The Swimming Song Chords
The Swimming Song by Loudon Wainwright III is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of G. It uses the chords G, C, Dsus2, Em and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
G C G
This summer I went swimming
Dsus2 Em
This summer I might have drowned
C
But I held my breath and I kicked my feet
D G D G
And I moved my arms around, I moved my arms around
G C G
This summer I swam in the ocean
Dsus2 Em
And I swam in a swimming pool
C
Salt my wounds, chlorine my eyes
D G D G
I'm a self-destructive fool, a self-destructive fool
G C G
This summer I swam in a public place
Dsus2 Em
And a reservoir, to boot
C
At the latter I was informal
D G D G
At the former I wore my suit, I wore my swimming suit
G C G
This summer I did the backstroke
Dsus2 Em
And you know that's not all
C
I did the breast stroke and the butterfly
D G D G
And the old Australian crawl, the old Australian crawl
G C G
This summer I did swan dives
Dsus2 Em
And jackknifes for you all
C
And once when you weren't looking
D G D G
I did a cannonball, I did a cannonball
G C G
This summer I went swimming
Dsus2 Em
This summer I might have drowned
C
But I held my breath and I kicked my feet
D G D G
And I moved my arms around, I moved my arms around