Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better: Ukulele Chords

Learn to play "Should Have Known Better" on your ukulele with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to play this song on the ukulele, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn Should Have Known Better ukulele chords and lyrics

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

Em                        A
I should have known better
                     G
To see what I could see
          Cmaj7 
My black shroud
                  D  
Holding down my feelings
                   C6
A pillar for my enemies

Em                         A
I should have wrote a letter
                              G
And grieve what I happen to grieve
           Cmaj7 
My black shroud
                   D  
I never trust my feelings
                     C6
I waited for the remedy

Chorus:
Am            C                   D  
When I was three, three maybe four
                    C6          G
She left us at that video store
       D           C6    G
Be my rest, be my fantasy
       D           C6
Be my rest, be my fantasy

I’m light as a feather
I’m bright as the Oregon breeze
My black shroud
Frightened by my feelings
I only wanna be a relief

No, I’m not a go-getter
The demon had a spell on me
My black shroud
Captain of my feelings
The only thing I wanna believe

Chorus:
When I was three, and free to explore
I saw her face on the back of the door
Oh, be my rest, be my fantasy
Oh, be my rest, be my fantasy

    G                C
I should have known better
                 D
Nothing can be changed
                       G
The past is still the past
       D
The bridge to nowhere
Cmaj7                      Em D
I should have wrote a letter
                   G                D
Explaining what I feel, that empty feeling

Don’t back down, concentrate on seeing
The breakers in the bar, the neighbor’s greeting
My brother had a daughter
The beauty that she brings, illumination

Don’t back down, there is nothing left
The breakers in the bar, no reason to live
I’m a fool in the fetter (fool in the fetter)
Rose of Aaron’s beard, where you can reach me

Don’t back down: nothing can be changed
Cantilever bridge, the drunken sailor
My brother had a daughter (brother had a daughter)
The beauty that she brings, illumination
(illumination)
Illumination

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Ukulele Chord Diagrams

A

Ukulele chord A

Am

Ukulele chord Am

C

Ukulele chord C

C6

Ukulele chord C6

Cmaj7

Ukulele chord Cmaj7

D

Ukulele chord D

E

Ukulele chord E

Em

Ukulele chord Em

F#

Ukulele chord F#

G

Ukulele chord G

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each ukulele 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.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Should Have Known Better" on the guitar, check out the chords on our sister site: Guitar Chords for "Should Have Known Better" by Sufjan Stevens.

Sufjan Stevens Song List