Decemberists - What a terrible world what a beautiful world
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I. A singer addresses his audience
II. Calvary Captain
III. Philomena
IV. Make you Better
V. Lake Song
VI. Till the Water’s all long gone
VII. The Wrong Year
VIII. Carolina Low
IX. Better Not wake the Baby
X. Anti-Summersong
XI. Easy Come, Easy Go
XII. Mistral
XIII. 12/17/12
XIV. A Beginning Song
This is an awesome album from the Decemberists that I have attempted to grab the best tabs I could find and put
them together in a nice concise place for you! ^_^ .I'm sure everyone knows this, but if you want to go to any
particular song, just ctrl-f using the roman numeral attached to it. (be sure to include the .) and it'll
take you right to it. :) Enjoy and buy the record!
I. The Singer Addresses His Audience
from "What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World"
Released January 20th, 2015
Originally tabbed by RandMcNally @ Ultimate-Guitar.com
Feel free to send comments or questions
to: carmenbondrajr at gmail dot com
Standard Tuning
E
EWe know, we knowB, we beloAng to ya
EWe know you builBt your liAfe around uGs
Would we Achange, we had to chanEge some
B
EWe know, we knowB, we belAong to ya
EWe know you threBw your aArms around uGs
And the hopes we wouldn't Achange
But we had to chEange some
You knoGw, to belAong to yoEu
E|--0-2-4-5--|
A(barre)We're aware that youC#m cut your hair
In a Bstyle that our Adrummer wore
In a Evideo
E|--0-2-3-4--|
G#But with fame came aC#m mounting claim
For the Bevermore
You know
So when your F#mbridal processional
Is a Atelevised confessional
To the Ebenefits of Axe shamC#mpoo
You know we did it for Byou
We did it all for you
ECause we know, we knowB, we belong to yAa
EWe know you Bbuilt your Alife around usG
And would we Achange, we had to chaEnge some
You Gknow, to bAelong to Eyou (x4)
GTo belong, to Abelong, to Ebelong (x5)
During this jam part the lead electric comes in and plays a quick
E|--3---5---4---0--|
before playing the standard G A E barre chords until the finish.
II. Calvary Captain[INTRO]
F G Em Am
F G Em Am
[VERSE]
FI am Gthe cavalry captain, EmI am Amthe remedy to your heart
FI am Gthe common collector, EmI am Amimprinted upon your stars
[INTERLUDE]
F G Em Am
[VERSE]
And when you Fshine, shine your Geyes, looking Emlost, looking Ambright
Wheel awFay on the light brigGade
And if Fonly for a second (only for a second)
And if Gonly for a time (only for a time)
And if Fonly for a second (only for a second)
And if Gonly for a time, we'll be alive
[CHORUS]
F GWe'll be aEmlive, oh oh Amoh oh oh
F G Em Am
[VERSE]
FI am Gthe cavalry captain, EmI am Amthe remedy to your heart
FI am Gthe common collector, EmI am Amimprinted upon your stars
[INTERLUDE]
F G Em Am
[VERSE]
There is a wForld, there is a tGime, lookin' cEmalm, lookin' kAmind
And if Fonly for a second (only for a second)
And if Gonly for a time (only for a time)
And if Fonly for a second (only for a second)
And if Gonly for a time, we'll be alive
[CHORUS]
F GWe'll be aEmlive, oh oh Amoh oh oh
F G Em Am
[OUTRO]
FI am Gthe cavalry captain, EmI am Amthe remedy to your heart
FI am Gthe common collector, EmI am Amimprinted upon your stars
just repeat F G Em Am until it fades out
III. Philomena
You can use D7 instead of D during the verse, it'll sound nice. :)
G Em Am D x5
Em[VeDrse 1:]
GOh, PhilomEmena, you Amin a tawdrDy-gown
