A transcription of R.E.M.'s catalog from Chronic Town to Collapse Into Now, song by song ...
Friday, December 31, 2010
Barnaby Wilde plays CHRONIC TOWN 1/27/11
The first date for playing through the R.E.M. album Chronic Town has been solidified. Thursday, January 27th at 10pm at the wonderful bar Desmond's Tavern on Park in midtown Manhattan. There will be guest singers and musicians and plenty of audio and video of the event!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: THROW THOSE TROLLS AWAY
This is a track that was listed on some of the original printings of the FOTR album. It never made it. For obvious reasons. I suppose it's sort of a public service announcement against trolls. In any case, it was never finished and this extant version is courtesy of the 25th anniversary demo disc. The verse of this of course was eventually re-written for the song 'I Believe' which is coming up on the next album! This is the last song that I will post for Fables and I will start with Lifes Rich Pageant next week!
WHEN I WAS YOUNG (THROW THOSE TROLLS AWAY)
When I was young, a year of hate, are medium, rattlesnake
When I was young and full of life, are medium, evening light
When I was young and full of grace, are medium, a pretty face
When I was young and fever fell, are medium, I would not tell, I will not tell
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
(Don’t be a loser)
When I was young, a year of hate, are medium, rattlesnake
When I was young and full of light, are medium, evening light
When I was young and full of grace, are medium, a pretty face
When I was young and fever fell, are medium, I would not tell, I will not lie
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Me all medium
(Don’t be a loser)
Could you turn the guitar up a little bit?
When I would move, the wind would move, and the wind would move, and I would move
And our medium was embarrassing, are medium
When I was young and full of life, are medium, evening light
When I was young and fever fell, are medium, I would not tell, I will not lie
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls
(Don’t be a loser)
Now I’m young and full of hope, are medium, was given up
Are medium
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
A very fun little riff. The chorus is a neat, almost bluesy, jam. Really a rockin' tune. Too bad it never came to fruition.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG (THROW THOSE TROLLS AWAY)
When I was young, a year of hate, are medium, rattlesnake
When I was young and full of life, are medium, evening light
When I was young and full of grace, are medium, a pretty face
When I was young and fever fell, are medium, I would not tell, I will not tell
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
(Don’t be a loser)
When I was young, a year of hate, are medium, rattlesnake
When I was young and full of light, are medium, evening light
When I was young and full of grace, are medium, a pretty face
When I was young and fever fell, are medium, I would not tell, I will not lie
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Me all medium
(Don’t be a loser)
Could you turn the guitar up a little bit?
When I would move, the wind would move, and the wind would move, and I would move
And our medium was embarrassing, are medium
When I was young and full of life, are medium, evening light
When I was young and fever fell, are medium, I would not tell, I will not lie
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls
(Don’t be a loser)
Now I’m young and full of hope, are medium, was given up
Are medium
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
Throw those trolls away
(Don’t be a loser)
A very fun little riff. The chorus is a neat, almost bluesy, jam. Really a rockin' tune. Too bad it never came to fruition.
WHEN I WAS YOUNG (THROW THOSE TROLLS AWAY)
Intro/Bridge:
e|--0--0-----0--0--0--0-------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|---7--7-7>9-9--9--7--7-6-7-6--6666666---|
D|-0--0--0-----0--0-----0-----7-7777777---|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|
Verse:
e|--------------------------------------0--------|
B|--------------------------------------0--------|
G|--------------------------7-7-7-5-4-0-7-9-7----|
D|-5-7h-7-7-5-4-0-7-7-5-4-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-9----9---|
A|-0-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0----------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
Chorus
e|-0---0-0---0---0-0-------------|
B|-0---5-3---2---5-3-------------|
G|-1---4-4---2---4-4-------------|
D|-2---0-0---2---0-0-------------|
A|-2---------0-------------------|
E|-0---------0-------------------|
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
COLLAPSE INTO NOW: DISCOVERER
This might come as a shock, jumping ahead a few decades like this, but I just heard the new track yesterday. Below is the song. It's not bad ... kind of rocking with a little Edge thrown in. The opening and closing chord is the same as the B chord formation in Harborcoat, but with more distortion. It's very anthemic with a shouted out bridge. There are some other sneak peeks at remhq.com including the track listing, a preview trailer, and the song It Happened Today, alot of background 'aahs' in this one including Eddie Vedder. Kind of reminiscent of Stipe's guest spot of Grant Lee Buffalo's Jubilee. For those of you not from NYC, he is floating across Houston, pronounced How-stun, Street.
