The Official Chord/Tab Request Thread

[Marquis of Sadness]

I have a lot of tab requests, and I imagine others probably do too, so maybe a thread where one can ask for all their Daniel Johnston tabbing needs would be a good thing, no?

If anyone has it, I'm looking for:

"Spirit World Rising"
"My Life Is Starting Over Again"
"Mountain Top"
"Syrup of Tears"

[zack26]

Here's what I've got.  I'm working on a guitar tab for Syrup.  It's a little tricky since it's a piano song.

Spirit World Rising

To get the right sound, let the low E string ring in the C chord (0-3-2-0-1-0)
            G
I have been
            C
To Abilene
                            G           G
The spirit world rising
            G
I have seen
           C
In Abilene
                       G
The devil has Texas

(Instrumental section)
This is just a C chord being slid up 3 frets and then moved down fret by fret back to original position.  One chord per measure.  Let the low E string ring throughout this part.
Here’s the fret tab from low string to high string

0-3-2-0-1-0
0-6-5-0-4-0
0-5-4-0-3-0
0-4-3-0-2-0  (repeat and then end on the last chord)

Mountain Top

Some question as to whether it's Am or A7 in the verse.  I definitely hear Am in the chorus.

G                 C
On top of a mountain top
  Am                              D
I stood and thought one day
G                    C
I could really see a lot
       Am             D
And if I had my way

D                     Am
A lazy young sod I was
C                                G    G/F# bass)
So deep in love those days
D                            Am
And if there was nothing was
     C                  G  G/F# bass
But only love I crave


My Life Is Starting Over Again
Verse G    C    G   D   C   G

           G                            G
My life is starting over again
Over again
          C                          G
My friends say I’m back again
       D                                C
My life is starting over again
            G
Over again

(All verses identical)

     C                                      G
I know that there’s no place left to hide
           C                                    D
But I guess that it’s better than suicide


These are such great songs... especially Spirit World Rising.  I get chills everytime I hear it at the opening of the trailer.  (God... how many more times can I watch that thing)  28 days till the real thing...

Zack

[zack26]

Hey M of S,

Just finished the chord chart for "Syrup of Tears"  this should work for piano or guitar.

G/B means G chord in the right hand with a B as the left hand bass note.

Low C bass note on quarter notes throughout this part.  Right hand plays the chords.
     C   G        F   C  F   C             C   G             F
1   2   3   4  |  1   2 + 3 + 4  |  1   2   3   4    |  1   2   3   4   |

Tears fall left and right     
No hope in sight 
Why can’t we syrup     
For sorrow pancakes so flat 


(Bass notes follow the chords now.  There are two extra beats before this section)
G                                      C      G/B        Am
1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3  4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4   |
F                  G                       
1   2   3  4  | 1   2   3  4   |
Keep it light forever   
Not realizing my own fate     
It’s great – the weight upon me now

(same as opening)
     
Nothing for me nowhere 
But the emptiness I feel     
Depression has got me down   
Drilling for the kill   
     
It’s too late to suffer through     
God, I’ll make you a deal:   
Just let me smile a while – for real.     


C                                    F                   G
1  2   3  4  |  1  2   3   4  |  1  2   3   4  | 1   2  3   4  |
(repeat)
         
And when the evening comes   
I’ll be on the run     
You were the only one   
That sure was fun
 

F                 G               F               G             
1  2  3  4  |  1  2   3  4 |  1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 |
F              G               C              C7
1  2  3  4  | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 |   
To me it’s never been any better   
And no kind of love has been any greater 
Than you, for me, I can tell 

F              G                F             G               C            C7
1  2  3  4  | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 | 1  2  3  4 |1  2  3 4     
You shone like a sacred goddess in love   
Like a psycho hot as the sun 


(chords here are the same as “And when the evening comes”)
Until we meet again, I won’t give up     
 It’s such a wonder for us – our inner quest     

 (chords here are the same as “To me it’s never been any better…”)
And so it starts 
The alligator when you appeared     
From never forever     
And you smiled on my poor suffering soul 
Blessed child, you are my treasure 
Can’t you see, it’s all an illusion
I love you more than myself   

C                     C7
1   2    3    4  |   1   2   3   4  |   (repeat 4 times)   
I love you more than myself   
I love you more than myself   
I love you more than myself   
I love you more than myself   

(same chords as opening)     
And I wish to see you again   
And I wish to see you again   
And I wish to see you again   
And I wish to see you again   
And I wish to see you again



Let me know how this works out for you...
  Zack

[Diragono]

Anyone got/working on "Love Not Dead"? I'd love you long time.

