OUT OF TIME: HALF A WORLD AWAY

Hello all,
  So the posts have been few and far between.  The good news for me is it's because I've been professionally busy.  However, it has taken me some time to give OUT OF TIME my full attention.  I believe that it is also because there has been so much posted about OOT and AUTOMATIC that I don't want to take the songs for granted.  I have some differences between what is posted and what you can find in professional tab books or online and in going back, I can assure you that I have by no means finished with the previous albums ... I am looking to update the tabs, lyrics, and comments frequently ... this is just the beginning.
  In HALF A WORLD AWAY, the story is bittersweet.  Someone is far away, someone is yearning and destitute, and someone is resolute.  This song is a bit confusing as recorded as it contains many of the Stipe tics of previous songs and albums, the Unplugged version may be a more definitive rendering of the lyrics, but below is what we hear on the album.  "Along" vs "alone", "haul" vs "fall", "High alive" or "I lied" ... so many choices, but below is a combination of what is heard and what is said.  Most of the above by the way are moot points, as always Stipe brings that knowing, raw emotion, and the worst part is I don't think he even has to try very hard to do it.
 

HALF A WORLD AWAY

This could be the saddest dusk
I’ve ever seen
Turn to a miracle
High alive
My mind is racing
As it always will
My hands tired my heart aches
I’m half a world away
Here in my head sworn

To go it alone
And hold it along
Haul it along
And hold it
Go it alone
Hold it along and hold

Oh, the lonely deep sit hollow
Half a world
Half a world away
My shoes are gone
My life spent
I had too much to drink
I didn’t think
And I didn’t think of you
I guess that’s all I needed

To go it alone
And hold it along
Haul it along
And hold it
Blackbirds backwards forward to haul and hold

Oh this lonely world is wasted
Pathetic eyes
High alive
Blind the tide that has turned the sea
The storm it came up strong
It shook the trees
And it blew away our fear
I couldn’t leave it here

To go it alone
And hold it along
Haul it along
And hold it
Know it alone
And hold it along
And hold

Go it alone
And hold it along
Haul it along
And hold it
Blackbirds backwards forward to fall and hold

Oh, and this could be the saddest dusk
I’ve ever seen
Turn to a miracle
High alive
My mind is racing
As it always will
My hands tired my heart aches
I’m half a world away

Go


  Musically, this song is really about the mandolin and harpsichord.  A lot of what has been ascribed to the guitar is really mandolin and to the mandolin, the harpsichord, but I have attempted to weed it out.  Also, listen to the song for where the hammering takes place.  He doesn't do it in the intro, but it's there during the song.  Also, keep in mind that between all verse chord changes there is an open string strum as Mr. Buck has been known to use in transition.  Hell, it's Rock and Roll 101.
  And for the love of Pete, start every verse coming after the first chorus from the 'G' chord ...

HALF A WORLD AWAY

Verse

e|-0---0-0--0---3---3-3--3---2---2-2--2---0--|

B|-1---1-1--1---3---3-3--3---3---3-3--3---0--|

G|-2---2-2--2---0---0-0--0---2---0-2h-0---0--|

D|-2---0-2h-0---0---0-0--0---0---0-0--0---2--|

A|-0---0-0--0---2---0-2h-0----------------2--|

E|-0---0-0--0---3---3-3--3----------------0--|

Chorus

e|-1---1-1--1---2---|

B|-1---1-1--1---3---|

G|-2---2-2--2---2---|

D|-3---0-3h-0---0---|

A|-0---0------------|

E|-0---0------------|

End (Am-D-G)

Mandolin

E|-0---3---2---3-2-0---0--|

A|-0---2---0---0-0-0---2--|

D|-2---0---0---0-0-0---2--|

G|-5---0---2---2-2-2---0--|

E|-0---2---3---2---3-2-0--|

A|-0---0---0---0---0-0-0--|

D|-3---0---0---0---0-0-0--|

G|-5---2---2---2---2-2-2--|