The guitar part here is fairly simple, but fun. Find a friend to play the lead under the verse ...
DISCOVERER
Hey baby,
This is not a challenge
It just means that I love you as much as I said I did
I was wrong, I have been laughable wrong
Sandpaper, paper mache, chalk, hung out wet
Oh the city and your skin, now, na na na na na na
I didn’t have to be afraid
I didn’t have to feel so stupid
I can see myself, I can feel
That just the slightest bit of finesse
Might have made a little less mess
But it was what it was, let’s all get on with it
Now!
Oh!
Discoverer
Discoverer
Discoverer
Laughing, laugh
Discoverer
Floating across Houston
That’s where I am
I see the city rise up tall
The opportunities, the possibilities
Oh I have never felt so called
Remember the vodka-espresso night of discovery?
Remember that?
Laughing
Discovery
Oh how I look back and reflect
How I felt it, how it set
I don’t have to feel so wrong
Now I wake up dreaming, saffron, turmeric, and brass
And just the slightest bit of finesse
Might have made a little less mess
But it was what it was, let’s all get on with it
Now!
Just the slightest bit of finesse
Might have made a little less mess
But it was what it was, let’s all get on with it
Now!
Oh!
Discoverer
Discoverer
Discoverer
Discoverer
Discoverer
The guitar part here is fairly simple, but fun. Find a friend to play the lead under the verse ...
DISCOVERER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCOVERER - REM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tabbed by: Barnaby Wilde
Email:
Verse/Intro/Bridge
Guitar 1:
e|-2---2---0---2-------|
B|-0---0---0---0-------|
G|-4---4---2---4-------|
D|-4---4---2---4-------|
A|---------------------|
E|---------------------|
Guitar 2:
e|-4-5-7-9-10h-9-10h-9-9-10h-9-5-4-5h-4-2---|
B|------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------|
Chorus:
e|---------0--0-0------0---0---0---0--|
B|---------0-0-0-0-----0---0---0---0--|
G|-3---1---8-----------4---7---7---4--|
D|-4---2---9-------x3--5---7---7---4--|
A|-4---2---9-----------5---5---5---2--|
E|-2---0---7-----------3---0---0---0--|
e|--0---0--------0---0---|
B|--5---0--------0---0---|
G|--4---4--------4---7---|
D|--x---4--------5---7---|
A|--2---2---x3---5---5---|
E|--0---0--------3---0---|
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: WENDELL GEE
Here we are at the end of another album and another character study. Reportedly, Wendell Gee is another real life person if in name only. While travelling to film Left of Reckoning the boys travelled through a town where it seemed that everyone's last name was Gee. Any other similarities to the real Wendell apparently end there. This is a touching song, and sad for some reason, but uplifting. Something about the line: 'If the wind were colors/ and if the air could speak' really sums up many things. This song pretty much comes out of left field with abstract imagery, I mean, where does the whole chicken wire to lizard skin thing come from? It's such an odd visual. Who's climbing inside of that?
This song was actually released as a single in the UK as opposed to Driver 8. I can only assume that this was because of the railroad theme? Maybe it was deemed too American? Or perhaps it was due to the poor charting in the states. On another note, Peter Buck for a long time hated this song, he has since revised his vote to liking it, but not loving it.
As promised, I'm not finished with this album. Next up will be When I Was Young, a song listed on some of the first printings of the album, but never meant to be included. Then I will move on to Lifes Rich Pageant.
