AROUND THE SUN: THE ASCENT OF MAN

   This always felt like a bridge type of song to me, a way to get from one part of an album to another, but here it's just trying to get to the end. For this album the song could be considered a strong closer, but on its own it's an easy song to overlook. In fact, when I started this album I wouldn't have been able to hum it to you if asked--which is a shame because it's a lovely song. The literary references spill over to the structure of the song which is has a bookend style verse, an allusion to unrequited love because of metaphors--all very cool, plus the overlapping verse is so well done. When singing live he would add some dialogue in the bridge and finish with 'And in my mind I called you back.' Nice closer that somehow didn't make the album, so I added the live version.





THE ASCENT OF MAN

So hesitation pulled me back
I’m stronger when I don’t attract

In your eyes I’m a lamb without a rack and I’m getting confused
I’m a cactus trying to be a canoe
As you panned for ore in the desert, floored, I say to you

That I could never imagine a place so beautiful

I could never steal your gold away

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to walk like a big wham bam
I came across like a battering ram

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to float like a telegram sam I’m trying to divine you

My book is called ‘The Ascent of Man’
I marked your chapter with a catamaran
The accent’s off, but I am what I am

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to walk like a big wham bam
I came across like a battering ram

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to float like a telegram sam I’m trying to divine you

I looked for you it’s my last grandstand
A motorscootered goat legged Pan
A figure eight in in quicksand

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to walk like a big wham bam
I came across like a battering ram

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to float like a telegram sam I’m trying to divine you

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to walk like a big wham bam
I came across like a battering ram

(Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah)
I try to float like a telegram sam I’m trying to divine you

So hesitation pulled me back
I’m so in love I don’t attract
And with my hands tied I won’t crack




   Great chord progression here, so much fun to play, love the D7 in the middle 8. In a previous post I brought up Peter's Thumb barre in order to prepare for this one, in the intro you have to do it in order to keep the B string open. Definitely worth the sound you get in the verse.

THE ASCENT OF MAN

Intro/Outro Bookend Verse

e|-7---7--|

B|-0---0--|

G|-9---8--|

D|-9---9--|

A|-0---9--|

E|-0---7--|

Transition Verse

e|-7---6---4---2-2--|

B|-7---7---4---2-4--|

G|-8---8---4---2-4--|

D|-9---8---6---4-4--|

A|-9---6---6---4-2--|

E|-7---6---4---2-2--|

Chorus

e|-0---0-4--------2---2-2---2---2---2-2--0-|

B|-0---0-5--------2---2-2----2--2---2-2--0-|

G|-1---0-6--------3---3-4h-4--4-3---3-4h-1-|

D|-2---4-6--------4---4-4-------4---4-4--2-|

A|-2---2-4--------4---4-2-------4---4-2--2-|

E|-0---0-4---x3---2---2-2-------2---2-2--0-|

Middle 8

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

B|-3---2---2---1---3---2---0-|

G|-4---2---2---2---0---3---1-|

D|-4---2---2---0---0---4---2-|

A|-2---0---0-------2---4---2-|

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