Blue Rodeo Chords and Lyrics
- Bad Timing
- Falling Down Blue
- Hasn't Hit Me Yet
- Head Over Heels
- Til I Can Gain Control Again
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Bad Timing - Blue Rodeo
If you want to sound like Blue Rodeo, you better check out the tips at the
bottom.
INTRO: |E |D E |A * |A A4||
|D * |
Hey its me, what a big surprise,
|D |A * |A A4|
Calling you up from a restaurant round the bend.
|D * |
Just got in from way up north
|D |A * |A |
Aching and tired now, and I could use a friend.
|C#m |D |E E4 |E E4 |
Might be a fool to think that you do wanna see me again.
|D * |
I know its been a while since I talked to you,
|D |A * |A A4|
Nothing wrong, it's just nothing ever goes as planned.
|D * |
Many times I thought I'd call,
|D |A * |A |
Didn't have your number in my hand.
|C#m |D |E E4 |
I know its true, you'd never do the same thing to me.
CHORUS:
|E E4 |A * |A A4 A |
I never meant to make you cry
|D * |D |
And though I know I shouldn't call,
|Bm |
It just reminds us of the cost
|E |
Of everything we've lost
|A * |A |
Bad timing that's all.
|A * |A A4 A |
And maybe soon there'll come a day
|D * |D |
When no more tears will fall.
|Bm |
We each forgive a little bit,
|E |
Then we both look back on it
|A * |A |
As just bad timing that's all.
INSTRUMENTAL: |D |D |A * |A |
|D |D |A * |A |
|C#m |D |E E4 |E E4 |
Used to have so many plans,
Something always seemed to turn out wrong.
Never could catch up to you,
Moving on and doing all you've done.
I don't know why, the harder I try, the harder it comes.
[REPEAT CHORUS]
OUTRO: |Bm |
We each forgive a little bit,
|E |
And we both look back on it
|A * |A |
As just bad timing that's all.
OUTRO: |E |D E |A ||
A = x02220 A4 = x02230
D = xx0232 D4 = xx0233
E = 022100 E4 = 022200
C#m = xx6654 or x46654 or xx2120
Bm = xx4432 or x24432
Blue Rodeo make liberal use of suspended chords in this song, which makes it
very difficult to notate. I've tried to spell out some of the major uses
here as simply as I can, but you'll have to listen to the song a couple of
times to really catch what's being played and understand the timing.
The asterisks mark important points where you must hammer on to a suspended
fourth two times at the end of a bar. For a novice guitar player, this will
be kind of tricky and will really hurt that little pinky finger, but it's
the only way to express the song with an authentic Blue Rodeo sound. Here
are samples for both "D" chords and "A" chords. In both cases, finger the
chord normally, then use your pinky to hammer on to a suspended fourth where
indicated. You've got to hammer on and pull off TWICE in quick succession,
and time it just right with two double strums in order to get the right sound.
D * D A * A
|2-2-2-3232|2-2-2-2-| |0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-0-|
|3-3-3-3333|3-3-3-3-| |2-2-2-3232|2-2-2-2-|
|2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-2-| |2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-2-|
|0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-0-| |2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-2-|
|----------|--------| |0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-0-|
|----------|--------| |----------|--------|
The bars with suspended "E" chords are split evenly between the E and E4.
This sequence occurs at the end of each verse (sometimes leading into the
chorus) and at the end of the instrumental. You can use your pinky to get
the suspended fourth, or slide your index finger up one fret instead.