WENDELL GEE
That’s when Wendell Gee
Takes a tug upon the string that held the line of trees
Behind the house he lived in
He was reared to give respect
But somewhere down the line he chose
To whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows did he
(Gonna miss you boy)
Had a dream one night
That the tree had lost its middle
So he built a trunk of chicken wire
To try to hold it up
But the wire, the wire turned to lizard skin
And then he climbed inside
There wasn’t even time to say
(Gonna miss you boy)
Goodbye to Wendell Gee
(Gonna miss you boy)
So whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows did he
(Gonna miss you boy)
There wasn’t even time to say
(Gonna miss you boy)
Goodbye to Wendell Gee
(Gonna miss you boy)
So whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Listen as the wind blows did he
(Gonna miss you boy)
If the wind were colors
(Gonna miss you boy)
And if the air could speak
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
I will not even pretend to know anything about the banjo. What I have posted here was devised by me tuning my guitar like a banjo and messing around. Originally I thought that the progression would be straight banjo chords. Wrong! It might be true for the chorus, but the verse is a little doodle Mr. Buck found. It does sound nice with the song. As far as guitar goes it's fairly straightforward. On the demo version, Peter has a nice little doodle riff around an A chord, but I guess in the final version it was lifted for simplicity. Speaking of simplicity, the piano and orchestration in this song are pretty much perfect, supposedly the song is pretty much all Mike Mills.
WENDELL GEE
This song was actually released as a single in the UK as opposed to Driver 8. I can only assume that this was because of the railroad theme? Maybe it was deemed too American? Or perhaps it was due to the poor charting in the states. On another note, Peter Buck for a long time hated this song, he has since revised his vote to liking it, but not loving it.
As promised, I'm not finished with this album. Next up will be When I Was Young, a song listed on some of the first printings of the album, but never meant to be included. Then I will move on to Lifes Rich Pageant.
WENDELL GEE
That’s when Wendell Gee
Takes a tug upon the string that held the line of trees
Behind the house he lived in
He was reared to give respect
But somewhere down the line he chose
To whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows did he
(Gonna miss you boy)
Had a dream one night
That the tree had lost its middle
So he built a trunk of chicken wire
To try to hold it up
But the wire, the wire turned to lizard skin
And then he climbed inside
There wasn’t even time to say
(Gonna miss you boy)
Goodbye to Wendell Gee
(Gonna miss you boy)
So whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows did he
(Gonna miss you boy)
There wasn’t even time to say
(Gonna miss you boy)
Goodbye to Wendell Gee
(Gonna miss you boy)
So whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Listen as the wind blows did he
(Gonna miss you boy)
If the wind were colors
(Gonna miss you boy)
And if the air could speak
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
Whistle as the wind blows
(Gonna miss you boy)
I will not even pretend to know anything about the banjo. What I have posted here was devised by me tuning my guitar like a banjo and messing around. Originally I thought that the progression would be straight banjo chords. Wrong! It might be true for the chorus, but the verse is a little doodle Mr. Buck found. It does sound nice with the song. As far as guitar goes it's fairly straightforward. On the demo version, Peter has a nice little doodle riff around an A chord, but I guess in the final version it was lifted for simplicity. Speaking of simplicity, the piano and orchestration in this song are pretty much perfect, supposedly the song is pretty much all Mike Mills.
WENDELL GEE
Verse:
e|-0---1---3---1---0---3--------|
B|-1---3---3---3---3---3--------|
G|-0---2---0---2---0---0--------|
D|-2---0---0---0---2---0--------|
A|-3-------2-------2---2--------|
E|-0-------3-------0---3--------|
Chorus:
e|-1---0---0---1---0---3----------|
B|-1---1---0---1---1---3----------|
G|-2---0---0---2---0---0----------|
D|-3---2---2---3---2---0----------|
A|-3---3---2---3---3---2----------|
E|-1---0---0---1---0---3----------|
Banjo Tab:
Verse
d|-5---5---5---5---5---5----|
B|-5---3---3---3---3---3----|
G|-5---2---4---0---0---0----|
D|-5---0---5---3---2---0----|
G|--------------------------|
Chorus
d|-3---5---5------|
B|-1---5---3------|
G|-2---5---4------|
D|-3---5---5------|
G|----------------|
Friday, December 17, 2010
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: GOOD ADVICES
Keep your hat on your head. Has there ever been better advice? Yes. However, it seems symbolic a few songs from now when Stipe picks up a hat he put down and fastens it securely back on his head in 'These Days.' It's strange to be at the end of Fables. 'Wendell Gee' is a pretty easy song and just for kicks I'm going to do 'When I Was Young,' which is a take on a blues riff, so we're almost at Pageant. How exciting!
