheses I play the same way I play the G octave, Just
up-down-up real quick to mimic the album version.  It’s not necessary but it
sounds cool.  Also on the “uh uh” part I just do two upstrokes on that beat.)

[Bm]This is the way it goes
With you a part o[A5]f it
[Bm]Nervously saying words
That oh-so-tightl[G5]y fit
[Em]                      ([G5] [G5])
A mark beneath the chin (Uh Uh)
                           ([G] octave)
I’ve caught you once again
[Bm]It’s in the way you sell every word a[A5]nd phrase
[Bm]And leaving me to know how much the meani[G5]ng weighs
[Em]                           ([G5] [G5])
Saying that but meaning this (Uh Uh)
[Em]Using hands for emphasis

(This part I play the way it is on the album with the pick scratching
[[e].[G]., [Em] [Em]   2 & 3 & 4 &])
[Em](Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)([Bm]Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)[x2]

(I play this weird with the Em just a “1 &” down up strum, followed by a
rest, then I strum the Bm.  Again I think it adds some flavor to it, but do
whatever you want)

[Em]You’d like to [Em]think that you’re the best[Bm] part of me
But I confess[Em] there is [Em]nothing left of [Bm]you here (nothing left of you here)
[Em]These paral[Em]lels and silly [Bm]games
Hide your face and say the [Em]name
       [Em]               ([G] octave)
Say the name (say the name)

I lead into to this thusly:
E|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|-12-12-12-12---9-9-9---7-7-7---9-9--|
D|--x--x--x--x---x-x-x---x-x-x---x-x--|
A|-10-10-10-12---7-7-7---5-5-5---7-7--|
E|------------------------------------|
(Hit the Bm minor and start singing right after this, it’s my attempt to
mimic the album version.)
[Bm]There’s that smile ag[A]ain
You fake it and I f[Em]ollow you right [A]in
What a fool I'[Bm]ve been

To fall for it each time

[Bm]This is the way it goes
With you a part of it
Nervously saying words
That oh-so-tightly fit
[Em]It’s in the way you sell every word and phrase
And leaving me to know how much the meaning weighs
[Bm]This is the way it goes
With you a part of it
[A]Nervously saying words
[Em]That oh-so-tightly fit
[Bm]It’s in the way you sell
every word and phrase
[A]And leaving me to know
[G]how much the meaning weighs

(Same pattern as before but after the fifth “oh ho”, just pound the Em three
times and the Bm once, same rhythm as the album.)
[Em](Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)([Bm]Oh Ho)(Oh Ho)([Em]Oh Ho)

And that’s it! My take on Emery’s “Studying Politics” on the acoustic guitar. Enjoy!

~ Michael