Tallahassee (2002) The Mountain Goats All songs written by John Darnielle 1. Tallahassee Chords: D (xx0232) E (022100) G (355433) or (320033) A (x02220) (The G chord sounds like a barre chord mostly, but open sounds right sometimes) Bassline (repeated throughout) E|-------------------| B|-------------------| G|-------------------| D|--2-0-0-2-0-0-2-0--| A|-------------------| E|-------------------| Intro: DEGD D E G D Window facing an ill-kept front yard D E G D Plums on the tree, heavy with nectar D E G D Prayers to summon the destroying angels D E G D Moon stuttering in the sky like film stuck in a projector G And you D (1 extra measure) You-oo-oo-oo-oo Post-verse: E|--5--5--5--3--3--3--2--| B|--5--5--5--3--3--3--3--| G|--------------------2--|(strum the D chord) D|--------------------0--| A|-----------------------| E|-----------------------| DEGD D E G D Twin prop airplanes passing loudly overhead D E G D Road to the airport, two lanes clear D E G D Half the whole town, gone for the summer D E G D Terrible silence, coming down here G And you D (1 extra measure) You-oo-oo-oo-oo (Post-verse) DEGD D E There is no deadline, G D There is no schedule D E G D There is no plan we can fall back on D E G D The road this far can't be retraced D E There is no punchline G D Anybody can tack on D E G D There are loose ends by the score D E G A What did I come down here for? G You D (1 extra measure) You-oo-oo-oo-oo (Post-verse) D E G D x4 End with bassline. Notes: (1)Not so sure about that one A chord (D maybe?), but I like it so I use it. (2)Sometimes (particularly at the end) he arpeggiates the chords: DEGD E|------2-------0-----0-------2-0----| B|--------3-------0-3---3---------3--| G|----2-----1-1-----0-------2--------| D|--0-------2-2-----0-----0----------| A|----------2-2-----2----------------| E|----------0-0-----3----------------| Or something to that effect. (3)Also, toward the first half of the song, he likes to let the F# (xxxxx2) ring out sometimes. Just play around with it. 2. First Few Desperate Hours Chords: E (022100) F# (244300) Asus2 (x02200) B (x24442) E2 (x79997) Amaj7 (x77999) Bsus4 (x24400) Intro: E F# Asus2 x2 E F# Asus2 Bad luck comes in from Tampa E F# Asus2 Bad luck comes in from Tampa E On the back of a truck B Doing 90 up the interstate E F# Asus2 We have bad dreams the night he rolls in E F# Asus2 We have bad dreams the night he rolls in E And we try B To keep our spirits high E2 But they flag Amaj7 And they wave F# Asus2 When the truck pulls up out front Bsus4 In the light spring rain E2 Amaj7 And they sag like whithering flowers F# Asus2 Let the good times roll -- on -- Bsus4 Through these first few desperate hours Yeah E F# Asus2 x4 E F# Asus2 The driver drops his cargo at the curb E F# Asus2 The driver drops his cargo at the curb E And the sun peeks in B Like a killer through the curtain E F# Asus2 And when cloven hoofprints turn up in the garden E F# Asus2 And when cloven hoofprints turn up in the garden E We keep up the good fight B And keep our spirits light E2 But they draw Amaj7 Like flies F# Asus2 And there's a stomach-turning shift Bsus4 In the way the land lies E2 And they lean Amaj7 Like towers F# Asus2 On a hillside struggling to stand Bsus4 Through these first few desperate hours Yeah E F# Asus2 x4 End on E. Notes: (1)The rhythm is tricky, it should take some time to get down but it's not terribly difficult. (2)The theory name for that F# chord would be something like F#7sus4, but that's a pain to write. 3. Southwood Plantation Roads Chords: A (x02220) G (355433) D (xx0232) E (022100) Dm (xx0231) Bassline: E|------------------------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------------------------------| G|------------------------------------------------------------| D|------------------------------------------------------------| A|------/7-5~--5p4-5p4-5p4-5/7~------/7-5~--5p4-5p4-5p4-5-0~--| E|--5-0--------------------------5-0--------------------------| Intro: A G D A x4 A G I've got you D A You've got whatever's left of me to get A G Our conversations are like minefields D A No one's found a safe way through one yet A G I spend a lot of money D A I buy ya white gold A G We raise up a little roof D E Against the