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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