I really love this track from Aimee Mann's album Bachelor No. 2. The song was also on the Magnolia movie soundtrack. If you were around back then you probably saw that movie. It's a little odd and everyone was talking about it at the time. Regardless, the music my Aimee Mann is fanatic.
And what a great chord progression this song has. That second chord is exquisite, the Em(maj7). The sequence of these chords has a heartbreaking quality as one note falls to the next, and the next.
Try the above chord sequence with a strum pattern like the one in the song. Beat 1 is a long strum, beat 2 just play the root of the chord, then down, down up.
Here are a couple more chords you might be unfamiliar with. That Gaug chord is uncommon but again it sounds so perfect in that chorus.
You can download a printable PDF of the chord chart here below, or just play the song from the chart written out below.
Save Me – Aimee Mann
STRUM: D . B . D . D U
CAPO 3
INTRO:
Em Emmaj7 Em7 Em6 (repeat)
VERSE:
Em Emmaj7 Em7 Em6 G C G B7
You look like --- a perfect fit
Em Emmaj7 Em7 Em6 G C G G/F#
For a girl in need --- of a tourniquet
CHORUS:
Cx1 Emx1 Am7x2
But can you sa--- --ve me
Cx1 Gx1 Cx2
Come on and sa--- --ve me
Cx1 Emx1 Am7x2
If you could sa--- -- ve me
Gx1 Gaugx1
From the ranks of the freaks
Emx1 A7x1
Who suspect they could never love anyone
INTERLUDE:
G C G B7
VERSE 2:
Em Emmaj7 Em7 Em6 G C G B7
'Cause I can tell ---- you know what it's like
Em Emmaj7 Em7 Em6 G C G G/F#
The long farewell ---- of the hunger strike
-- repeat CHORUS --
INTERLUDE:
G C G B7
BRIDGE:
C G F Cx1
You struck me dumb
C G F C
Like radium mm mm
Em7 Am7 Em7 Am7
Like peter pan--- or super man
G F Cx1
You will come ---
Cx1 Emx1 Am7x2
To sa---ve me
Cx1 Gx1 Cx2
Come on and sa--- --ve me
Cx1 Emx1 Am7x2
If you could sa--- -- ve me
Gx1 Gaugx1
From the ranks of the freaks
Emx1 A7x1
Who suspect they could never love anyone
Gx1 Gaugx1
‘cept the freaks
Emx1 A7x1
Who suspect they could never love anyone
Gx1 Gaugx1
but the freaks
Emx1 A7 HOLD
Who suspect they could never love anyone
INSTRUMENTAL:
Em Emmaj7 Em7 Em6 G C G B7 (repeat)
WATCH FOR PICKUP 2ndx
Cx1 Emx1 Am7x2
Come on and sa--- --ve me
Cx1 Gx1 Cx2
Why don’t you sa--- --ve me
Cx1 Emx1 Am7x2
If you could sa--- -- ve me
G Gaug
From the ranks of the freaks
Em A7
Who suspect they could never love anyone
G Gaug
except the freaks
Em A7
Who suspect they could never love anyone
G Gaug
except the freaks
Em A7 HOLD
Who suspect they could never love anyone