This song is kind of a mash up of advice and, surprise, another travel song. Could the character in this song be related to the one in Auctioneer? They both seem like unseemly people. In Auctioneer there is 'another wife' and here it would be nice to see someone from 'a long way away.' Hardly friendly and trustworthy people. And not trusting of strangers either. There is a lot of suspicion here. Plus. you'll forget someones name by the end of the day? How brutal.
The most difficult part of this transcription was Mike Mills' background in the last verse. It's almost impenetrable on the album, but thank you FOTR Deluxe edition. In the demo version the backing vocals are very clear.
GOOD ADVICES
When you greet a stranger, look at his shoes
Keep your money in your shoes, put your trouble behind
When you greet a stranger, look at her hands
Keep your money in your hands, put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day, I’ll forget your name
I’d like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away
When you greet a stranger, look at his shoes
Keep your memories in your shoes, put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day, when there are no friends
When there are no lovers
(When you greet a stranger)
Who are you going to call for?
(Ignore their shoes)
What do you have to change?
(Keep your memories on your shoes, keep your trouble behind)
Familiar face, foreign place
I’ll forget your name
I’d like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
This one was tricky. There are definitely at least two guitars and one is picking quite a bit. What I have here sounds correct with one guitar, but you could make a case for a different form of D in the verse and perhaps something different in the chorus besides the E to A change that I have. That said, the chords are correct. I also find that the C#m to Bm slide is one of my favorite moments for Buck. It's just fun to play. It's also nice how he can remove the bar from the A chord in the chorus and get a great new sound out of it. One of my favorite songs to play.
GOOD ADVICES
-BW
This song is kind of a mash up of advice and, surprise, another travel song. Could the character in this song be related to the one in Auctioneer? They both seem like unseemly people. In Auctioneer there is 'another wife' and here it would be nice to see someone from 'a long way away.' Hardly friendly and trustworthy people. And not trusting of strangers either. There is a lot of suspicion here. Plus. you'll forget someones name by the end of the day? How brutal.
The most difficult part of this transcription was Mike Mills' background in the last verse. It's almost impenetrable on the album, but thank you FOTR Deluxe edition. In the demo version the backing vocals are very clear.
GOOD ADVICES
When you greet a stranger, look at his shoes
Keep your money in your shoes, put your trouble behind
When you greet a stranger, look at her hands
Keep your money in your hands, put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day, I’ll forget your name
I’d like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away
When you greet a stranger, look at his shoes
Keep your memories in your shoes, put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day, when there are no friends
When there are no lovers
(When you greet a stranger)
Who are you going to call for?
(Ignore their shoes)
What do you have to change?
(Keep your memories on your shoes, keep your trouble behind)
Familiar face, foreign place
I’ll forget your name
I’d like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
This one was tricky. There are definitely at least two guitars and one is picking quite a bit. What I have here sounds correct with one guitar, but you could make a case for a different form of D in the verse and perhaps something different in the chorus besides the E to A change that I have. That said, the chords are correct. I also find that the C#m to Bm slide is one of my favorite moments for Buck. It's just fun to play. It's also nice how he can remove the bar from the A chord in the chorus and get a great new sound out of it. One of my favorite songs to play.