GLean to your Emwindow, Amlet slip a Dribbon down
AG cure to your Emboredom, if oAmnly you'll Dlet me go
EmDown, down Ddown
GLong sunny Emdays can lAmead to Dlazy vices
GBoys all at Emidle, Amleft to their Down devices
GOpen up your Emlinen Amlap and Dlet me go
EmDown, down Ddown
[Chorus:]
BAll I ever wanted in the Emworld was just to Amlive to see a naked Dgirl
BBut I found I've quickly Embored, I wanted Cmore, I wanteDd more
[Verse 2:]
So GI'll be your Emcandle and IAm'll be your Dstatuette
GI'll be your Emlash and Amloop of Dleatherette,G and oh
PhiloEmmena, Amif only you'lDl let me go
EmDown, down Ddown
G Em Am D x3
Em[ChDorus:]
BAll I ever wanted in the Emworld was just to Amlive to see a naked Dgirl
BBut I found I've quickly Embored, I wanted Cmore, oh so muDch more
[Verse 2:]
SGo I'll be youEmr candle andAm I'll be youDr statuette
GI'll be your Emlash and Amloop of Dleatherette,G and oh
PhiloEmmena, Amif only you'lDl let me go
EmDown, down Ddown
Go Emdown, down Ddown
Go Emdown D
Go Gdown
IV. Make you Better
This is largely based on the video of Colin playing in New York, less so on the recording.
Bm9 Dsus2 Gsus2
e|---7------10-------3---------------|
B|---7------10-------3---------------|
G|---6------9--------2---------------|
D|---0------0--------0---------------|
A|---X------X--------X---------------|
E|---7------10-------3---------------|
INTRO:
Bm9 Dsus2 Gsus2 (x2)
VERSE:
Bm9 I want youDsus2, thin fingers;
Gsus2 I wanted you, thin fingernails.
Bm9 And when yoDsus2u bend backwards
Gsus2 I wanted you, I needed you
Bm9Oh-oh Dsus2to make meGsus2 better
Bm9 Dsus2 Gsus2
VERSE:
I loved you in spring time
I lost you when summer came.
And when you pulled backwards
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better.
Oh-oh to make me better.
CHORUS:
A But we're not so starry-eGyed anymore D
Like the Gperfect paramDour you were in your Aletters G A
And won't it all just come arGound to make you D
Let it Gall unbreak youD to the day you Amet her
But it'd make yoGu better.
It'd make yoBm9u better.Dsus2 Gsus2
VERSE:
I sung you your twinges
I suffered you your tattletales.
And when you broke sideways
I wanted you, I needed you
Oh-oh, to make me better.
Oh-oh, to make be better.
CHORUS:
But we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around to make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day that you met her
And it'd make you better.
And it'd make yoBmu better.G D A
Did it make youBm better? G D A
INSTRUMENTAL:
Bm G D A (x2)
BRIDGE:
Bm And all I wanted was a Gsliver to call minDe. A
Bm And all I wanted was a Gshimmer in your shiDne
To make me bAright G A
CHORUS:
Cause we're not so starry-eyed anymore
Like the perfect paramour you were in your letters
And won't it all just come around to make you
Let it all unbreak you to the day that you met her
And it'd make you better.
And it'd make you better.
OUTRO:
Bm9 Dsus2 Gsus2
Bm9 Dsus2 Gsus2 Dsus2 Gsus2
Bm9
V. Lake Song
Intro: D
EmDown by the lake
We were overturning pebbles
And upending all the animals alighDt
EmAnd I took a drag
From your cigarette and pinched it
'Tween my finger and my thumb
Till it diDed
And the Emsun burned low on the rDadio
EmSay that you will
Say you will or will you won't
Or you whatever you prevaricate
Your whole lDife, don't you?
EmThis much I can say:
I would've waited till the oceans
Fell Away and all the sunken cities
Would reveal themDselves to you
But you wEmon't, will you?