cold A D On Southwood Plantation Road A D Where at night the stars blow like milk across the sky A E Where the high wires drop A D Dm Where the fat crows fly A G D A x4 A G All night long D A You giggle and scream A G Your brown eyes D A Deeper than a dream A G I am not gonna lose you D A We are gonna stay married A G In this house like a Louisiana graveyard D E Where nothing stays buried A D On Southwood Plantation Road A D Where the dead will walk again A E Put on their sunday best A D And mingle with unsuspecting Christian men Dm A La-la-la-la-la A G D A x3 End on A. Notes: The Dm is quick, about half a normal measure. Listen for it. 4. Game Shows Touch Our Lives Chords: G (320033) C9 (x32033) F9 (xx3233) D (xx0232) Intro: G G C9 F9 x4 G Dug up a fifth of Hood River gin and C9 That stuff tastes like medicine F9 C9 G But I'll take it, it'll do G On the couch in the living room all day long C9 Music on the television playing our song F9 C9 G I'm in the mood, the mood for you G G C9 F9 x4 G Turn the volume up real high C9 And all of that money, look at it fly F9 C9 G And you smoking, like a chimney G Shadows crawled across the living room's length C9 I held onto you with a desperate strength F9 C9 G With everything, with everything in me D C9 And I handed you a drink of the lovely little thing G On which our survival depends D C9 People say friends don't destroy one another, C9 D What do they know about friends? G G C9 F9 x4 G Thunderclouds forming, cream white moons C9 Everything's gonna be okay soon F9 C9 G Maybe tomorrow, maybe the next day G Carried you up the stairs that night C9 All of this could be yours, if the price is right F9 C9 I heard cars heading down to oblivion, G Up on the expressway D Your drunken kiss is as light as the air C9 G Maybe everything that falls down eventually rises D Our home sinking into disrepair, C9 Ah, but look at this showroom G Filled with fabulous prizes G G C9 F9 x4 End on G. Notes: Emphasize the high notes (xxxx33) during the G, C9 and F9 chords. 5. The House That Dripped Blood Play the chords like this: BDA E|----7-7---7-7-7--10-10----10-10-10--5-5---5-5-5--| B|----7-7---7-7-7--10-10----10-10-10--5-5---5-5-5--| G|--7h8-8-7h8-8-8--11-11-10h11-11-11--6-6-5h6-6-6--| D|--7h9-9-7h9-9-9--12-12-10h12-12-12--7-7-5h7-7-7--| A|--7h9-9-7h9-9-9--12-12-10h12-12-12--7-7-5h7-7-7--| E|--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--10-10-10-10-10-10--5-5-5-5-5-5--| E (022100) strummed normally Intro: B D A B x2 B D Look beyond the broken bottles A B Past the rotting wooden stairs B D Root out the wine-dark honeyed center A E Not everyone can live like millionaires B D Look through the air-thinned walls A B Tear up the floorboards, strip the paint B D Go over every inch of space A E With the patience of a saint E B Grab your hat, get your coat B D The cellar door, A B Is an open throat B D Look past the kitchen cabinets A B Go through the chest of drawers B D Scrutinize the casements A B Rip the varnish off the doors B D Dig up the laughing photographs A B They're here somewhere or other B D Take what you can carry A E But let me tell your brother E B Still waters go stagnant, bodies bloat B D The cellar door, A B Is an open throat B D A B x4 with harmonica solo Last time strike A 3 times slowly, and end on B. 6. Idylls of the King Chords: D (xx0232) Gm6 (xx2333) Bm (x24432) G (320033) A (x02220) Asus4 (x02230) E7 (020100) A7 (x02023) G-D: E|--3-3-------2--| B|--3-3-3-2-0-3--| G|--0-0-------2--| D|--0-0-------0--| A|--2-2----------| E|--3-3----------| Intro: DGBGGAADus4 D Gm6 This place Bm G With its old plantations G-D A Asus4 A These roads leading out to the sea D Gm6 This day, Bm G Full of promise and potential G-D A Asus4 A More clay pidgeons for you and me (Chorus) D G Oh all of them, all of them D G All of them, all of them D All of them, all of them, all of them, A(7) D All of them all lined up D Gm6 Huge crows Bm G Loitering by the curb G-D A Asus4 A Our shared pasts, unravelling behind us like ribbons D Gm6 And I dreamed of vultures Bm G In the trees behind our house G-D A Asus4 A And cicadas and locusts, and the shrieking of innummerable gibbons (Chorus) DGBGGAADus4 E7 A7 D G How long must we ride this way