Here's how to play the main riff chords in the song. The chords are shown in the inversion that you should use, top note on top and bottom note on bottom: F/C F+/C# Dm F7/Eb BbMaj7/D BbmMaj7/Db Am7 Gm7 C7 --- --- --- ---- --- --- --- --- --- A (x02220@1) A (x02220@1) A (x02220@1) A (x02220@1) A (x02220@1) A (x02220@1) G (320003@1) Bb (x1333x@1)Bb (x1333x@1) F (133211@1) F (133211@1) F (133211@1) F (133211@1) F (133211@1) F (133211@1) E (022100@1) G (320003@1) G (320003@1) C (x32010@1) C# (x43121@1) D (xx0232@1) Eb (x43121@3) D (xx0232@1) C# (x43121@1) C (x32010@1) D (xx0232@1) E (022100@1) E-------------------------------------------------------------| B---------------------------(3)--------(3)--------------------| G---2-----2------2----2------2----------2----------0----3---3-| D---3-----3------3----3------3----------3----------2----5---5-| A---3-----4------5----6------5----------4----------3----5---7-| E-------------------------------------------------------------| (Notice that in the BbMaj7 and BbmMaj7/Db, the Bb is implied. When Mike comes in on the bass, the bass plays the Bb, but the organ doesn't. Likewise, the A isn't stated in the Am7 until Mike plays it on the bass.) There are other chords in the song, but the fingering on them isn't as important as for these, so you can use whatever is comfortable. Most of the song, especially at the start, has an "oom-pah-pah" feel (which kind of makes sense, since the song is in 3/4.) To play the chords correctly, play the bass note, then the othertwo notes twice. For example, the intro starts like this: F/C (133211@1) F+/C# Dm (xx0231@1) F+/C# ----- ------ ----- ------ AA AA AA AA FF FF FF FF C (x32010@1) C# (x43121@1) D (xx0232@1) C# (x43121@1) .... Find a good Hammond patch to play it with and your all set... "Circus theme" Intro: FE EbE EbD C#C BC Intro: F/C F+/C# Dm F+/C# F/C F+/C# Dm F+/C# F/C (133211@1) F+/C# Dm (xx0231@1) F7/Eb It was late one fall night at a fairground near town BbMaj7/D BbmMaj7/Db F/A When Esther first saw the Armenian man Am7 (x02010@1) DmWho (xx0231@1)grovelled toward her and stood by her side Gm7 C7With (x32310@1)a bucket that swung in his hand (Bass joins in here) F/C (133211@1) F+/C# Dm (xx0231@1) F7/Eb His grin stretched the folds of his pasty white cheeks BbMaj7 BbmMaj7 F/AAnd (x03211@1)his lips hurled a dollop of murk on the curb Am7 (x02010@1) DmAnd (xx0231@1)the lights from the rides showed a mischievous sparkle Gm7 C7That (x32310@1)flashed in his hollow eyed stare (same) He said "Little girl, you can chop off my legs And then peel off my socks if you want to. But I'd rather you took this old puppet from me That I hold in my pail as we speak." (same except transition chords at end of verse) And he stood looking down at the innocent girl And she stared at the bucket bewildered Til he lifted the doll for the young girl to see Gm7b5/Db Eb (x43121@3) And a giant smile grew on his face Ab (xx1114@1) Adim (2312xx@1) Bbm (x13321@1) EbShe (x43121@3)saw the doll's eyes and she couldn't resist Ddim (1201xx@1) Db (x43121@1) Bbm (x13321@1) EbAnd (x43121@3)she thanked the man quickly and ran to the church Ab (xx1114@1) Adim (2312xx@1) Bbm (x13321@1) EbAnd (x43121@3)she burst through the door with puppet held high Ddim (1201xx@1) Db (x43121@1) BbmAnd (x13321@1)a hush filled the chapel, and the people looked mean C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) C (x32010@1)C (x32010@1) AbAb AbAb AbAb AbAb AbAb AbAb AbAb AbAb F (133211@1) E (022100@1) Eb (x43121@3) E (022100@1) F (133211@1) E (022100@1) Eb (x43121@3) E (022100@1)E-----------------------------------------------------------------| B-----------------------------------------------------------------| G---5--5-----5--5----5--5----5--5----5--5----5--5----5--5----5--5-| D---6--6-----6--6----6--6----6--6----6--6----6--6----6--6----6--6-| A-8-------7--------6------7-------8-------7--------6------7-------| E-----------------------------------------------------------------| BB BB BB BB BB BB BB C#C# GG GG GG GG GG GG GG A (x02220@1)A (x02220@1)E (022100@1) Eb (x43121@3) D (xx0232@1) Eb (x43121@3) E (022100@1) Eb (x43121@3) D (xx0232@1) D (xx0232@1)E-----------------------------------------------------------------| B-----------------------------------------------------------------| G----4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4---6-6----------------| D----5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---7-7----------------| A-7------6-----5-----6----7------6-----5-----7--------------------| E-----------------------------------------------------------------| D (xx0232@1) A/C# (042220@1) C (x32010@1) G/BEsther (143121@7)tried in vain to pacify the mob Bb (x1333x@1) D/A (x00232@1) E7/G# GmQuibble (355333@1)grew to spat, to wrangle, then to brawl D/F# (200232@1) G (320003@1) E7/G# AThe (x02220@1)frenzied congregation struggled desperately to fetch A7 (x02020@1) A6 (x04xxx@1) A (x02220@1) Dm7 The pretty puppet snugly nestled deep in Esther's leather sack (Dm7 arpegiation on guitar/piano:) FD FA CF AC DA CD FC DF AD FA CF AC D (xx0232@1)E----------------------------------5-----5-8---5-8-10--| B--------------------------6-----6-----6-----6---------| G----------5-----5-7---5-7---5-7-----7-----------------| D--------7-----7-----7---------------------------------| A--8-5-8-----8-----------------------------------------| E------------------------------------------------------| (same chords as earlier verses) Through the window of the church a storm began to rage And Esther knew the time had come to flee She scurried down the aisle toward the doorway in the distance And out into the rainstorm where she felt she would be free But the wind was blowing harder And her skirt began to billow Until finally her feet began to lift And she rose above the people and the houses and the chimneys Gm7b5/Db EbAnd (x43121@3)Esther and the doll were set adrift Ab (xx1114@1) Adim (2312xx@1) Bbm (x13321@1) Eb (x43121@3) Ddim (1201xx@1) DbFloating (x43121@1)higher over the hills, and the valleys and treetops Bbm (x13321@1) Ebthey'd (x43121@3)flutter and glide Ab (xx1114@1) Adim (2312xx@1) Bbm (x13321@1) EbSoaring (x43121@3)and turning suspended on air Ddim (1201xx@1) Db (x43121@1) BbmWith (x13321@1)the earth far below them they'd tumble Eb (x43121@3) EAnd (022100@1)dive through the clouds "Flying jam" chord progression: E->Em->F#m7->F#->B Transcription from Karl Schnaitter 16th notes eighth notes |----------------------------------------|--------------8--9--10----------| |-------------------7-8-9-10-11-10-9-8-7-|----------10--------------------| |----------7-8-9-10----------------------|--10--------------------10------| |--9-10-11-------------------------------|------10--------------------10--| |----------------------------------------|--------------------------------| |----------------------------------------|--------------------------------| |--------------10--11--------------|-------------10--9-------------| |----------10--10--10--10----------|---------11---------11---------| |------10------------------10------|-----10-----------------10-----| |--10--------------------------10--|--8-------------------------8--| |----------------------------------|-------------------------------| |----------------------------------|-------------------------------| |-----------6--8-----------| |--------6--------------6--| |-----5--------------5-----| |--7--------------7--------| |--------------------------| |--------------------------| |--------------5------12--15--|----------------------------------| |--5--------5-----13----------|--15------15--13------------------| |--------5--------------------|------14----------14------12--14--| |-----7-----------------------|----------------------15----------| |-----------------------------|----------------------------------| |-----------------------------|----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| |--15--12--------------------------| |----------15--12----------12--15--| |------------------13--------------| |----------------------15----------| |--------------------------------|--------------8--9--10----------| |--------------------------------|----------10--------------------| |--------15--12--------------12--|--10--------------------10------| |--14------------14------14------|------10--------------------10--| |--------------------15----------|--------------------------------| |--------------------------------|--------------------------------| |--------------10--11--------------|-------------10--9-------------| |----------10--10--10--10----------|---------11---------11---------| |------10------------------10------|-----10-----------------10-----| |--10--------------------------10--|--8-------------------------8--| |----------------------------------|-------------------------------| |----------------------------------|-------------------------------| |-----------6--8-----------| |--------6--------------6--| |-----5--------------5-----| |--7--------------7--------| |--------------------------| |--------------------------| |--------------5------12--15--|----------------------------