Manic Street Preachers - Prologue to history
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Tuning: E A D G B E
Prologue to History by Manic Street Preachers
----------------------------------------------
found on the B-side of the 1998 single 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next' and the 2003 album
'Lipstick Traces (A Secret History of Manic Street Preachers)'.
Tab by Sebadonut (James Glover).
Standard tuning
Ive tabbed how I like to play along with the recording but you can play the chords in whatever position on the
neck that feels best - the fills are optional also.
[Intro][Piano Riff tabbed for Guitar]
e|-----------------------|-----------------------|
B|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|-5--7-7--5-7-7--x-x-x--|
G|-4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4--|-4--4-4--4-4-4--x-x-x--|
D|-----------------------|----------------x-x-x--|
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|-----------------------|-----------------------|
[Intro]
B5 G5 D5 F#5
e|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
D|-9----------------5-------------5/-|-12-------------12\4-------------4-|
A|-9----------------5-------------5/-|-12-------------12\4-------------4-|
E|-7-------------10\3-------------3/-|-10-------------10\2-------------2-|
G5 D5 F#5
e|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-5-------------5/12-------12\4-------|
A|-5-------------5/12-------12\4-------|
E|-3-------------3/10-------10\2-------|
[Verse 1]
B5 G5
e|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------12-------------------------12-|
D|-9----------------------------9-12-------------------------12-|
A|-9----------------------------9-10-------------------------10-|
E|-7----------------------------7-------------------------------|
Were we the Kinnock factor am I talking private sector
D5 F#5
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------11--------------------------------11-|
D|-12--------------------------------12-11--------------------------------11-|
A|-12--------------------------------12-9---------------------------------9--|
E|-10--------------------------------10--------------------------------------|
Do I think Im Shaun William Ryder or my former friend whos now undercover
G5 D5 F#5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-12------------------------12\-7---------------7/-11--------11\-|
D|-12------------------------12\-7---------------7/-11--------11\-|
A|-10------------------------10\-5---------------5/-9---------9-\-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
He's gone and Im no deserter perhaps I'm hard all the same
[Chorus]
G5 D5 G5 D5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------7~---5h7p5---5-----------------------------------------------|
G|------------------/7---7~-------7---6h7---------------------7-----7---------7-----|
D|-5---5---5----5---------------------------5---5---5----5----7---7---7-----7---7---|
A|-5---5---5----5---------------------------5---5---5----5----5----------4----------|
E|-3---3---3-0--3--0------------------------3---3---3-0--3--0-----------------------|
Today a poet who can't play guitar Tomorrow Steve Ovett has injured his calf
B5 E5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-4---4---4-------------4---4---9b11--9p7-----------------------------------3b4---3p0----|
D|-4---4---4--4--4---4---4---4-------------9~--2---2---2------------------------------2p0-|
A|-2---2---2--0--2---0---2---2-----------------2---2---2--0--2---0---2---2----------------|
E|---------------------------------------------0---0---0--0--0---0---0---0----------------|
Next year the worlds greatest politician Yesterday the boy who once had a mission
A5 D# D
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-2---2------2-2--2---2------2-2-2-2--8------------------------------------|
D|-2---2----0-2-2--2---2----0-2-2-2-2--x------------------------------------|
A|-0---0----0-0-0--0---0----0-0-0-0-0--6----------------\5~-----------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
I don't want to be a prologue to history
D#
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-6~-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A prologue to history
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------x-x-x-|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------x-x-x-|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------x-x-x-|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B5
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9-9--9-9-9--9--9--9-9--9-9-9-|
A|-9--9--9-9--9-9-9--9--9--9-9--9-9-9-|
E|-7--7--7-7--7-7-7--7--7--7-7--7-7-7-|
[Verse 2]
B5 G5
e|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------12-------------------------12-|
D|-9----------------------------9-12-------------------------12-|
A|-9----------------------------9-10-------------------------10-|
E|-7----------------------------7-------------------------------|
So I water my plants with Evian a brand new Dyson that is decadent
D5 F#5
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------11--------------------------------11-|