Because you neDver do
And the Emsun burned through
Sweet as honeydDew
And BmI
ASeventeen and terminally fGey
IF#m wrote it down and threw it all aEmway
Never gave a thought to what I'Gd paid
And Bmyou
ASibylline, reclining in your pGew
F#mYou tattered me, you tethered meEm to you
The things you would and wouldn'Gt do
To tell the truth I never had a cDlue
Em D
EmNow we arise
To curse those young suburban villains
And their ill-begotten children from the lDawn
EmCome to me now
And on this station wagon window
Set the ghost of your two footprints
That they might hDaunt me when you're gone
And when the Emlight broke dawn
You were fDorever gone
But I reEmmember you, you were full
You were full and sweet as honDeydew
AndBm I
ASeventeen and terminally Gfey
F#mI wrote it down and threw it alEml away
And never gave a thought toG what I paid
And yBmou all sibAylline, reclining in your Gpew
F#mYou tattered me, you tethered me to yEmou
The things you would and wouldn't Gdo
You noticed how I never had a cDlue
Never had a clue
You were full and sweet as honeydew
You were full and sweet as honeydew
VI. “Till The Water’s All Long Gone” – The Decemberists
Tabbed by Ian Cummings on 1/23/15.
Time: 3/4
*On the recording, the Em is played in the following manner:
e--3
B--5
G--4
D--2
Intro:
Em Bm
e------3-5—5b7--7b5p3-----------------------------------------|
B--3/5----------------5-5-5------3-5--5/7--5-3--5/7--5-3------|
G----------------------------2/4-------------------------4----|
D-------------------------------------------------------------|
A-------------------------------------------------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------|
Em Bm
e------3-5—5b7--7b5p3----------------------5-----5-----------------------------|
B--3/5----------------5-5-5------3-5--5/7----5/7--7-5/3/2----3p2---------------|
G----------------------------2/4--------------------------4------4p2-----------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------4p3p2-----|
A------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
TheEmy came down frBmom the mountain
They’Emd strayed too long from the foBmuntain
EmAnd all the while
EmAll the while theyBm longed for us
BmBut I won't beEmtray
No IBm won't beEmtray
No I Bmwon't beEmtray our Bmwater
BmNo I won't beEmtray
No IBm won't beEmtray
No IBm won't beEmtray our Bmwater
Till the Dwater's Aall long Emgone
(Intro)
EmAnd you, my sweetBm flower
EmAnd how you grew more sweet byBm the hour
EmAnd loathe was I
EmLoathe was I to lose Bmyou
BmMy tenderEm rose
MyBm limberEm rose
MyBm slenderEm loping Bmdaughter
BmMy tenderEm rose
MyBm slendeEmr rose
MyBm limberEm loping Bmdaughter
But my dDaughter’s loAng, lonEmg gone
(Intro)
*Fingerpick the first two lines, strum after:
TheyEm came down fromBm the mountain
They'dEm strayed too long fromBm the fountain
EmO my girl, o my love I'veBm lost you
BmBut I won't beEmtray
No IBm won't beEmtray
No I Bmwon't beEmtray our Bmwater
BmNo I won't beEmtray
No IBm won't beEmtray
No IBm won't beEmtray our Bmwater
Till the Dwater's allA longEm gone
Intro X4 (with some variation on the tab)
VII. The Wrong Year
G D Em Cmaj7 x2
[Verse:]
GGray Jean was aD river child
EmBorn down by theCmaj7 river wild G D Em Cmaj7
GSaid hey, what yaD wanna be?
