Friday, November 19, 2010

RECKONING: LITTLE AMERICA

This is it.  The end of Reckoning.  And as I've mentioned before, the end of R.E.M.'s first phase.  After this they are no longer the scrappy bar band, but a band with alarming depth and potential.  Not that Little America is free of depth, in fact you could call this track the progenitor of 'It's The End of The World As We Know It' and not be far from the mark.  The free form lyrics are exactly what we have come to expect from time to time from Mr. Stipe.  There are some great live versions of this song on YouTube and it really demonstrates how effective a rock band the boys can be.
  A note on Jefferson.  In the song this of course refers to their manager Jefferson Holt, who was with them through 'Automatic For The People.'  Alas, because of confidentiality, his ouster as their manager is another great mystery surrounding the band.  He was one of the earliest on the bandwagon and was often referred as the unofficial 5th member of the group--which has had many other members.  At this point, I think they have unofficially 10 members ... does KRS-1 count?  Anyway, these days when the song is performed the name Jefferson is changed to Washington.  Makes a more political point, but Michael used to bash the USA overseas with this song anyway ...
  Due to a posting on the REM Facebook group of the copyright page of lyrics I have adjusted this accordingly.

LITTLE AMERICA
I can see myself at 30, I don’t buy a lacquered 30
Caught like flies preserved for tomorrow’s jewelry, who get it
Lighted in the amber your green shell back, green shell back
Preserved for tomorrows eyes in tree beer, tar black, brer sap

The biggest wagon is the empty wagon, is the noisiest, the consul a horse
Jefferson I think we’re lost

Who will tend the far museums, who will dust today’s belongings?
Who will sweep the floor, hedging near the givens?
Rally round your leaders it’s the mediators season
Diane is on the beach, do you realize the life she’s led?

The biggest wagon is the empty wagon, is the noisiest, the consul a horse
Oh man, I think we’re lost
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon, is the noisiest the matter of course
Jefferson, driver

Lighted in the amber your green shell back, green shell back
Skylight, sty-tied, Nero pie-tied, in tree tar black brer sap
Reason has harnessed the tame, a logic knot, stockaders game
Another Greenville, another Magic Mart
Jeffer, grab your fiddle

The biggest wagon is the empty wagon, is the noisiest, the consul a horse
Jefferson I think we’re lost
The biggest wagon is the empty wagon, is the noisiest, the consul a horse
Jefferson I think we’re lost, lost
(lost)
 
This song was a pleasure to figure out and really cool to play.  I think Peter plays it a little differently from this, but I think what I have is the same thing, but easier.  Once you get the basics down it's a really easy song ... sort of like 'Second Guessing' with even less chords.  It is also reminiscent of '7 Chinese Bros.' which was my starting point for figuring out the tune.  Just a tip ... have your ring and pinkie do the first part of the riff with the pointer waiting on the B string.  Once you're in that chord formation, it's all gravy ...


LITTLE AMERICA

Intro/ Verse:
e|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0----------------|
B|--7-7-8-7-5-5-5-7h-7-7-7-5----------------|
G|--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7-7-5>7-7-7-9-7--|
D|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0--|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------|

e|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0----------------10--|
B|--7-7-8-7-5-5-5-7h-7-7-7-5---------------8--8-|
G|--7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7-7-7-7-7-5>7-7-7-9-7------|
D|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0-0------|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|

Chorus:
e|--0---0---0---0->-0------------------|
B|--0---0---0---0->-0------------------|
G|--4---4---4---4->-9------------------|
D|--5---4---5---4->-9------------------|
A|--5---2---5---2->-7------------------|
E|--3---0---3---0->-0------------------|

Bridge to Verse:
e|----------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------|
G|--7-9h-9-9-7-4-7-9-7-7-7-7-9h-9-9-7-12-9-7----|
D|--0-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0----|
A|----------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------|

End on:
e|-0-------|
B|-7-------|
G|-7-------|
D|-0-------|
A|---------|
E|---------|

Now onto Fables.  I've already figured out the last jarring chords to Gravity and the intro to 'Life and how to live it' is awesome!
-BW

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