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:

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|--------------------------------------|