EmNobody's gonna Cmaj7intervene
G[CDhoEmrusCmaj7:]
DAnd she wants youCmaj7 but you won't do
DAnd it won't leave you Cmaj7alone
DAnd the rain falls Cmaj7on the wrong year
D Cmaj7 D
GAnd itD wEmon'Cmaj7t leave you alone, it won't leave you alone
G D Em Cmaj7
[Verse 2:]
GCould be that he'sD into you
EmCould be that thCmaj7e opposite's true G D Em Cmaj7
GStruck down as a Dsummer child
EmTen steps just toCmaj7 run a mile
G D Em Cmaj7
[Chorus:]
DAnd he wants you Cmaj7but you won't do
DAnd it won't leave you Cmaj7alone
DAnd the rain falls Cmaj7on the wrong year
D Cmaj7 D
GAnd itD wEmon't leave you alone, it won't leave you alone
Cmaj7It won't leave you alonGe D Em Cmaj7
[Bridge:]
BmYour spirit's wAmeiling
BmFlesh is getting Ambored
BmSpeaker's Amblaring out some Clong forgotten chord
Some missbegottenD long forgotten choGrd
D Em Cmaj7 G D Em Cmaj7
[Verse 3:]
GSing me some ?Dmandolin? (if anyone know what he says here, please write it in the comment section)
EmAnd I'll sleep all theCmaj7 winter long G D Em Cmaj7
GTill then I can Donly be,
Emnobody's gonna Cmaj7intervene
G D Em Cmaj7
[Chorus:]
DAnd she wants youCmaj7 but you won't do
DAnd it won't leave you Cmaj7alone
DAnd the rain falls Cmaj7on the wrong year
D Cmaj7 D
GAnd itD wEmon't leave you alone, it won't leave you alone
Cmaj7It won't leave you alonGe D Em
Cmaj7It won't leave you alonGe D Em Cmaj7
G D Em Cmaj7
VIII. Artist: The Decemberists
Song: Carolina Low
Tabbed by: N.H.
I heard Colin play this song on NPR and had to learn it. He said he had written it that
morning, so this song is only two days old at this point. It's an easy song to learn just
from listening, so this tab is for beginners looking to play.
I can't quite figure out his picking pattern, but I got all the notes of the melody. He
doesn't play these exactly while singing, but it is the melody he sings to. I left out
the bass notes, but I just play the low D at every pause. The lyrics are just a guess at
what he is singing, so some of them may be wrong, and they will probably change if it is
ever recorded for an album.
Tuning: DADGBE - Drop D
E ---------------------------------------|
B ---------------------------------------|
G -------0--2-----------------0----------|
D -0--3----------------0-3---------0-----|
A ---------------------------------------|
D ---------------------------------------|
I am a boy from the high country
E ---------------------------------------|
B ---------------------------------------|
G --------------0------------------------|
D ----0-3------------2-----------2h3---0-|
A -----------------------------------3---|
D ---------------------------------------|
And I got a little low for the offering
That's the gist of the song. Here it is without the lyrics. Might make it easier to see the melody.
E -----------------------------------------------|
B -----------------------------------------------|
G -----0-2--------0-----------0------------------|
D -0-3--------0-3---0-----0-3---2--------2h3---0-|
A -------------------------------------------3---|
D -----------------------------------------------|
He also walks down the low D string sometimes in the interludes between lyric like this:
A -3--------|
D ----3-2-0-|
And he also may do it at the last line of every stanza, as opposed to:
A -2h3---0-|
D -----3---|
I am a boy
From the high country
And I got a little low
For the offering
Come down from the mountains
Bow to the sea
Carolina low - to cradle thee
Gonna take you up
Gonna take you around
Oh, your poor little pant legs
Dragging down
Did you crack your lip?
Did you skin your knee?
Carolina low - to carry thee
What is sealed with a handshake
Is spoiled with a kiss
Got an ugly little mouth, boy
To come to this
I'm bound for the hilltops
Gonna make it bleed
Carolina low - to carry thee
I am a boy
From the high country
And I got a little low
For the offering
And I got a little low
For the offering
And I got a little low
For the offering
IX. Better not Wake the Baby
I play this in D standard tuning, so 2 steps down. Since it's all based around Em, it's
really easy to play a
basic melody between strums since those top 3 strings will be open anyways.