------| |--5--------5-----13----------|--15------15--13------------------| |--------5--------------------|------14----------14------12--14--| |-----7-----------------------|----------------------15----------| |-----------------------------|----------------------------------| |-----------------------------|----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| |----------------------------------| |--15--12--------------------------| |----------15--12----------12--15--| |------------------13--------------| |----------------------15----------| |--------------------------------|----------------------------------| |--------------------------------|------13--------------13----------| |--------15--12----------11--12--|--13------13--12----------13--14--| |--14------------14--15----------|------------------15--------------| |--------------------------------|----------------------------------| |--------------------------------|----------------------------------| |--------------------------15--14--|--13----------------------13------| |------14--------------16----------|----------------------14------14--| |--15------15--12------------------|------13--------------------------| |------------------13--------------|----------13--14--15--------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------------| |------16----------15------15--18--|--16------------------------------| |--16------18--19------16----------|------16--------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------17----------17----------| |----------------------------------|--------------18--16------18--19--| |----------------------------------|----------------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------------| |--------------------------15--14--|--13----------------------13------| |------14--------------16----------|----------------------14------14--| |--15------15----------------------|------13--------------------------| |--------------17--13--------------|----------13--14--15--------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------------| |--13--16--13--14--15------15--18--|--16----16--14----12--------| |----------------------16----------|------------------------14--| |----------------------------------|----------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------| |----------------------------------|----------------------------| |--------------------------| |--12----------------------| |--------13----11----------| |--------------------14----| |--------------------------| |--------------------------| Quiet volume pedal section starts here |--16----16--14----12--------|--------------------------| |------------------------14--|--12----------------------| |----------------------------|--------13----11----------| |----------------------------|--------------------14----| |----------------------------|--------------------------| |----------------------------|--------------------------| |----------------------------|------------------------|------------------------| |--------------12----15------|------------------------|------------------17----| |--12------14------------12--|------------------14----|--16------14------------| |----------------------------|--12------14------------|------------------------| |----------------------------|------------------------|------------------------| |----------------------------|------------------------|------------------------| |----------------------|------------------------|--14--------------------| |--14------------------|----------17------------|----------16------14----| |----------14----------|--15--------------15----|------------------------| |----------------------|------------------------|------------------------| |----------------------|------------------------|------------------------| |----------------------|------------------------|------------------------| |----------------------------|--14------16--14----16----|--16------12--14----12-| |-----------------------(16)-|--------------------------|-----------------------| |--16----------13----16------|--------------------------|-----------------------| |----------16----------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| |----------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| |----------------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------| |--14----12----------------|--------------------------|--15--------------------| |--------------13----11----|--12----------------12----|--------------12---13---| |--------------------------|----------12--14----------