D|-12--------------------------------12-11--------------------------------11-|
A|-12--------------------------------12-9---------------------------------9--|
E|-10--------------------------------10--------------------------------------|
Read my papers and the business section check out the Tessas and the pensions
G5 D5 F#5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-12------------------------12\-7---------------7/-11--------11\-|
D|-12------------------------12\-7---------------7/-11--------11\-|
A|-10------------------------10\-5---------------5/-9---------9-\-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
Call my friends and they're alright so I pray for the safety of the night
[Chorus]
G5 D5 G5 D5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------7~---5h7p5---5-----------------------------------------------|
G|------------------/7---7~-------7---6h7---------------------7-----7---------7-----|
D|-5---5---5----5---------------------------5---5---5----5----7---7---7-----7---7---|
A|-5---5---5----5---------------------------5---5---5----5----5----------4----------|
E|-3---3---3-0--3--0------------------------3---3---3-0--3--0-----------------------|
Today a poet who can't play guitar Tomorrow Steve Ovett has injured his calf
B5 E5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-4---4---4-------------4---4---9b11--9p7-----------------------------------3b4---3p0----|
D|-4---4---4--4--4---4---4---4-------------9~--2---2---2------------------------------2p0-|
A|-2---2---2--0--2---0---2---2-----------------2---2---2--0--2---0---2---2----------------|
E|---------------------------------------------0---0---0--0--0---0---0---0----------------|
Next year the worlds greatest politician Yesterday the boy who once had a mission
A5 D# D
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-2---2------2-2--2---2------2-2-2-2--8------------------------------------|
D|-2---2----0-2-2--2---2----0-2-2-2-2--x------------------------------------|
A|-0---0----0-0-0--0---0----0-0-0-0-0--6----------------\5~-----------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
I don't want to be a prologue to history
D#
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-6~-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A prologue to history
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------x-x-x-|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------x-x-x-|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------x-x-x-|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B5
e|------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9-9--9-9-9--9--9--9-9--9-9-9-|
A|-9--9--9-9--9-9-9--9--9--9-9--9-9-9-|
E|-7--7--7-7--7-7-7--7--7--7-7--7-7-7-|
[Verse 3][Piano riff option]
For the 3rd verse I like to play along with the piano riff as I think it adds urgency leading in to
the final chorus. If you prefer just play the regular verse chords (also tabbed below)
B5 G5
e|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
B|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5---5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5---5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|
G|-4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4---4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4--|-4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4---4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4--|
D|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
D5 F#5
e|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
B|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5---5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5---5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|
G|-7--7-7--7-7-7--7-7-7---7--7-7--7-7-7--7-7-7--|-6--6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6---6--6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6--|
D|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
G5 D5 F#5
e|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
B|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5---5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|-5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5---5--7-7--5-7-7--5-7-5--|
G|-4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4---4--4-4--4-4-4--4-4-4--|-7--7-7--7-7-7--7-7-7---6--6-6--6-6-6--6-6-6--|
D|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|
[Verse 3][Power chord option]
B5 G5
e|--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------12-------------------------12-|
D|-9----------------------------9-12-------------------------12-|
A|-9----------------------------9-10-------------------------10-|
E|-7----------------------------7-------------------------------|
Remember ethnic cleansing in the highlands no one says a thing in the middle of England
D5 F#5
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------11--------------------------------11-|
D|-12--------------------------------12-11--------------------------------11-|
A|-12--------------------------------12-9---------------------------------9--|
E|-10--------------------------------10--------------------------------------|