GOOD ADVICES
Verse
e|-0---0---0----0--0--0-2--0--2-0--|
B|-0---0---0-----5--5----3--3------|
G|-9---7---6---6--6--6----4--4-----|
D|-9---7---7-----------------------|
A|-7---5---0-----------------------|
E|-0---0---0-----------------------|
Chorus
e|--0----0----0----0----5-5--5--5-0-0--0--0-0---0---0---0-|
B|---0----0-------------5--5--5---0--0--0---0---0---0---0-|
G|-2--2>4--4>6-6-7h-7-0-6---6--6--6---6--6--9---2---9---2-|
D|----------------------7---------7---------9---2---9---2-|
A|----------------------7---------7---------7---0---7---0-|
E|----------------------5---------0---------0---0---0---0-|
e|--0----0----0----0----5-5--5--5-0-0--0--0-5--|
B|---0----0-------------5--5--5---0--0--0---5--|
G|-2--2>4--4>6-6-7h-7-0-6---6--6--6---6--6--6--|
D|----------------------7---------7---------7--|
A|----------------------7---------7---------7--|
E|----------------------5---------0---------5--|
Bridge
“At the end of the day … “
e|-0----|
B|-0----|
G|-4----|
D|-5----|
A|-5----|
E|-3----|
2nd Guitar Under Last Verse
e|-0------------------------------------------|
B|-0-7-9-10-9-7----7-9-10-9-7---7-9-10-9-7----|
G|-9-----------9-7-----------9-6----------9---|
D|-9------------------------------------------|
A|-7------------------------------------------|
E|-0------------------------------------------|-BW
Thursday, December 16, 2010
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: AUCTIONEER (ANOTHER ENGINE)
I've talked to a lot of people that name this one of their favorite early R.E.M. songs. It is really a nice little microcosm of the album itself. It's short, discordant, and rough around the edges. There is also that sense of travel and leaving that has started to crop up more and more with Michael Stipe. It is a theme that doesn't really leave his work until after New Adventures. Can you blame him? The band is pretty much on a perpetual tour--or, um, a Permanent Vacation--how easy is it to claim one place as your home? I would guess not very.
Stipe also lent some history to the song in Dublin by saying that the only connection to real life this song has was of his maternal grandfather, Clifford Hatch, who would take the train from Atlanta to D.C. for work. As a child they would take pennies he gave them and place it on the tracks to flatten it as a keepsake. The reason for this story is twofold. First, to point out that Stipe does draw on memory and true stories for this album and second to say that the rest of the song is the fable. This is how things get blown up and embellished.
I was also surprised at how short this song is. Why does it feel longer?
AUCTIONEER (ANOTHER ENGINE)
She didn’t want to get pinned down by her prior town
Get me to the train on time, here take this nickel make a dime
Take this penny to make into a necklace when I leave
What is at the other end, I don’t know, another friend
Another wife, another morning spent
Listen
(Listen to)
To the auctioneer
Another engine, another engine
You never wrote the reasons that I need explained
Some things are givens and others get away
This time it’s for myself you call it what you may
Okay, we won’t say good bye, so long, and so much more
(Listen)
Listen
(To)
To the auctioneer
Another engine, another engine
Listen to the bargain holler, listen to the barter holler
Listen to the auctioneer
Oh, get me to the train on time, here take this nickel make a dime
Take this penny and make into a necklace when I leave
What is at the other end, I don’t know, another friend
Another wife, another morning spent
Listen
(Listen to)
To the auctioneer
Another engine, another engine
Another engine, another engine
Another
Do I stand to bargain holler, listen to the barter holler
This is not the easiest song to figure out. It is pretty far off the map as far as chords go. It's perfectly suited for the song and even sounds like a train in the chorus. On the live footage available, it seems like Buck switches from playing the second part of the verse up around the 12th fret of the D string, and lately around the 3rd fret of the B string. It works either way, but on the album it is the former. It also seems like there is a note missing from the chorus which might be a second guitar, but could also be part of the bass line. Overall, the song is quite easy once you get the parts down, but also quite a workout.
AUCTIONEER (ANOTHER ENGINE)
Verse
Stipe also lent some history to the song in Dublin by saying that the only connection to real life this song has was of his maternal grandfather, Clifford Hatch, who would take the train from Atlanta to D.C. for work. As a child they would take pennies he gave them and place it on the tracks to flatten it as a keepsake. The reason for this story is twofold. First, to point out that Stipe does draw on memory and true stories for this album and second to say that the rest of the song is the fable. This is how things get blown up and embellished.