---------
Em A5 Em A5 D Em
EmKick a hole in the hallway
While singing like a painted A5lady
EmUse your skull like a cannonball
EmBut it A5better not Dwake the Embaby
Chorus
DHow Emlong will this go on?
DHow Emlong, A5indeed?
EmYou can bang a drum 'till the money's all gone
EmBut it A5better not Dwake the Embaby
EmMake your moan of your lot in life
Split your mind half A5crazy
EmGouge your eyes with a butter knife
EmBut it A5better not Dwake the Embaby
Chorus
EmDrown yourself in crocodile tears
Curse the gods what A5made 'ye
EmPine away for your better years
EmBut it A5better not Dwake the Embaby
Chorus x2
X.
XI. Anti-summersong
G C
Here now, long gone
GThree freaks and a Dbed are gone
EmWent to the river but the Criver got dry
And Gall the good people were Dhanging around
GToo little, Ctoo late
GEverybody gotta Dmedicate
EmThrough the winter when the Cwinter comes down
And Gall the city comes to Dhanging ground
CI'm not Ggoing on
DJust to sing another Gsummer song
CSo long, Gfarewell
DDon't everybody follow Gover themselves
HARMONICA SOLO
C G D G
C G D G
CI'm not Ggoing on
DJust to sing another Gsummer song
CSo long, Gfarewell
DDon't everybody follow Gover themselves
CI'm not Ggoing on
DJust to sing another Emsingalong Dsuicide Csong
CSo long, Gfarewell
DDon't everybody follow Gover themselves
So, Ddon't everybody follow Gover themselves
DDon't everybody follow Cover themselves
GHere now, Clong gone
GThree freaks and a Dbed are gone
EmWent to the river but the Criver got dry
And Gall the good people were Dhanging around
GToo little, Ctoo late
GEverybody gotta Dmedicate
EmThrough the winter when the Cwinter comes down
And Gall the city comes to Dhanging ground
CI'm not Ggoing on
DJust to sing another Gsummer song
CSo long, Gfarewell
DDon't everybody follow Gover themselves
HARMONICA SOLO
C G D G
C G D G
CI'm not Ggoing on
DJust to sing another Gsummer song
CSo long, Gfarewell
DDon't everybody follow Gover themselves
CI'm not Ggoing on
DJust to sing another Emsingalong Dsuicide Csong
CSo long, Gfarewell
DDon't everybody follow Gover themselves
So, Ddon't everybody follow Gover themselves
DDon't everybody follow Cover themselves
XII. Easy Come, Easy Go
Intro notes--- B A G F#
Intro-- Em Am Em Am Em D Em x2
EmLimber-Jack, he Amlanded on his Emback
Was Ambetting on the Emnetting when the Drigging went Emslack
Was a Emmoonless-night, the Amstars all lending Emlight
She's Amleering in the Emmirror when the Drodent broke Emright
Cause you Emnever Em/Greally Aknow
When the Awhistle's A/Ggonna Emblow
You Emnever Em/Greally Aknow
Easy come and easy B7go
He was a Emstand-up gent, but Amno one knew his Embent
And Amall the little Embones that he Dhid in his Emvent
She was the Emcome-on queen, Amjewel on the Emscene
They Amfound her in the Emshower she'd been Dgone for seven Emweeks
Cause you Emnever Em/Greally Aknow (no you never really know)
When the Awhistle's A/Ggonna Emblow
You Emnever Em/Greally Aknow (no you never really know)
Easy come and easy B7go
Instrumental--- Verse prog... 1x
Cause you Emnever Em/Greally Aknow (no you never really know)
When the Awhistle's A/Ggonna Emblow
You Emnever Em/Greally Aknow (no you never-ever know)
Easy come and easy B7go
Oh, EmLimber-Jack, his Amname is on the Emplaque
His Ammother is Emanother that will Dnever get him Emback
XIII. “Mistral” – The Decemberists
Tabbed by Ian Cummings on 1/24/15.
