Words & music by c. howie howard
Tab is written with rough chord-equivalents below. Tab is not written in rhythm – listen for it.
Drop-D tuning (DADGBe), 6/8 time.
—- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —-
Intro (power chords):
e-
B-
G- 3 — 3 — 5 — 7 – 7 —
D- 3 — 1 — 5 — 7 – 0 — 0 / 3
A- 1 — 1 — 3 — 5 – 0 — 0 / 3
D- —- 1 ————– 0 — 0 / 3
— Bb — Eb — C —– D ——— F
Verse:
e
B
G- 5 – – – –
D- 8 – – -5 – 12
A- 6 – – – 3 – 10
D-
Eb6 – C – G
Fill your lungs into my hands on your back,
Feel how to breathe
Let my weight transfer through to your heart,
Take time to… breathe
Allow thoughts, any one at all
Major and minor connections to God;
Transition to chorus:
e
B
G- 5 — 7 – 7
D- 8 — 5 – 6
A- 6 — 5 – 6
D——- 5 – 6
— Eb6 – G – Ab
Hangups be gone…
CHORUS (same as intro):
e-
B-
G- 3 — 3 — 5 — 7 – 7 —
D- 3 — 1 — 5 — 7 – 0 — 0 / 3
A- 1 — 1 — 3 — 5 – 0 — 0 / 3
D- —- 1 ————– 0 — 0 / 3
— Bb — Eb — C —– D ——— F
And if I ever could fall this song apart
Then step up, take my guitar, and
Let me hear your heart while I lay down
Let’s decide on a sign, a line to sing in every song
Major & minor, the band plays on
Post-CHORUS (5 counts of 3 is the timing):
D – 888 – 111 – 555 – 333 – / / /
A – 888 – 111 – 555 – 333 – / / /
D – 888 – 111 – 555 – 333 – / / /
—– Bb — Eb — G — F — /
Middle section:
e
B
G- ————- 5 – 3 – 3
D- 3 – 3 – 0 – 5 – 3 – 3
A- 1 – 3 – 0 – 3 – 1 – 1
D- 1 – 3 – 0 ———– 1
– Eb9 – F – D – C – Bb – Eb9
Then on the third time…
e
B
G- ————- 5 – 7 – 7 – 3 – 7 – 7 – 3
D- 3 – 3 – 0 – 5 – 5 – 6 – 1 – 5 – 6 – 1
A- 1 – 3 – 0 – 3 – 5 – 6 – 1 – 5 – 6 – 1
D- 1 – 3 – 0 —– 5 – 6 – 1 – 5 – 6 – 1
– Eb9 – F – D – C – G – Ab – Eb – G – Ab – Eb
Verse 2:
e
B
G- 5 – – – –
D- 8 – – -5 – 12
A- 6 – – – 3 – 10
D-
Eb6 – C – G
Lend us a day or an hour at that
Take time to breathe
Take off our watches and dance in the back
Reminder to… breathe
Make space to lay the story down
I’m not counting on last night alone
It’s in the response
CHORUS 2:
e-
B-
G- 3 — 3 — 5 — 7 – 7 —
D- 3 — 1 — 5 — 7 – 0 — 0 / 3
A- 1 — 1 — 3 — 5 – 0 — 0 / 3
D- —- 1 ————– 0 — 0 / 3
— Bb — Eb — C —– D ——— F
And if I ever could fall this song apart
Then step up, take my guitar, and
Let me hear your heart while I lay down
Let’s decide on a sign, a line to sing in every song
Major & minor, the band plays on
5-counts-of-3: 4x open and loud
D – 888 – 111 – 555 – 333 – / / /
A – 888 – 111 – 555 – 333 – / / /
D – 888 – 111 – 555 – 333 – / / /
—– Bb — Eb — G — F — /
CLOSING: 5-counts-of-3, quiet and palm-muted, slowly building:
Jane paints her eyes and is off to the show
Jack buses tables in downtown New York
Jessica’s reading a book in the dark, and I’m
Holding my breath for you to get home
The lines that crossed your face could tell a story
But wash them down, I wasn’t around, and
That is why they’re asking you