Sufjan Stevens - Fourth of July
Hello! Below you'll find my "Fourth of July" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Sufjan Stevens is a tearjerker but it's absolutely gorgeous and the piano part is very elegant and fun to play.
Enjoy!
Fourth of July Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Fourth of July:
Fourth of July Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| Bm7 | E | D | D | x4
| Bm7 | E | D | D | x4
[Verse 1]
Bm E/G# A E/G#
The evil it spread like a fever ahead
Bm7 E D
It was night when you died, my firefly
Bm E/G# A E/G#
What could I have said to raise you from the dead?
Bm7 E D
Oh could I be the sky on the Fourth of July?
[Chorus]
E A
Well you do enough talk
E A E D
My little hawk, why do you cry?
E A E A
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
E D
Or the Fourth of July?
(Bm)
We're all gonna die
E A
Well you do enough talk
E A E D
My little hawk, why do you cry?
E A E A
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
E D
Or the Fourth of July?
(Bm)
We're all gonna die
[Interlude]
| Bm E/G# | A E/G# | Bm7 | E | x2
| D | D |
[Verse 2]
Bm E/G# A E/G#
Sitting at the bed with the halo at your head
Bm7 E D
Was it all a disguise, like Junior High
Bm E/G# A E/G#
Where everything was fiction, future, and prediction
Bm7 E D
Now, where am I? My fading supply
[Chorus]
E A
Did you get enough love,
E A E D
my little dove, Why do you cry?
E A E A
And I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best
E D
Though it never felt right
(Bm)
My little Versailles
my little dove, Why do you cry?
E A E A
And I'm sorry I left, but it was for the best
E D
Though it never felt right
(Bm)
My little Versailles
[Interlude]
| Bm E/G# | A E/G# | Bm7 | E | x2
| D | D |
[Verse 3]
Bm E/G# A E/G#
The hospital asked should the body be cast
Bm7 E D
Before I say goodbye, my star in the sky
Bm E/G# A E/G#
Such a funny thought to wrap you up in cloth
Bm7 E D
Do you find it all right, my dragonfly?
[Chorus]
E A
Shall we look at the moon
E A E D
My little loon, Why do you cry?
E A E A
Make the most of your life, while it is rife
E D
While it is light
[Bridge]
C#m F#m
Well you do enough talk
C#m F#m E D
My little hawk, why do you cry?
C#m F#m C#m F#m
Tell me what did you learn from the Tillamook burn?
E D
Or the Fourth of July?
(Bm)
We're all gonna die
[Interlude]
| Bm E/G# | A E/G# | Bm7 | E | X2 We're all gonna die
| D | D | D | D |
[Outro]
(D) Bm7 | E | D | D |
We're all gonna die (x4)
(No chord)
We're all gonna die
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Fourth of July Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Fourth of July" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Fourth of July" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