I was also surprised at how short this song is. Why does it feel longer?
AUCTIONEER (ANOTHER ENGINE)
She didn’t want to get pinned down by her prior town
Get me to the train on time, here take this nickel make a dime
Take this penny to make into a necklace when I leave
What is at the other end, I don’t know, another friend
Another wife, another morning spent
Listen
(Listen to)
To the auctioneer
Another engine, another engine
You never wrote the reasons that I need explained
Some things are givens and others get away
This time it’s for myself you call it what you may
Okay, we won’t say good bye, so long, and so much more
(Listen)
Listen
(To)
To the auctioneer
Another engine, another engine
Listen to the bargain holler, listen to the barter holler
Listen to the auctioneer
Oh, get me to the train on time, here take this nickel make a dime
Take this penny and make into a necklace when I leave
What is at the other end, I don’t know, another friend
Another wife, another morning spent
Listen
(Listen to)
To the auctioneer
Another engine, another engine
Another engine, another engine
Another
Do I stand to bargain holler, listen to the barter holler
This is not the easiest song to figure out. It is pretty far off the map as far as chords go. It's perfectly suited for the song and even sounds like a train in the chorus. On the live footage available, it seems like Buck switches from playing the second part of the verse up around the 12th fret of the D string, and lately around the 3rd fret of the B string. It works either way, but on the album it is the former. It also seems like there is a note missing from the chorus which might be a second guitar, but could also be part of the bass line. Overall, the song is quite easy once you get the parts down, but also quite a workout.
AUCTIONEER (ANOTHER ENGINE)
Verse
e|-------------------------|
B|----3--------------------|
G|---4-4-------------------|
D|--4----14-14-14-12-11-0--|
A|-2------0--0--0--0--0-0--|
E|-------------------------|
Chorus
e|--0---0---------------------|
B|--0---0---------------------|
G|-10---9---------------------|
D|-10---9---------------------|
A|--x---x---------------------|
E|--8---7---------------------|
Bridge
e|-------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0--0--0--0---|
B|---------12--0-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-8-10-12/14-15---|
G|-12-12-14--------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
e|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
B|-15-15-15-15-15-15-15-15--|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
End
e|---------|
B|---------|
G|----4----|
D|---------|
A|-2-2-----|
E|--0------|
Friday, December 10, 2010
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: KOHOUTEK
Is this Michael Stipe's first love song? It's definitely a lost love song, similar to 'The One I Love' but without the misogyny. Aren't some of the best love songs lost love songs anyway? Unrequited love songs? Well, maybe not. Also, can we assert that Stipe has inserted himself in his song in a very vulnerable and personal way? Or is this just another character like Kensey. As always, it's probably a blending of the two.
Kohoutek is of course a comet. However, don't set up the telescope just yet, the flying space detritus will not visit us again for about 75,000 years. When you relate that to the context of this song, it seems pretty final.
On the 2009 release of the songs in Dublin, Buck asks Stipe to apologize before playing the song. There are not many instances of this song being performed live and I'm willing to bet that the band forgot about it ... likely on purpose. It's not a bad song, but it probably is not high on the setlist priority. Stipe goes on to say that the band was 'terrified. I hope you enjoy it.' They then rock through it and I for one am glad they did or we might never had known the lyrics.
KOHOUTEK
Who will stand alone?
She carried ribbons, she wore them out
Courage built a bridge, jealous tore it down
At least it’s something you’ve left behind
Like Kohoutek, you were gone
We sat in the garden, we stood on the porch
We fooled around ourselves
We never talked
She wore bangles, she wore bells on her toes
And she jumped like a fish, like the flying fish you were gone
Like Kohoutek, can’t forget that
Fever built a bridge, reason tore it down
If I’m wrong to follow
Who will stand alone?
Maybe you’re not the problem
Scissor, paper, stone
If you stand and holler
Foolish proves its own
She carried ribbons, she wore them out
Michael built a bridge, Michael tore it down
At least it’s something, you’ve left behind
Like Kohoutek, you were gone
Michael built a bridge, Michael tore it down
If I stand and holler
Will I stand alone?