E E4 E E4
|0-0-0-0-|0-0-0-0-|
|0-0-0-0-|0-0-0-0-|
|1-1-2-2-|1-1-2-2-|
|2-2-2-2-|2-2-2-2-|
|2-2-2-2-|2-2-2-2-|
|0-0-0-0-|0-0-0-0-|
There are some bars in the verses that end with a suspended A chord, and
some bars in the chorus that have suspended chords on the third beat. In
both cases, they follow a bar marked by an asterisk. Here's how to play
these bars:
A * A A4 A * A A4 A
|0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-00| |0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-0-|
|2-2-2-3232|2-2-2-33| |2-2-2-3232|2-2-3-2-|
|2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-22| |2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-2-|
|2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-22| |2-2-2-2222|2-2-2-2-|
|0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-00| |0-0-0-0000|0-0-0-0-|
|----------|--------| |----------|--------|
This is just a guide to get you started, and I'm sure there's other
suspended chords in the song that I haven't noticed or just don't bother
with. Of course, the strumming patterns don't have to be as rigid as I've
tabbed them out either.
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Falling Down Blue - Blue Rodeo
A# F
EVERYONE TELLS ME IāM LUCKY
A# F
GOT MY WHOLE LIFE TO LIVE, YET
Dm
I CANāT SAY THEYāRE WRONG
Am
BUT THE DAYS SEEM SO LONG
G C
LIVING INSIDE OF MY HEAD
A# F
MAYBE IāLL GET SOME RELIEF NOW
A# F
NOW THAT YOUR THINGS HAVE ALL GONE
Dm Am
I WONāT SIT HERE STARING AT NOTHING ALL NIGHT
A# C
BLEARY EYED WAITING GREETING THE DAWN
F Dm
ALRIGHT, I MISS YOU TONIGHT
A# F
AND IāM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO SAY
F Dm
IT KEEPS ROLLINā IN LIKE A SLOW MOVINā TRAIN
A# C
IT GETS HARDER, AND HARDER EACH DAY
Am Dm
EACH TIME I THINK THAT THE WORST OF ITāS THROUGH
A# C
I AM STOPPED IN MY TRACKS BY SOME VISION OF YOU
F Dm
ALRIGHT, I MISS YOU TONIGHT
A# F
I ADMIT THAT IāM FALLINā DOWN BLUE
A# F
SHE LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
A# F
ON DAYS WHEN IāD VISIT HER THERE
Dm
IāD WATCH HER OUT DANCING
Am
ALL LIT BY THE MOON
G C
COLD WINDS OF TIME IN HER HAIR
A# F
THEN WEāD GO DRIVINā FOR HOURS
A# F
TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND JUST, GLIDE
Dm
MOVING LIKE SPIRITS
Am
ALONG THROUGH THE NIGHT
A# C
THE LIGHT THROUGH THE TREES AS OUR GUIDE
OH.. OH.. OH
F Dm
ALRIGHT, I MISS YOU TONIGHT
A# F
AND IāM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO SAY
F Dm
IT KEEPS ROLLINā IN LIKE A SLOW MOVINā TRAIN
A# C
IT GETS HARDER, AND HARDER EACH DAY
Am Dm
EACH TIME I THINK THAT THE WORST OF ITāS THROUGH
A# C
I AM STOPPED IN MY TRACKS BY SOME VISION OF YOU
F Dm
ALRIGHT, I MISS YOU TONIGHT
A# F
I ADMIT THAT IāM FALLINā DOWN BLUE
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Hasn't Hit Me Yet
Capo 2nd fret. The end of the chorus is different each time through, so
follow the directions given in brackets.