about? E7 A7 D G How long 'til someone caves under the pressure? E7 A7 D G My dreams are haunted by armies, armies of ghosts A Asus4 Faces to blurry to make out, A Asus4 Numbers far too high to measure D Gm6 Your face, Bm G Like a vision straight out of Holly Hobby G-D A Asus4 Late light, drizzling through your hair D Gm6 Your eyes, Bm G Twin volcanoes G-D A Asus4 Bad ideas, dancing around in there (Chorus) DGBGGAAsus4 End on D. Notes: (1)I didn't go to too much trouble here, because others have already done that. I'm sure you can find a more specific tab somewhere. (2)Also, when the G-D bridges two words, that means the first word falls on the G and the second on the D. When it is above the word "and" in the 2nd verse, the word "cicadas" falls on G and "locusts" on D. 7. No Children Capo 4 Chords (relative to capo): C#m (x46654) F#(244322) D (xx0232) E (022100) A (x02220) Asus (x04230) F(244222) Intro: C#m F# C#m F# D E A Asus* A E I hope that our few remaining friends D A Give up on trying to save us A E I hope we come up with a failsafe plot D A To piss off the dumb few who forgave us A E I hope the fences we mended D E Fall down beneath their own weight A F#m And I hope we hang on past the last exit D E I hope it's already too late A And I hope the junkyard a few blocks from here F#m Someday burns down D And I hope the rising black smoke carries me far away, E D And I never come back to this town again E In my life, A I hope I lie F#m And tell everyone you were a good wife A And I hope you die E I hope we both die C#m F# C#m F# D E A Asus* A E I hope I cut myself shaving tomorrow D A I hope it bleeds all day long A E Our friends say it's darkest before the sun rises D A Well, we're pretty sure they're all wrong A E I hope it stays dark forever, D E I hope the worst isn't over A F#m And I hope that you blink before I do D E I hope I never get sober A And I hope when you think of me years down the line F#m You can't find one good thing to say D And I hope that if I found the strength to walk out E You'd stay the hell out of my way D I am drowning E There is no sign of land A You are coming down with me F#m Hand in unlovable hand A And I hope you die E I hope we both die C#m F# C#m F# D E A Asus* x4 End on A. Notes: *the Asus chord isn't necessarily in there, but it helps to fill time on that A. 8. See America Right Chords: Em (022000) Am (x02210) C (x32010) B (x24442) Riff: Em E|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|----------5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--| E|--0-0-3-3----------------------------------| Em E|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|----------5-5-5-5/7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--| E|--0-0-3-3----------------------------------| Am E|-----------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------| G|-----------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------| A|--0-0-------------0-0--------------| E|------3-3-0-0-3-3-----3-3-0-0-3-3--| Em E|-------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------| A|----------5-5-5-5/7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--| E|--0-0-3-3----------------------------------| CBEm E|------------------------------------------------------| B|------------------------------------------------------| G|------------------------------------------------------| D|-(2)--------------(1)---------------------------------| A|--3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--| E|------------------------------------------------------| I was Em Driving into tampa, when the radiator burst, Em I was three sheets to the wind, a civilian saw me first Am And then there was the cop, and then the children Em Standing on the corner C B Em Your love is like a cyclone in a swamp and the weather's getting warmer (mute strums) I was Em Getting out of jail, heading to the greyhound Em You said you'd hop on one yourself, and meet me on the way down Am I was shaking way too hard to think, Em Dead on my feet about to drop C B Went and got the case of vodka from the car Em And walked the two miles to the bus stop (Instrumental verse) Strummed chords over riff: EEAECBEm Got Em On the bus half drunk again, the driver glared at me Em Met up with you in Inglis, thumbed a ride to Cedar Key Am If we never make it back to California, Em I want you to know I love ya C B But my love is like a black cloud full 'o rain Em That's always right there up above ya End abruptly on Em. Notes: The song starts cold with vocals before any instruments come in. Other than that, it's pretty much completely straight forward. 