|------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------| |------------------------|--------------------------|----------------14----| |----------17------14----|--------------------------|----------------------| |--14--------------------|--16----------------14----|--15------------------| |------------------------|-------14---16------------|----------------------| |------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------| |------------------------|--------------------------|----------------------| |--------------------------|-----| |--16----14----------------|-----| |--------------15----13----|--16-| |--------------------------|-----| |--------------------------|-----| |--------------------------|-----| |: :| E----11-14-11-- B--12---------- G-------------- D-------------- A-------------- E-------------- Hold the B chord and play the above B arpeggio on the guitar: (B arpeggiation) And she began to plummet earthward till she Landed in the nasty part of town Em (Bass goes E->Eb->D->Eb and repeats) Trey plays : (repeat each as necessary, listen to a song) |: :| |: :| |: :| Slide down after this one back to the start E---------------------------------------- B--12------13------16------17------------ G---------------------------------------- D---9------10------13------14------------ A---------------------------------------- E---------------------------------------- She glanced about the village sure to find the evil men FmWho (133111@1)rob and pillage in the darkest hour of night EbmNervously (xx4342@1)she fumbled for the pouch that held the EmPuppet (022000@1)on her rump. (Same) Feeling quite outnumbered Esther hid behind A nearby pile of lumber, where she waited Till the dawn Cause it would have been a blunder to Succumb to a hoodlum on the prowl D (xx0232@1) A/C# (042220@1) C (x32010@1) G/BWhen (143121@7)the morning came, she wandered through the streets Bb (x1333x@1) D/A (x00232@1) E7/G# GmAlong (355333@1)the chilly lake that lay beside the town D/F# (200232@1) G (320003@1) E7/G# AAt (x02220@1)last a peaceful moment, but she thought she heard a sound A7 (x02020@1) A6 (x04xxx@1) A (x02220@1) Dm7 (arpeggiation) It was an angry mob of joggers coming up to knock her down (same chords as verses) As Esther stood and shook her head The joggers were approaching And she knew she had no choice left but to swim As the frosty water sank its bitter teeth into her hide She tried to slide the heavy clothing from her skin Naked now she made her way toward the shore When suddenly she felt a tiny tugging at her toe. And the puppet she'd fogotten wrapped its tiny Gm7b5/Db EbLittle (x43121@3)arms around her ankle and wouldn't let her go. Ab etc... The waves seemed to open and swallow her whole As the doll pulled her down through the eerie green deep And the sound of the laughing old man filled her ears As she drifted away to a tranquil E(flying (022100@1)jam) And motionless sleep. Cool guitar solo over flying jam: E (022100@1) Em (022000@1)E|-------------|-15-12-12----------------| B|-12-14-------|----------12-12-------12-| G|-------13-13-|----------------12-14----| D|-------------|-------------------------| A|-------------|-------------------------| E|-------------|-------------------------| F#m (244222@1) F# (244322@1) /2 E|-17-14-14--17-(17)-14-14--------|-18-14-14---18-14-14--| B|--------------------------------|----------------------| G|--------------------------------|----------------------| D|--------------------------------|----------------------| A|--------------------------------|----------------------| E|--------------------------------|----------------------| B (x2444x@1) E (022100@1) Em (022000@1)E|-19-|-------------|-15-12-12----------------| B|----|-12-14-------|----------12-12-------12-| G|----|-------13-13-|----------------12-14----| D|----|-------------|-------------------------| A|----|-------------|-------------------------| E|----|-------------|-------------------------| F#m (244222@1) F# (244322@1) /2 E|-17-14-14--17-(17)-14-14--------|-18-14-14---18-14-14--| B|--------------------------------|----------------------| G|--------------------------------|----------------------| D|--------------------------------|----------------------| A|--------------------------------|----------------------| E|--------------------------------|----------------------| B (x2444x@1) E (022100@1)E|-19--|-21-23--|-12-| B|-----|--------|----| G|-----|--------|----| D|-----|--------|----| Strike and hold an E chord to end. A|-----|--------|----| E|-----|--------|----|