*Dadd4 is just the traditional open C chord shifted up two frets:
e--x
B--3
G--0
D--4
A--5
E--x
Intro:
C G D Em
C G D
C G D Em
Am C Dadd4
CSo we already wrecked theEm rental car
GAnd I've already lost my Emway
CMy feet entombed in this Emtourist bar
For a Amday, anyCway
CSo lay me down on the Emcobblestones
GAnd unfurl this aching Emjib
CThe streets all built on Emancient bones
And the Amcrib of the Cribs
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
CWon't the miGstral
Blow awaDy
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
Won’t it blowAm, won’t it blowC, won’t it blowDadd4
CSo it's me and you and the Embaby boy
GAnd a fourth to share the Emweight
CWe're eking out a Emlittle joy
From what Amawaits back in the CStates, aay
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
CWon't the miGstral
Blow awaDy
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
Won’t it blowAm, won’t it blowC, won’t it blowDadd4
(Honky-tonk piano, guitar solos)
C Em G Em C
Em Am C
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
CWon't the miGstral
Blow awaDy
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
Won’t it blowAm, won’t it blowC, won’t it blowDadd4
Fade out:
CWon't the miGstral
DBlow it all awEmay
CWon't the miGstral
Blow awaDy ...
XIII. “12/17/12” — The Decemberists
Tabbed by Ian Cummings on 1/24/15.
*D add4 is just the traditional open C chord shifted up two frets:
e--x
B--3
G--0
D--4
A--5
E--x
Intro:
G, quick shift to C X4
AmWhat a gift, what a gift has been Ggiven me
C/G D add4
Here with my heart so whole
WhileAm others may beC grieving
To think of their Ggrieving C G
AmAnd O my boy, don't you know you are Gdear to me
C/G D add4
You are the breath of life
And aAm light upon theC water
A light upon theG water C G
(Harmonica solo – use verse form.)
AmAnd O my love, if you only knew how I Glonged for you
C/G D add4
How I waste my days
WishingAm you would comeC around
Just to have you aroGund C G
AmAnd what a dear, what a sweet littleG baby
C/G D add4
This cannonball
In theAm bosom of yourC belly
It's just a kick in yourG belly C G
(Harmonica solo #2)
AmAnd O my god, what a world you have Gmade here
C/G D add4
What a terrible world
What aAm beautifulC world
What a world you have mGade here C G
What a worldC you haveG made here C G
What a worldC you haveG made here C G
What a worldC you haveG made here. C G
XIV. A Beginning Song
G D x2
GLet's commence to coordDinate our Gsigns
Get them sDquare to Glights
Get them Dsquare to Glights D
GCondescend the calmest rDiot Gin your mind
Find yourself Din Gtime
Find yoursDelf in Gtime D
[Chorus:]
C I am Gwaiting, Dshould I be Cwaiting? G D
C And I am Gwanting, sDhould I be Cwanting?
And Dall around Cme, Dall around Gme
G,D X2
[Verse 2:]
G Document the world inDside your Gskin
DTender of your Glips
The tender ofD your Glips D
GDoc commence to care Deach brick of Gheart
The sensor onD your Gheart
Starting Dwith your Gheart light up C D
[Chorus:]
C I am Gwaiting, Dshould I be Cwaiting? G D
C And I am Gwanting, should DI be Cwanting?
And Dall around Cme, Dall around Gme
DAll around Gme X3
[Bridge:]
C I am Gwaiting, Dshould I be Cwaiting? G D
C And I am Gwanting, Dshould I be Cwanting?G D
C I am Ghopeful, Dshould I be Chopeful Dall aroundC me
D C D C X2
All around me
[Verse 3:]
It's it Csunlight,D it's it Cshadow D
CIt's the quietD, Cit's the word D
It's the Cbeating heart D
It's the Cocean..D. It's the Cboy D
It's CyouD, my sweet love
Oh, my love
And the light, bright light
And the light, bright light
Bright light, bright light
It's all around me
It's all around me
It's all around me