As with most Buck leads, there are a number of ways to play it. Buck tends to bend on the B string of the second fret and then travel up to the 7th fret. You could also play it entirely around the D chord. I have opted to keep it between the 6th and 9th frets because it looks more impressive.
KOHOUTEK
Intro/Chorus:
Kohoutek is of course a comet. However, don't set up the telescope just yet, the flying space detritus will not visit us again for about 75,000 years. When you relate that to the context of this song, it seems pretty final.
On the 2009 release of the songs in Dublin, Buck asks Stipe to apologize before playing the song. There are not many instances of this song being performed live and I'm willing to bet that the band forgot about it ... likely on purpose. It's not a bad song, but it probably is not high on the setlist priority. Stipe goes on to say that the band was 'terrified. I hope you enjoy it.' They then rock through it and I for one am glad they did or we might never had known the lyrics.
KOHOUTEK
Who will stand alone?
She carried ribbons, she wore them out
Courage built a bridge, jealous tore it down
At least it’s something you’ve left behind
Like Kohoutek, you were gone
We sat in the garden, we stood on the porch
We fooled around ourselves
We never talked
She wore bangles, she wore bells on her toes
And she jumped like a fish, like the flying fish you were gone
Like Kohoutek, can’t forget that
Fever built a bridge, reason tore it down
If I’m wrong to follow
Who will stand alone?
Maybe you’re not the problem
Scissor, paper, stone
If you stand and holler
Foolish proves its own
She carried ribbons, she wore them out
Michael built a bridge, Michael tore it down
At least it’s something, you’ve left behind
Like Kohoutek, you were gone
Michael built a bridge, Michael tore it down
If I stand and holler
Will I stand alone?
As with most Buck leads, there are a number of ways to play it. Buck tends to bend on the B string of the second fret and then travel up to the 7th fret. You could also play it entirely around the D chord. I have opted to keep it between the 6th and 9th frets because it looks more impressive.
KOHOUTEK
Intro/Chorus:
e|-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0---0-----3--------|
B|-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0---3-----3--------|
G|-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0---0-----0--------|
D|-0-2---2-0-2-0-2-0---5-x3--0--------|
A|-2-2---2-2-2-2-2-2---5-----2--------|
E|-0-0---0-0-0-0-0-0---0-----3--------|
Verse:
e|-0---0---0-----0-----0-----|
B|-3---3---3-----3-----0-----|
G|-0---2---0-----2-x3--0-----|
D|-2---0---2-4-2-0-----2-----|
A|---------------------2-----|
E|---------------------0-----|
Lead:
Start walkdown under end of chorus.
Repeat from the bend and after 3 times.
e|--------------------------------------|
B|-10-8-7-8-7---------------8-7---------|
G|-------9---9-7-6-7b-7---7----9-6------|
D|-------------------7-7>9-9------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
FABLES OF THE RECONSTRUCTION: GREEN GROW THE RUSHES
If you've been wondering where the political Michael Stipe is, look no further. He emerges on the second half of this album. A not so faithful representation of the Irish folk song, although the chorus is fairly similar, Rushes is a diatribe about the treatment illegal immigrants--but are they offered a pound because the song was recorded in London? The song is rarely performed, but you can see a version on YouTube that is extremely faithful. It's safe to say that this might be one of the songs Berry thinks 'sucked.' It's a strange moment in R.E.M. history, the more narrative Stipe finds, the less he can deliver vocals with fervor. He is enamored with the lyrics now and he wants to get them right. If you ever witnessed an early R.E.M. show and then a later performance, you know what I mean. It's difficult to flail about when you want to get a point across. This is the beginning of what leads the band to Out Of Time. It is also the type of music that make them perfect for the show that Unplugged five years after this.
A great little song, I especially like the coda-like ending. Embellishing the earlier riff into something a little more urgent.
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES
The wheelbarrow's fallen, look at my hands
They've found some surplus cheaper hands
Rubbing palms and pick and choose
Who will they choose?