[zack26]

Here's a tab for Love Not Dead.  Thanks to Kenji for the lyrics on the RU site.

I just noticed that the chords in the chorus spell DEAD!  I wonder if he was having a little fun with that...or just coincedence... hmmm.

Zack

Love Not Dead

  A                  E                 A               D
|  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |   1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  | 

   A                E                 D               A
|  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |
it was love at first sight
when I talked to her
it was the beginning of a real good time
all I knew was her
and when I came around
love had lingered on my mind

   D                 E                A                 D
|  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |   1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  | 

   D                 E                 A
|  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |   1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  | 


she said on the telephone
she wished me well.
so alive with a spell
until I hung up early
I've realized
I've been dead for so long

(verse chords)
all my memories of her
like a fading light I suffer
thinking of our love for so long
back in the early days
I saw a lot of her
she was the coolest girl in town

(chorus chords)
and when I saw her standing there
everything was all right
I took a journey in my mind
and as I saw her beauty
she was so kind
that was a good time

(verse chords)
everyday we met it was wild
I felt like a child
I loved to see her smile
and as I played piano
I was so inspired
I always had a real good time

(chorus chords)
and when last we met
I just can't forget
I took for sure I love her bad
I just can't ignore
her loving response
I always knew she'd be all right

(verse chords)
she made me think I was okay
and the love seemed so real
I still got feelings for her
and when I'm on tour
singing about her forever
I'll remember blessings
and the good times we had

(chorus chords)
I really tried to play the game of love
and I hate to loose
maybe I can win somehow
and so I'll dream of her
for a thousand years
until I see another girl

  D                  E                A           
|  1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  |   1  2  3  4  |  1  2  3  4  | 


that's the way it always was
that's the way it always was
that's the way it always was

[Marquis of Sadness]

Zack, is there anything you CAN'T tab? Thanks man.

[zack26]

You're welcome!

Tabbing is one of my favorite hobbies... currently working on a set of tabs for the entire "Don't Be Scared" cassette.  I'll post it as soon as it's done.

Zack

[Diragono]

Dayum, thanks Zack!

[VeronicaIsCool]

Can anybody tab out the Bright Eyes version of "Devil Town" for me? I've never heard anything by Daniel Johnston before today, but this sounds like a good song to learn. I just can't tab stuff out myself.. So I would be very thankful if someone could do it for me.

[zack26]

Hi Veronica,

I hope this works for you.  It's a really beautiful cover...

Devil Town
Bright Eyes version


He plays all of these as bar chords (not necessary, but gives the nice scraping sound when sliding between the F and Bb chords). “X” indicates a muted (not sounding) string.

F        1-3-3-2-1-1
Bb      6-8-8-7-6-6
Dm     X-5-7-7-6-5
G        3-5-5-4-3-3
C        X-3-5-5-5-3

 
  F                    Bb
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  repeat throughout verse


I was living in a devil town
I didn’t know it was a devil town
Oh Lord it really brings me down
About the devil town

All my friends were vampires
Didn’t know they were vampires
Turns out I was a vampire myself
In the devil town

Instrumental section
  Dm                 F                    Dm                F
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

  Bb                   F                   G                  C
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

The next verse uses the same chords as the instrumental section

 All my friends were vampires
Didn’t know they were vampires
Turns out I was a vampire myself
In the devil town

This verse uses the same F – Bb progression as the first verse

I was living in a devil town
I didn’t know it was a devil town
Oh Lord it really brings me down
about the devil town

[lonelyloner]

I tried to tab "Tuna Ketchup" in Standard Eb.  I'm not too sure about it, here is what I got:


Am, C, G, E, Am

[zack26]

I think the original is in C minor.

Tuna Ketchup

  Cm                  Fm                 Cm                  G        G7
| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

  Cm                  Fm                Cm                  G
| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

  G7                 Cm                Fm                   Cm
| 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  | 1   2   3   4   |  1   2   3   4  |

  G       G7
| 1   2   3   4   |


If you want to play it in A minor then try Am, Dm, E, E7 instead of Cm,Fm,G,G7 (repectively)



Zack

[Marquis of Sadness]

So far, all of your tabs have worked reliably, Zack. Awesome, man.

