Taylor Swift - Castles Crumbling Chords

[Intro]
C Em
C Em D
C Em
C Em D
 
 
[Verse 1]
Em           C         G     D
  Once, I had an empire in a golden age
Em          C          G         D
  I was held up so high, I used to be great
Em                  C          G      D
  They used to cheer when they saw my face
Em           C       G           D
  Now, I fear I have fallen from grace
 
 
[Chorus]
    Em     C       G        D
And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
    Em      C      G       D
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground
    Em        C       G        D                   Em   C
And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
D                        Em  C G D
 You don't wanna know me now
 
 
[Instrumental]
Em C G D
 
 
[Verse 2]
Em           C              G      D
  Once, I was the great hope for a dynasty
Em                 C           G         D
  Crowds would hang on my words and they trusted me
Em                C             G             D
  Their faith was strong, but I pushed it too far
Em            C              G        D
  I held that grudge 'til it tore me apart
Em      C              G      D
  Power went to my head and I couldn't stop
Em       C              G          D
  Ones I loved tried to help, so I ran them off
Em           C                G          D
  And here I sit alone behind walls of regret
Em                C             G       D
Falling down like promises that I never kept
 
 
[Chorus]
    Em     C       G        D
And I feel like my castle's crumbling down
    Em      C      G       D
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground
    Em        C       G        D                   Em   C
And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
D                        C
 You don't wanna know me now
 
 
[Post-Chorus]
      Em D
Ooh, ooh
 C    Em D
Ooh, ooh
 C
Ooh (Ah, ah)
Em       D
Ooh (Ah, ah)
C   Em D
Ooh
 
 
[Verse 3]
Em                   C
  My foes and friends watch my reign end
C            D
I don't know how it could've ended this way
Em
  Smoke billows from my ships in the harbor
C
People look at me like I'm a monster
G
 Now they're screaming at the palace front gates
        D
Used to chant my name
                                 Em
Now they're screaming that they hate me
                     Em
Never wanted you to hate me
 
 
[Chorus]
   G        D
My castle's crumbling down
    Em      C      G       D
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground
    Em        C       G        D                   Em   C G
And you don't want to know me, I will just let you down
   D                  Em   C G
My castle's crumbling down
D                       Em  C G D
You don't wanna know me now
 
 
[Outro]
Em C G D
Em C D
Em C G D
Em C G D
Em C G D
Em C
X





How to play "Castles Crumbling" by Taylor Swift on Ukulele

Tuning and Setup:
- Standard ukulele tuning (GCEA) works well for this song.

Chords Used:
   C:   0003
   Em:  0402
   G:   0232
   D:   2220

Strumming Pattern:
- A versatile pattern for this song would be Down-Down-Up-Up-Down-Up
  (DDUUDU). This pattern allows for dynamic expression, matching the
  varying emotional intensity of the lyrics.

Song Structure:
- Intro: Start with C Em alternated, adding a D to transition.
- Verses: Use Em C G D throughout, maintaining a narrative rhythm.
- Chorus: Emphasize the emotional high points with the same Em C G D
  progression, but with more intense strumming.
- Post-Chorus: Simplify strumming to just downs to reflect the mood.
- Outro: Slowly wind down with a gentle C G D pattern repeated.

Common Mistakes:
- Overstrumming during the more reflective lyrics can detract from
  the narrative. Keep the strumming lighter during verses.
- Not switching chords cleanly, particularly during the faster
  transitions between C, Em, and D. Practice to ensure smooth changes.
- Losing the emotional thread of the song. Engage with the lyrics
  to convey the story effectively through your playing.

Lyrics Theme Summary:
"Castles Crumbling" narrates the fall from grace of a once-great
figure, metaphorically using the imagery of castles and bridges.
The song explores themes of loss, regret, and the isolation that
comes with power. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the
inevitable decline and the personal acknowledgment of failing
those who once revered the protagonist.