The Ascension

Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "The Ascension" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

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Chords and Lyrics - Jump straight to the song's lyrics and chord overlay.
Chord Diagrams and Key Transposition - Access chord diagrams and learn how to transpose the key of the song to suit your voice.

Learn The Ascension Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "The Ascension" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

C         C/E           Am               C
When I am dead and the light leaves my breast
F              G     Dm            Em
Nothing to be told, nothing to confess
C              C/E          Am                C
Let the record show what I couldn't quite confess
        F           G       Dm              Em
For by living for myself I was living for unrest

Then the evidence came back in a chariot of
vindication
Something to behold, glorious in its path
But the prophecy fell back as it gave to me an
invitation
Show them what is right, show them what is blessed

Chorus:
     Dm    C/E         F             G
But now it strikes me far too late again
           Dm             C/E     F         G
That I was asking far too much of everyone around
me
     Dm     C/E        F             G
And now it strikes me far too late again
              Dm            C/E           F
That I should answer for myself as the Ascension
        G
falls upon me

So what should be said of a life that
leaves its mess?
For once your life was sold it could
never be possessed
You were selfishly as a continent,
you were finally at your best
For you favored for yourself
when selfishness was blessed

Then Cordelia came back in a chariot hallucination
Something to rejoice, glorious in its wrath
But the prophecy was a pantomime as it
came to me in accusation
Show them what is right, show them what is best

Chorus

And now it frightens me, the thought
against my chest
To think I was asking for a reason,
explaining why everything's a total mess
And now it frightens me, the dreams that I possess
To think I was acting like a believer,
when I was just angry and depressed


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Guitar Chord Diagrams

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

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Chords and Lyrics
Chord Diagrams and Key Transposition

If you are also interested in learning how to play "The Ascension" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "The Ascension" by Sufjan Stevens.

Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension: Guitar Chords

Learn The Ascension Guitar Chords and Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens

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Sufjan Stevens Song List