Here is the news
Look at that building, look at this man
Haloed and whitewashed
Gone to find a cheaper hand
(Hand)
He'll offer a pound, offer a pound
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
(Green grow the rushes go)
The compass points the workers home
Pay for your freedom, find another gate
Guilt by associate, the rushes wilted a long time ago
Guilty as you go
Stay off that highway, word is it's not so safe
The grasses that hide the greenback
The amber waves of gain, of gain
The amber waves of grain
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
(Green grow the rushes go)
The compass points the workers home
La, la, la, la, la, lie
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
Reportedly, Peter Buck wasn't a huge fan of this particular riff. However, it was a tune that Stipe had lyrics for which surprised Buck. Much of the riff is a rehash of '7 Chinese Bros' and another part of it is from 'Wolves, Lower.' Put 'em together ... new song! It's also becoming clear that the Buck likes D to G ... hey, has there ever been a better guitar chord pairing? You be the judge.
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES
A great little song, I especially like the coda-like ending. Embellishing the earlier riff into something a little more urgent.
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES
The wheelbarrow's fallen, look at my hands
They've found some surplus cheaper hands
Rubbing palms and pick and choose
Who will they choose?
Here is the news
Look at that building, look at this man
Haloed and whitewashed
Gone to find a cheaper hand
(Hand)
He'll offer a pound, offer a pound
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
(Green grow the rushes go)
The compass points the workers home
Pay for your freedom, find another gate
Guilt by associate, the rushes wilted a long time ago
Guilty as you go
Stay off that highway, word is it's not so safe
The grasses that hide the greenback
The amber waves of gain, of gain
The amber waves of grain
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
Green grow the rushes go
(Green grow the rushes go)
The compass points the workers home
La, la, la, la, la, lie
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
La, la, la, la, la, lie
(Green grow the rushes go)
Reportedly, Peter Buck wasn't a huge fan of this particular riff. However, it was a tune that Stipe had lyrics for which surprised Buck. Much of the riff is a rehash of '7 Chinese Bros' and another part of it is from 'Wolves, Lower.' Put 'em together ... new song! It's also becoming clear that the Buck likes D to G ... hey, has there ever been a better guitar chord pairing? You be the judge.
GREEN GROW THE RUSHES
Intro/Chorus
e|--0------0--0--0------2-2--2--2-222222-------|
B|---2-3>5--3--3----x3--3--3--3---333333-------|
G|-2------4--4--4-------4---4--4--444444-------|
D|-0--------------------4---------444444-------|
A|----------------------2---------222222-------|
E|----------------------2---------222222-------|
Verse:
e|-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-3-------2-2-2-2-2-0-0------0---|
B|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-------3-3-3-3-3-0--0------0--|
G|-2-2-2-2-2-0-0-0-------4-4-4-4-4-1---1-1>2----|
D|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-4-4-4-4-4-2------------|
A|-----------2-2-2-0-2h--2-2-2-0-2-2------------|
E|-----------3-3-3-------2-2-2-0-2-0------------|
Bridge:
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-14-14-14-12-11-12-12-12-12-11-9-11-11-11-11-9-7-7-7-7-9h-7-4>7-7-7-0-|
D|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0--0--0--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0--0-0-0-0-0-0-|
A|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Outro:
e|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0------------------|
B|-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10------------------|
G|-11-11-11-12-11-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12------------------|
D|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------|
e|--0--0--0--0--0--------------------|
B|-10-10-10-10-10--------------------|
G|-11-11-11-12-11-11-12h-11--11-11---|
D|--0--0--0--0--0----------12-----12-|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|
e|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0---------0--------------------|
B|-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-8-8--7----5-5-5-5-5-7h-5-5-----|
G|-11-11-11-12-11-12-12-12-12-11-9--9--9---6-------------7------|
D|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-0---9--9--7--------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
End:
e|----------0-0-0-0-0-----2-2-2-3-2--|
B|--8--7----5-5-5-5-5-----3-3-3-3-3--|
G|---9--9---6-6-6-6-6-x3--2-2-2-0-2--|
D|----9--9--7-7-7-7-7-----0-0-0-0-0--|
A|------------------------------2----|
E|------------------------------3----|
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