I'll try to think of a few more I might need.. how do you even pull this off, man?

[Marquis of Sadness]

Okay, I got a challenge for ya here:

Laurie
Now
Pot Head

[zack26]

I love a challenge!

Now

The first “lo-fi” part is played using fingerings for G, C, and D, but either he’s using a capo on the second fret, or the tape is running fast, or he’s just got the guitar tuned a step up.  Whatever the reason, the resulting chords sound A, D, and E

The second “studio’ section is in actual G major.

Em9    0-2-2-0-0-2 work nicely at the end.

    A                   D       E         A                   D        E
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

If you think your thoughts so rationally
Then you might just see it’s not so funny

    D                  A       E          D                    A       E
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

Prey tell.
The wishing well will get you eventually.
Beware.
What you are is what you’re doing there.

(First progression)
 Love is lingering with you on it’s mind
And it’s giving you a moment so kind

(Second Progression)
Believe.
Your broken heart could heal so dramatically
And with a little luck
You could see a better way again real soon

(First progression)
 As we stare into each other’s eyes
And each year just goes so fast and goodbye

(Second Progression) 
Look around
What your friends are telling you so free
Be gone
It’s all over as the sun does set once more

(First progression)
If you think that love has a chance with you
Maybe hope can shine a light so true

(Second Progression)
 Just smile 
You can win the victory so sweet   
And know   
It’s just another day for you and me     
     
    G                   C       D          G                  C        D
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |
repeat
And tomorrow – no more sorrow
You can all her - if you want to   
There’s a new way – why won’t you try it 
Heaven sent it and you’ll believe it… 

   Em9    Em        C        D         G                   C       D
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

  G                    C        D         G                    C      D         G 
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

Now.     
Love can save you now   
Love can save you now   
Love can save you now   


Laurie

There’s already a tab for this one on the Rejected Unknown website:

The chords are G, C, and D
   G                    C       G         C       G          D       G
|  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |


Pothead
Oh, how I love this song…

For the B7/D# chord try   X-6-4-4-4-5  or just use B7
Sliding up to this D7 sounds nice X-0-7-7-7-8


Verse chords
  Gm     Dm      C           F
|  1   2   3   4   5   6   |  1   2   3   4  |

   Em    Am       C         Bm                 B7/D#
|  1   2   3   4   5   6   |  1   2   3   4  |  1   2   3   4  |

Man you look like old man’s eyes
When I saw you in that room
And now you’re on tour
They booked you in the asylum

You work so hard at being a buffoon
And now you ain’t got no incentive left
You popped your own balloon

Chorus:
                      C           G
You wanted to be somebody
              F       C
But you ain’t nobody
B7                       C
You ain’t got no body
                       G
You’re just a head
                           C          G
You’re just a pothead


Bridge (lead in notes g-f#-e:  3-2-0 on the first string)
   A                                                        A7
I heard one day they said you got so high
   D                                                            D7
You ate up a chicken head and it was still alive
  A                                                                      A7
I have some friends who swear you did so don’t deny
  D
Some day you’re gonna get so messed up
You’ll eat the head off your kid
                                               A
And won’t you be sorry, pothead…

(verse chords)
You brag to all your friends
About the fun you had last night
I wonder if you realize you forgot to brush your teeth

And then you’ll come a-bummin’
Asking for some money
You even tried to roll the sacred pages
And you burnt your lip

That lip is has a trench in it
Where that wild weed sits
Sucking like a parasite
Of any sense you might have left

You say that you are happy
And you like stormy weather
Well I think that you’re just dumb
And you don’t know any better

You play your rock and roll guitar
You say you’re gonna be a big star
But everyone in this neighborhood
Knows just who you are

Gm                             Dm         
No I ain’t tryin’ to be hard
           C                   F
I don’t mean to be cruel
              Em                                       Am
I’m just tryin’ to say something that’ll shock…
                             C           Bm   
You into going back… to school
        B/D#               C
Or maybe at least reality
         G
In this year
C
Pothead

Chorus:
                      C           G
You wanted to be somebody
              F       C
But you ain’t nobody
B7                       C
You ain’t got no body
                       G
You’re just a head

C  (melody e-d-c)  G