9. Peacocks Chords: C (x32010) Fmaj7 (xx3210) E (022100) Am (x02210) F (x33211) G (320003) F9 (xx3213) Intro: CFCaj7 E|--0~-0-----0-----1-0~--0-----0-----0-----| B|--1~---1-----1-----------1-----1-----1~--| G|--0~-----0-----0-----------0-----0-------| D|--2~-------------------------------------| A|--3~-------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------| Guitar 1: E|--0-----0-----1-0------------------------------------| B|----1-----1--------3--1--0---------------------------| G|------0-----0--------------2--0----------------------| D|---------------------------------3--2--0----0-2-3-5--| A|------------------------------------------3----------| E|-----------------------------------------------------| Guitar 2: E|--0---------------------------------------------------| B|--1---------------------------------------------------| G|--0-(strum)-------------------------------------------| D|--2-------------3-2-0--3-2-0--3-2-0--3-2-0--3-2-0-----| A|--3-----------------------------------------------3~--| E|------------------------------------------------------| These two are simultaneous. Listen to the record and you'll hear it. Abridged riff: E|--0~-0-----0-----1-0~--0-----0-----0-----| B|--1~---1-----1-----------1-----1-----1~--| G|--0~-----0-----0-----------0-----0-------| D|--2~-------------------------------------| A|--3~-------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------| E|--0-----0-----1-0-------------------| B|----1-----1-------3--1--0-----------| G|------0-----0--------------2--4--5--| D|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------| "Fear for my safety...": FGCFFGCF9 E|--1-0-3------0--1-0-3------3--| B|--1-1-3--3-1-1--1-1-3--3-1-1--| G|--2-2-0--0-0-2--2-2-0--0-0-2--| D|--3-3-0--2-2-3--3-3-0--2-2-3--| A|------2--3-3--------2--3-3----| E|------3-------------3---------| "...rise." E|--3-----3-----3-----3-----3----| B|----1-----1-----1-----1-----1--| G|------2-----2-----2-----2------| D|-------------------------------| A|-------------------------------| E|-------------------------------| Abridged riff 2: E|--0~--0-----0-----1-0~-0-----0-----0-----| B|--1~----1-----1----------1-----1-----1~--| G|--0~------0-----0----------0-----0-------| D|--2~-------------------------------------| A|--3~-------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------| E|--0-----0-----1-0-----------------| B|----1-----1-------3--1--0--1--3~--| G|------0-----0---------------------| D|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| Outro: (same feel as intro) E|--0~--3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----| B|--1~----1-----1-----1~----1-----1-----1~--| G|--0~------2-----2-----------2-----2-------| D|--2~--------------------------------------| A|--3~--------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------| (Intro) C E I hear them squeal Am F I see them preen C E Fans all spread out Am F Neat and clean (Abridged riff) C E Grab hold of the morning Am F Head out to the porch C E Feel the wind stopping Am F Feel the sun scorch F G Fear for my safety, C F You can see it in my eyes F G In an hour or two C F9 We will rise... (Intro) C E Then a sharp breeze kicks up, Am F I hug myself hard C E How come there's peacocks Am F In the front yard? (Abridged riff 2) C E Sun's all prickly Am F On my neck C E When the helicopter passes Am F We both hit the deck F G Hands grasping and groping C F Seizing opportunity right where it lies F G The sky will fall C F9 We will rise... (Abridged riff) (Outro) (Intro - just guitar 2) End on C. 10. International Small Arms Traffic Blues Chords: E (022100) A (x02220) B (x24442) E2 (x79997) A/G# (4x2220) Intro: