Broken Bicycles

Appears on One from the Heart

Version 1 | Version 2 | Lyrics

Version 1

3/4 Cm


Taken from a live recording of just piano and voice, this 
transcription has been simplified for easier guitar playing.  
The original recording may be found by Tom Waits and Crystal 
Gayle on the soundtrack of the 1982 Francis Coppola film "One 
>From the Heart."


Cm      -        Db      -
G7      G7sus4     Cm

         Cm      G
 Broken bicycles,...
Fm7       Ab       G7        Cm
Cm                 G
Fm7       Ab       Eb        G7

C         C-9      Fm7
 September's...
G7        G7sus4   Cm        C7   C9
Fm7       Bb       Db7       C7
Ab        G        Ab7       G7


Cm      -        Db      -
G7      G7sus4     Cm

       Cm      G
 Broken bicycles,...
Fm7       Ab       G7        Cm
Cm                 G
Fm7       Ab       Eb        G7

C         C-9      Fm7
 The seasons can...
G7        G7sus4   Cm        C7   C9
Fm7       Bb       Db7       C7
Ab        G        Ab7       G7

Cm        Cm         Cm

Version 2

   Cm                Cm/G              Db 
E|-8---10----------|-10---11---------|-11---13-------11-|-13-----11-| 
B|-----------------|----8-------8----|-------------9----|-----------| 
G|---8----10----10-|---------10---10-|----8----10-------|--------12-| 
D|-----------12----|-----------------|------------------|-----------| 
A|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| 
E|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| 
			
   G7                                Cm 
E|-10------------10-|-11-------10--|--------------| 
B|------------13----|--------------|-13-----------| 
G|-10---10----------|-12-------12--|-12-----------| 
D|---------12-------|--------------|-13-----------| 
A|------------------|--------------|--------------| 
E|------------------|--------------|--------------| 
			
Cm                G 
Broken bicycles, old busted chains 
Fm7           Ab           G          Cm 
with busted handle bars, out in the rain 
Cm                      G 
Somebody must have an orphanage for 
Fm7                     Ab    Ebmaj7     G 
all these things that nobody wants any more 
			
C7                      Fm 
September's reminding July 
G                          Cm 
It's time to be saying goodbye 
Fm7         Bb7   Db9              C9 
Summer is gone, our love will remain 
Ab/Bb             G/A      Ab         G 
Like old broken bicycles out in the rain 
			
Broken bicycles, don't tell my folks 
There's all those playing cards pinned to the spokes 
Laid down like skeletons out on the lawn 
The wheels won't turn when the other has gone 
			
The seasons can turn on a dime 
Somehow I forget every time 
For the things that you've given me will always stay 
Broken, but I'll never throw them away 

Lyrics

Old busted chains,
With busted handle bars
Out in the rain.
Somebody must
Have an orphanage for
All these things that nobody
Wants any more
September's reminding July
It's time to be saying good-bye.

Summer is gone,
Our love will remain.
Like old broken bicycles
Out in the rain.

Broken Bicycles,
Don't tell my folks;
There's all those playing cards
Pinned to the spokes,
Laid down like skeletons
out on the lawn.
The wheels won't turn
When the other has gone.
The seasons can turn on a dime,
Somehow I forget every time;
For all the things that you've given me
Will always stay
Broken, but I'll never throw them away