I'm bruised fruit but still taste so nice but if you look at me you better look twice
G5 D5 F#5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-12------------------------12\-7---------------7/-11--------11\-|
D|-12------------------------12\-7---------------7/-11--------11\-|
A|-10------------------------10\-5---------------5/-9---------9-\-|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
I'm talking rubbish to cover up the cracks an empty vessel who can't make contact
[Chorus]
G5 D5 G5 D5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------7~---5h7p5---5-----------------------------------------------|
G|------------------/7---7~-------7---6h7---------------------7-----7---------7-----|
D|-5---5---5----5---------------------------5---5---5----5----7---7---7-----7---7---|
A|-5---5---5----5---------------------------5---5---5----5----5----------4----------|
E|-3---3---3-0--3--0------------------------3---3---3-0--3--0-----------------------|
Today a poet who can't play guitar Tomorrow Phil Bennett's playing outside half
B5 E5
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-4---4---4-------------4---4---9b11--9p7-----------------------------------3b4---3p0----|
D|-4---4---4--4--4---4---4---4-------------9~--2---2---2------------------------------2p0-|
A|-2---2---2--0--2---0---2---2-----------------2---2---2--0--2---0---2---2----------------|
E|---------------------------------------------0---0---0--0--0---0---0---0----------------|
Next year the worlds greatest politician Yesterday the boy who once had a mission
A5 D# D
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-2---2------2-2--2---2------2-2-2-2--8------------------------------------|
D|-2---2----0-2-2--2---2----0-2-2-2-2--x------------------------------------|
A|-0---0----0-0-0--0---0----0-0-0-0-0--6----------------\5~-----------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
I don't want to be a prologue to history
D# D D# D
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-8-----------------------------------8------------------------------------|
D|-x-----------------------------------X------------------------------------|
A|-6~--------------\5------------------6----------------\5------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A prologue to history A prologue to history
D# D D# D
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-8-----------------------------------8----------------7-------7-7-7-7-7-7-|
D|-x-----------------------------------X----------------7-------7-7-7-7-7-7-|
A|-6~--------------\5------------------6----------------5-------5-5-5-5-5-5-|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A prologue to history A prologue
[Outro]
D# D D# D
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--|
D|-8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--|
A|-6---6--x-x-x-6-x-5---5--x-x-x-5--5--6---6--x-x-x-6-x-5---5--x-x-x-5--5--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D# D D# D
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--|
D|-8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--8---8--x-x-x-8-x-7---7--x-x-x-7--7--|
A|-6---6--x-x-x-6-x-5---5--x-x-x-5--5--6---6--x-x-x-6-x-5---5--x-x-x-5--5--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D# D D# D
e|-3---3--3-3-5-3-x-2---2--2-0-0-0-2-2--3---3--3-3-5-3-x-2---2--2-0-0-0-2-2-|
B|-4---4--4-4-4-4-x-3---3--3-3-3-3-3-3--4---4--4-4-4-4-x-3---3--3-3-3-3-3-3-|
G|-3---3--3-3-3-3-x-2---2--2-2-2-2-2-2--3---3--3-3-3-3-x-2---2--2-2-2-2-2-2-|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D# D D# D
e|-3---3--3-3-5-3-x-2---2--2-0-0-0-2-2--3---3--3-3-5-3-x-2---2--2-0-0-0-2-2-|
B|-4---4--4-4-4-4-x-3---3--3-3-3-3-3-3--4---4--4-4-4-4-x-3---3--3-3-3-3-3-3-|
G|-3---3--3-3-3-3-x-2---2--2-2-2-2-2-2--3---3--3-3-3-3-x-2---2--2-2-2-2-2-2-|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D# D D# D
e|-3----------------2------2-----2------3----------------2------3-----2-----|
B|-4----------------3-------------------4----------------3------------------|
G|-3----------------2-------------------3----------------2------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D# D D# D
e|-3----------------2------2-----2------3----------------2------3-----2-----|
B|-4----------------3-------------------4----------------3------------------|
G|-3----------------2-------------------3----------------2------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D# D D# D
e|-3----------------2------2-----2------3----------------2------3-----2-----|
B|-4----------------3-------------------4----------------3------------------|
G|-3----------------2-------------------3----------------2------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D#
e|-3------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-4------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-3------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
************************************
| x Dead note
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
| r Release
| b Bend up
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
| ~ Vibrato
************************************