E|--------------------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------------------0~--| G|--------2-1-----2-1-------------2-1-----2-1-2-----| D|----2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------------| A|------2-------2---------------2-------2-----------| E|--0-------------------0~--0-----------------------| |_____________________| |_____________________| Main riff Variation 1 E|--------------------------| B|--------------------------| G|--------2-1-----2-1-2-1~--| D|----2-------2-------------| A|------2-------2-----------| E|--0-----------------------| Variation 2 E|---------------------------| B|-----------------------0~--| G|--1--1-1-2p1-1-1-2p1-1-1~--| D|--2--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2~--| A|--2--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2~--| E|--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0~--| Variation 3 (strumming) (Intro) E A E My love is like a powder keg (Main riff) E A E B My love is like a powder keg in the corner E2 Of an empty warehouse A A/G# Outside of town B E About to burn down (Main riff x2) E A E My love is like a Cuban plane (Main riff) E A E My love is like a Cuban plane B E2 Flying from Havana A A/G# Up the Florida Coast to the 'Glades B E Soviet-made (Main riff x2) (Variation 2) (Main riff) E A E Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania (Variation 3) E A E Our love is like the border between Greece and Albania B E2 Trucks loaded down with weapons A A/G# Crossing over every night B Moon yellow and bright... A E There is a shortage in the blood supply A E But there is no shortage of blood A E The way I feel 'bout you, baby, can't explain it B E You got the best of my love (Variation 3 x4) End on E. Notes: (1)During the closing Variation 3 cycle, play with gradually more abandon. (2)Between repetitions of the main riff or any of its variations, there are a few beats of just low E or (0221xx) strumming, but you don't really need it. 11. Have to Explode Chords: D (xx0232) D/F# (2x023x) A (x02220) A/C# (x42220) G (320033) B/G (x2003x) C (x32010) Intro: D/F# A/C# B/G G x4 D/F# A/C# Tile floor of the bathroom B/G G Scrubbed clean and bright D/F# A/C# B/G G Checkerboard wh--i--te and grey D/F# A/C# B/G G Towels from the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Kingston, Jamaica D/F# A/C# B/G G I can still see the rust-colored stains today A G The stage is set D G Somebody's gonna do something someone else will regret G A D G I speak in smoke signals and you answer in code C G D The fuse will have to run out sometime G A D G Something here will eventually have to explode D/F#G/G# Have to explode DAGG# D/F# A/C# B/G G You and me lying on the tile floor D/F# A/C# G Trying to keep cool, restless all night D/F# A/C# B/G G Sweating out the poison as the temperature climbs D/F# A/C#B/G G Staring up, up, at the hundred-watt light A G That burns above D G Name one thing about us two anyone could love G A We roll out the red carpet D G When rotten luck comes down the road C G D G Five, four, three, two, one, watch for the flash G A D G Something here will eventually have to explode D (2 extra measures) Have to explode D/F# A/C# B/G G x5 End on G. Notes: He doesn't have the B/G every time, sometimes he just does 2 measures of G. It's a lot of work to figure out where they all go, so just use your discretion. It works either way. 12. Old College Try Chords: A (x02220) C#m (x46654) D (xx0232) E (022100) F(244222) Intro: ACDED AFDE A C#m From the housetops to the gutters, D E D From the ocean to the shore A F#m The warning signs have all been bright and garish D E Far too great in number to ignore A C#m From the cities to the swamplands, D E D From the highways to the hills A F#m Our love has never had a leg to stand on, D E From the asprins to the cross-tops to the Elevils D E But I will walk A Down to the end D With you A E If you will come all the way down A With me ACDED AFDE A C#m From the entrance to the exit D E D Is further than it looks from where we stand A F#m I wanna say I'm sorry for stuff I haven't done yet D E Things will quickly get completely out of hand A C#m I can feel it in the rotten air tonight D E D In the tips of my fingers, in the skin on my face A F#m In the last gasp of the evening's dying light D In the way those eyes I've always loved E Illuminate this place D E Like a trash-can fire in a prison cell A D Like the