INTRO: |D |D |Em |C
|D |D |Em |C
VERSE 1:
|G |G |D |D
... You say that you're leaving
|Em |Em |C |C
Well that comes as no surprise
|G |G |D |D
... Still I kinda like this feeling
|Em |Em |C |G/B |A |A |A |A
Of be - ing... left be-hi - i - ind
(go to verse 2)
VERSE 2:
|G |G |D |D
... This ain't nothin new to me
|Em |Em |C |C
Well it's just like going home
|G |G |D |D
... It's kinda like those sunsets
|Em |Em
That leave you feeling
|C |G/B |A |A |A |A
So sto - o - oned
(go to chorus with ending 1)
CHORUS:
|Em |G |D |A
... Hey, hey I guess it hasn't hit me yet
|Em |G |D |A
... I fell through this crack and I kinda lost my head
|Em |G |D |A
... I stand transfixed before this street light
|Em |G
... Watching the snow fall on this
ENDING 1: |D |A
Co - old December
|D |D |Em |C |D |D |Em |C
Night (go to verse 3)
ENDING 2: |D |A
Co - old December
|D |D |Em |C
Night (go to instrumental)
INSTRUMENTAL: |G |G |D |D |Em |Em |C |C
|G |G |D |D |Em |Em |C |G/B
|A |A |A |A
(go back into chorus and play ending 3)
ENDING 3: |D |A
Cold December night
|Em |G
And out in the middle of
|D |A |A |A |A
Lake On-ta - r-i-o
(go to outro)
VERSE 3:
I never thought this could happen
But somehow the feeling's gone
You got sick of the patterns
And I got lost in this song
(go to chorus with ending 2)
OUTRO: |Em |G
The same snow is falling
|Em |G
On the deep silent water
|Em |G
The great dark wonder
|Em |D |A |A
Into the waves of my heart
|Em |D |A |A
Into the waves of my heart
|D |D |Em |C
Of my heart
|D |D |Em\ |C\ G/B\ |D/A\
( "\" in last line indicates one single strum of chord )
D = xx0232 Em = 022000
C = x32010 D/A = x00232
G = 320001 G/B = x20001
A = x02220
There is a special way to play the two consecutive bars of "D" in the
"D-D-Em-C" sequence (in the intro and at the end of the chorus and outro).
Just listen to the intro and you'll hear what I mean. It sometimes comes
across in a subtle way in the verses. There is a similar but again subtle
effect in the four bars of "A" found at the end of the verses. Once you
understand the concept for playing it in "D", you can do the same thing with
the "A" chord if you like the sound of it. It's the classic Blue Rodeo
technique of playing around with suspended chords. Just vary the fingering
between D [xx0232], D2 [xx0230], and D4 [xx0233]. Here it is:
* * *
|2-2-02-|3-2-0-22|
|3-3-33-|3-3-3-33|
|2-2-22-|2-2-2-22|
|0-0-00-|0-0-0-00|
|-------|--------|
|-------|--------|
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Head Over Heels
Warning: These chords are not as they seem! Please see notes at the bottom
for playing instructions.
INTRO: A A A A
A Bm
Sun breaks, I can't wait til I'll be on my way again.
E A
I'm sick and tired of waiting with nothing to do.
A
Watching the rain through a crack in the window,
Bm
It's the little things that get you through;
E A
Like the same sun rising on me as rising over you.
BRIDGE: F#m D A E
Walking and talking like birds in the sky;
F#m D A E
You tell your secrets, how gracefully you lie.
CHORUS: A E
Oh, that's the way you come to me,
F#m D
I'm head over heels and I'm always gonna be.
A E A A
That's okay, I love the way you come to me.
I guess I'm tempting fate, a little too long it seems.
Walking in this heat is just like floating in a dream.
I've been torn apart, put back together
With a couple of pieces in wrong.
I'm holding up now, oh, but I won't be for long.
BRIDGE: Tossing and turning like waves in the sea;
You show myself to me, you let me down easily.
CHORUS, then: F#m D A E F#m D A E A A A A
Well, I know one night together won't make up for ten apart.
I'm as steady as rain, nothing ever changes in my heart.
Throw off the covers, open the windows,
I don't care what we do;
I've been standing for days, now I want to fall down with you.
BRIDGE: Tossing and turning like waves in the sea;
You show yourself to me, you lie so easily.
