“Skinny Love” is a song by American indie folk band Bon Iver, written by Justin Vernon. It was the lead US single from Bon Iver’s self-released 2007 debut album “For Emma, Forever Ago.” Over in the UK, the track was released as a single on April 28, 2008.
The song is believed to be dedicated to Vernon’s relationship with ex-girlfriend Christy Smith, although he stated that such statement is not entirely true. As you may or may not know, “Skinny Love” was used in the first episode of the fifth season of “Grey’s Anatomy” show.
A largely successful cover of the song was released by Birdy 2011. This version has been chosen as “Record of The Week” by UK radio DJ Fearne Cotton, and it had 259,000 copies sold in the UK, which made it the third biggest selling rock single in 2011.
Bon Iver’s version:
Birdy’s version:
Lyrics and chords:
Below you can check out the lyrics and chords for the original Bon Iver’s version of the song.
[Intro]
Am C
Am C
Am C
G Am
[Verse 1]
Am C
Come on skinny love just last the year
Am C
Pour a little salt we were never here
Am C
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
G Am
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
Am C
I tell my love to wreck it all
Am C
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
Am C
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
G Am
Right in the moment this order’s tall
[Chorus]
C
I told you to be patient
G F
I told you to be fine
C
I told you to be balanced
G F
I told you to be kind
C
In the morning I’ll be with you
G F
But it will be a different “kind”
C
I’ll be holding all the tickets
G F
And you’ll be owning all the fines
[Verse 2]
Am C
Come on skinny love what happened here
Am C
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
Am C
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
G Am
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
[Chorus]
C
I told you to be patient
G F
I told you to be fine
C
I told you to be balanced
CG F
I told you to be kind
C
Now all your love is wasted?
G F
Then who the hell was I?
C
Now I’m breaking at the bridges
G F
And at the end of all your lines
[Outro]
C
Who will love you?
G F
Who will fight?
C G F
Who will fall far behind?
[Coda]
Am C
Am C
Am C
G Am
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