searchlights in the parking lots of hell A I will walk E A Down to the end D With you A E If you will come all the way down A With me A C#m D E D A F#m D E x2 DEADAEADAEA End on A. 13. Oceanographer's Choice Capo 3 Chords: E (022100) C (x32010) G (320033) D (xx0232) B (x24442) A (x02220) Em (022000) Well E Guy in a skeleton costume G Runs up to the guy C In the superman suit E Runs through him with a broadsword E I flipped the television off G C Bring all the bright lights up E Turn the radio up loud A I don't know why I'm so persuaded D That if I think things through C Long enough and hard enough B I'll somehow get to you Em But then you came in, and we locked eyes A You kicked the ashtray over as we came toward each other C Stubbed my cigarette out against the west wall B And quickly lit another Em Look at that! Would ya look at that? A We're throwing off sparks Em D A Em What'll I do when I don't have you B To hold onto in the dark? Em Yes Em Everybody's gonna need a witness G C Everybody's gonna need a little back-up Em In case the scene gets nasty Em You throw the attic window open G C And I throw my arms all around you Em And night comes to Tallahassee A I don't know why it's gotten harder D To keep myself away C Thought I'd finally beat the feeling back B It all came back today Em Look at that! Would ya look at that? A The way the ceiling starts to swerve Em D A Em What'll I do when I don't have you? B When I finally get what I deserve? (instrumental verse ad nauseum) End on Em. Notes: The E and Em chords are basically interchangeable, though it sounds more like E in the first verse and Em later. 14. Alpha Rats Nest Can be played in either standard or Drop D (to incorporate bassline) Chords: Standard Drop D G (320033) (55x033) D (xx0232) (000232) Em (022000) (222000) C (x32010) (x32010) D7 (xx0212) (000212) Am (x02210) (x02210) Bassline (for Drop D guitar): G D _ E|------------------- | B|------------------- | G|------------------- | D|------------------- | Main riff A|------------------- | D|--5-5-5-4-0-0-0-0--_| ECGDD7 E|---------------------------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------------------------------------| G|---------------------------------------------------------------| D|---------------------------------------------------------------| A|--------------3-3-3-3-3-3-------------5-5-5-5-5-5-3-3-3-3-3-3--| D|--2-2-2-2-2-2-------------5-5-5-5-5-5-------------0-0-0-0-0-0--| Intro: Main riff x3 Em C G D D7 G D Em All the lengthening hours in the refinery C D Belching fire into the sky G D Em We do our best vampire routines C D7 As we suck the dying hours dry Am The night is lovely as a rose (Main riff x2) C If I see sunlight in you I am D (D7) sure that we'll both decompose (Intro) G D Em All the fitful sleep and the fire engines C D That I dream of when I dream G D Em Someday we'll both wake up for good C D7 I will try hard not to scream Am The evening wind will shake the blind (Main riff x2) C You're stirring from your slumber we've got D7 Something hateful on our minds G D Em Oh sing, sing, sing, C D For the dying of the day G D Em Sing for the flames that will rip through here C D And the smoke that will carry us away G D Em Oh sing for the damage we've done C D7 And the worse things that we'll do G D Em Open your mouth up and sing for me now C D7 And I will sing for you (Intro x3) When you get to the last D7 chord, let it ring and hit that low D just once. Notes: (1)The bassline is actually played on a bass guitar here so the octaves aren't right for the Drop D guitar. On a bass guitar it looks like this: G D x3 Em C G D D7 G|----------------------------------------------------------7-7-7-7-7-7--------------| D|--5-5-5-4-0-0-0-0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-------------5-5-5-5-5-5-------------0-0-0-0-0-0--| A|----------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3--------------------------------------| E|-------------------x3--------------------------------------------------------------| That C note should be an octave lower than on the Drop D guitar. (2)D's and D7's are largely interchangeable here. I've noted when I noticed a difference but it's a matter of taste. There it is. Enjoy.