HEROIN - The Velvet Underground

Tabbed by: Ian C.
E-mail: ian@terzon.com

Tuning: Standard EADGBe

Riff 1:          Riff 2:          Riff 3:

e|------1---1-|  e|------------|  e|----2--1---1-|
B|----2---2---|  B|------4---4-|  B|--2------2---|
G|--3---------|  G|-0--3---3---|  G|-------------|
D|------------|  D|------------|  D|-------------|
A|------------|  A|------------|  A|-------------|
E|------------|  E|------------|  E|-------------|

Order: 1-2-3-2

This song is based on the chords Db and Bb, which are played as follows:
   
   C#      Bb
e|--1------1---|
B|--2------3---|
G|--1------3---|
D|--3------3---|
A|--x------x---|
E|--x------x---|

Lyrics:
C#   Bb        C#  Bb                C#   Bb  C#  Bb
   I   don't know    just where I'm going
    C#   Bb       C#             Bb       C#
But I'm    gonna try for the kingdom if I can
                 Bb               C#
Cuz it makes me feel like I'm a man
              Bb              C#
When I put a spike into my vein
                   Bb                        C#
Then, I tell ya', things aren't quite the same
         Bb              C#
When I'm rushin' on my run
       Bb                     C#
And I feel just like Jesus' son
       Bb                       C#
And I guess that I just don't know
       Bb                        C#
And I guess that I just don't know


C#  Bb        C#  Bb         C#   Bb  C#  Bb
I     have made     big decisions
C#  Bb        C#  Bb                C#
I'm   gonna try     to nullify my life 
               Bb               C#
Cuz when the blood begins to flow
         Bb                       C#
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
           Bb              C#
When I'm closing in on death

After this line, Morrison interjects with a riff B, which is to be repeated as necessary:

e|-----7---7---9---7--------|
B|-----8---8---10--8--------|
G|-----7---7---9---7--------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
              Bb                  C#
And you can't help me, not you guys
                  Bb                          C#
Or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
         Bb              C#
You can all go take a walk
       Bb                   C#
And I guess I just don't know
       Bb                        C#
And I guess that I just don't know


C#   Bb        C#  Bb                            C#  Bb  C#  Bb
   I   wish that    I was born a thousand years ago
C#  Bb         C#  Bb                           C#
I      wish that     I'd sailed the darkened seas
      Bb                   C#
On a great big clipper ship
            Bb                  C#
Going from this land here to that
          Bb                  C#  Bb  C#  Bb
Ah, in a sailor's suit and cap
C#       Bb            C#
   Away from the big city
         Bb              C#
Where a man cannot be free
               Bb              C# 
Of all of the evils of this town
           Bb                 C#
And of himself and those around
           Bb                        C#
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
           Bb                        C#
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know


C#   Bb   C# 
  Heeeeeroin
Bb                 C#  Bb  C#  Bb
  Be the death of me
C#   Bb   C# 
  Heeeeeroin
         Bb                C#
It's my wife and it's my life
             Bb             C#
Because a mainline to my vein
             Bb            C#
Leads to a center in my head
              Bb              C#
And then I'm better off as dead


                   Bb               C#
Because when the smack begins to flow
       Bb                C#
Ah, I really don't care anymore
              Bb                  C#
About all the jim-jims in this town
                 Bb                     C#
And all the politicians makin' busy sounds
               Bb                       C#
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
                 Bb                   C#
And all the dead bodies piled up in Nam

Play riff B a few times

             Bb               C#
Cuz when the smack begins to flow
      Bb                      C#
Then I really don't care anymore
               Bb                C#
Ah, when that heroin is in my blood
          Bb               C#
And that blood is in my head
           Bb                      C#
Then thank god that I'm good as dead
               Bb                  C#
And thank your god that I'm not aware
          Bb                      C#
And thank god that I just don't care
       Bb                  C#
And I guess I just don't know
           Bb                  C#
Ah, and I guess I just don't know

End on Db