CHORUS
OUTRO: F#m D A E F#m D A E
A E F#m D A E A A
A = x02220 A2 = x02200 A4 = x02230
D = xx0232 E = 022100
Bm = xx4432 or x24432
F#m = xx4222 or 244222
The four bars of A in the intro are actually played like this:
* * * * * * * *
|0-0-0000|0-0-0000|0-0-0000|0-0-0000||
|2-2-3232|2-2-3232|2-2-3232|2-2-3232||
|2-2-2222|2-2-2222|2-2-2222|2-2-2222||
|2-2-2222|2-2-2222|2-2-2222|2-2-2222||
|0-0-0000|0-0-0000|0-0-0000|0-0-0000||
|--------|--------|--------|--------||
ie. at the asterisk, hammer your pinky finger onto the second string/third
fret to form an A4 chord.
During the rest of the song, the A chord is often played like this:
|0--00-00|0--00-00|0--00-00|0--00-00|
|2--23-30|2--23-30|2--23-30|2--23-30|
|2--22-22|2--22-22|2--22-22|2--22-22|
|2--22-22|2--22-22|2--22-22|2--22-22|
|0--00-00|0--00-00|0--00-00|0--00-00|
|--------|--------|--------|--------|
ie. hammer on to form an A4, then pull off to form an A2 chord.
This pattern is used during the verses, the last four bars of the
instrumental, and sometimes at the end of the chorus. It is not used during
the rest of the chorus or in the bridge.
With both of these patterns (particularly the one used in the intro) the
transition between chords is very fast and will take some practice for a
novice guitar player. The best way to learn it is to listen carefully to
the CD a couple of times, and then try to imitate the sound with your
guitar. That's the only way you'll get the intricate timing. It seems like
Blue Rodeo has an endless variety of tricks up their sleeves when it comes
to varying the chords.
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Til I Can Gain Control Again - Blue Rodeo
Written by Rodney Crowell.
Published by Jolly Cheeks Music (BMI)
Music transcribed by Darragh Egan
from the CD, "Five Days In July" - 1993, Blue Rodeo Productions/WEA
Lyrics taken from an old OLGA transcription, with credit due to:
drake@sgl.ists.ca (Drake Hirasawa) and
tarkka@che.rochester.edu (Richard Tarkka)
What's that? Your "E" chord doesn't sound like a Blue Rodeo "E" chord?
Check the notes at the bottom of the page to find out why.
INTRO: | E E4 | E E4 | E E4 | E E4 ||
E B7 E E
Just like the sun over the mountain tops
A A E E
You know I'll always come again
A A E E
You know I love to spend my mornings
B7 B7 E E
Like sunlight dancing on your skin
E B7 E E
I've never gone so wrong as for telling lies to you
A A E E
What you see is what I am
A A E E
There is nothing I could hide from you
E B7 E E
You see me better than I can
CHORUS: A A E E
Out on the road that lies before me now
A A E E
There are some turns where I will spin
A A E E
I only hope that you can hold me now
B7 B7 E E
Til I can gain control again
[INSTRUMENTAL VERSE]
And like a lighthouse, you must stand alone
Landmark a safe journey's end
No matter what sea I've been sailing on
I'll always come back home again.
[REPEAT CHORUS]
OUTRO: A A E E
I only hope that you can hold me now
B7 B7 E E
Til I can gain control again
|A |A |E |E |B7 |B7 |E |E [stop]
E4 = 022200 B7 = x21202
Blue Rodeo make liberal use of suspended chords. It adds flavour to the
song, especially if you are playing it solo on an acoustic guitar. In this
song, the E4 chord pops up everywhere (aside from where it's noted in the
intro). Here's one way to play a bar of E while incorporating this
embellishment. I use this all through the song, particularly in the first
bar of two consecutive bars of E. I tend to play a straight E chord in a
bar leading up to a B7 chord, and sometimes in the bars leading up to A
chords. Throw it in wherever it feels comfortable for you.
E * *
|0-0-0000||
|0-0-0000||
|1-1-2121||
|2-2-2222||
|2-2-2222||
|0-0-0000||
ie. At the asterisk, hammer your pinky finger on to the third string/second
fret to create an E4 chord.
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