Freedom of the Road By Martin Sexton Transcribed by: Jason Fenner This tab was transcribed from the following show: - Live in NYC at Central Park Summerstage (7/19/97) Note: - The purpose of this tab is to give access to all the intricate MS guitar licks and accents. - You can play a very basic version of this song in 5 minutes by looking at the chord signatures. - I'd suggest playing the song a few times with the basic chords before tackling all this. ------------------- Tuning: Normal - However Martin is tuned down what seems to be a quarter step on the album... so if you are playing with the album, tune to his guitar) - Helpful hint - the first bass note after the B7 chord is an E use that to tune. B7 (x21222) E (022100@1) (022100) E6 (022120) E7 (022130) ESus (022200) B (x2444x@1) (799877) Bsus (799977) A (x02220@1) (577655) Asus (577755) A7 (575655) Song Notes: - During this song Martin slaps the strings to sort of mute the sound every two beats... - I didn't bother to write them all in...but listen and you'll get the feel immediately - Also, when I tabbed out chords, I tabbed out the notes emphasized...but they are often all strummed - or atleast brushed lightly - as MS fingerpicks... INTRO/: let ring... E -2---------------------------| B -2---------------------------| G -2---------------------------| D -1---------------------------| A -2---------------------------| E -----------------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . B7 (x21202@1) In awesterly (x02210@1)direction... VERSE 1 * = accent or sustain if possible E -0--0-2-2s4------------------|------------5*------------------| B -0---------------------------|------------5-------------------| G -1-1-2 2s-4------------------|------------6h7-7-7p6-----------| D -2---------------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------| A -2---------------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------| E -0----------------------2----|--4-5-------5-5-5-5-5-------4--2| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) A(Asus)A This car is my train E --------0--------------------|--------------------------------| B -----------------------------|---------------7----------------| G ----1h2---1------------------|---------------8-----8----------| D ----2-----2------------------|------------9--9--9--9----------| A ----------2------------------|------------9-----9--9----------| E -0--------0--------------9--8|----7-------7-----7--7-------4-2| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) BI'm (x2444x@1)drivin and I'm a wonderin' ...what it is I'm running from again E ------0----------------------|----------------5---------------| B -----------3-----------------|-----------------5--------------| G --------1--------------------|------------6h7----6------------| D ----2------------------------|------------7------7------------| A ----2------------------------|--------------------------------| E -0--0-----------0--------2--4|----5-------5------5--------5--6| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E7 (020130@1) AAnd (x02220@1)I feel like 80 year old man...still holding on to 29 E -------7---------------------|--------------------------------| B -------7---------------------|----0------2s---------3s--------| G -----8---8----8--------------|----1-S----1t---------1t--------| D -----9---9----9--------------|----2-T----2r---------2r--------| A -----9---9----9--------------|----2-R----2u---------2u--------| E -7---7---7----7--------------|----0-U----0m---------0m--------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^-M . ^ . ^ . ^ . B (x2444x@1) Eand (022100@1)up ahead on the horizon Is the California line.... CHORUS 1: E --------------5--7-s-9-------|--------------0-----------------| B -----------------------------|--------------------------------| G --------------6--7-s-9------4|-2--1-----1h2----1--------------| D -----------------------------|----2-----2------2--------------| A -----------------------------|----2-----2------2--------------| E --0-2-4-5--------------------|----0------------0----------9-8-| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A (x02220@1) EAnd (022100@1)I've had enough!!! Of this Freedom of the road E -------7---------------------|---5-------------(7)------------| B -------7---------------------|---5-------------(7)------------| G -----8---8----8--------------|---6-------------(8)------------| D -----9---9----9--------------|---7-------------(9)------------| A -----9---9----9--------------|---7-------------(9)------------| E -7---7---7----7--------------|---5-------------(7)------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . Never was good with decisions... atleast that's what I've been told VERSE 2 E --------------0--------------|------------5-------------------| B -----------------------------|------------5-------------------| G -1---------------------------|------------6h7-7-7p6-----------| D -2-----2--4s6----------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------| A -2----2----------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------| E -0-2s4------------------2----|--4-5-------5-5-5-5-5-------4--2| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) A(Asus)A Up ahead, a truck's carrying a wideload pre-fab house cut in half E --------0--------------------|------------7-7-----------------| B ---------0-------------------|------------7--7----------------| G ----1-------1----------------|------------8-----8-------------| D ----2-------2----------------|------------9-----9-------------| A ----2-------2----------------|------------9-----9-------------| E -0----------0------------9--8|----7-------7-----7-------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) B (x2444x@1)A cute little front door and 2 windows love - ain't sure I should cry or I should laugh E ------0----------------------|------------5---5---------------| B -----------3-----------------|------------5----5--------------| G --------1-------------2---4--|6-----------6------6------------| D ----2------------------------|7-----------7------7------------| A ----2------------------------|7-------------------------------| E -0--0------------------------|5---5-------5------5--------9--8| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E7 (020130@1) AYou (x02220@1)see I broke a house up myself once...as I stumbled to the door E -------7---------------------|--------------------------------| B -------7---------------------|-------------2------3-----------| G -----8---8----8--------------|----1-S------1------1-----------| D -----9---9----9--------------|----2-T------2------2-----------| A -----9---9----9--------------|----2-R------2------2-----------| E -7---7---7----7--------------|----0-U------0------0----0-2-4-5| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^-M . ^ . ^ . ^ . B (x2444x@1) Eread (022100@1)her note by the dawn's light...so don't you come around here anymore... CHORUS 2: E --------------5--7-s-9-------|--------------------------------| B -----------------------------|--------------------------------| G --------------6--7-s-9------4|-2--1-----1h2-2-2-2p1-----------| D -----------------------------|----2-----2-2-2-2-2-2-----------| A -----------------------------|----2-----2-2-2-2-2-2-----------| E --0-2-4-5-------------------4|-2--0-----0-0-0-0-0-0-------5-6-| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A (x02220@1) EAnd (022100@1)I've had enough!!! Of my Freedom of the road E -------7---------------------|---0-S---0----0-----------------| B --------7--------------------|---0-t---2----3-----------------| G -----8---8----8--------------|---1-r---1----1-----------------| D -----9---9----9--------------|---2-u---2----2-----------------| A -----9---9----9--------------|---2-m---2----2-----------------| E -7---7---7----7--------------|---0-----0----0--------0--2--4--| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . B (x2444x@1) E/E6/E7 never was good with decisions...oh don't you now that's what I've been told -yes I have been told) E -----------------------------|--------------------------------| B -----5-5--5------------------|----0----0----------------------| G -----7--7p6------------------|----2----1----------------------| D -----7----7------------------|----2----2----------------------| A ----------7------------------|---------2----------------------| E -5---5----5-----------4--2---|-0--0----0----------------9-8-7-| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A (x02220@1) E (022100@1) I've been holding on to this ticket...cuz one day I'll pay my toll E -7--7------------------------|---5----------------------------| B -7---7-----------------------|---5----------------------------| G -8-----8---------------------|---6----------------------------| D -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------| A -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------| E -7-----7---------------------|---5----------------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A (x02220@1) B (x2444x@1) AAnd (x02220@1)magic road grant this freedom...to someone else for I'll be coming home INTERLUDE: E ----------0---0--0--0--------|-----5----s5--------------------| B --5-----------0--2--3--------|-----5----s5--------------------| G -4-4-----2-2s-1--1--1--------|-----6----s6-------------4--2---| D --------------2--2--2--------|-----7----s7--------------------| A --------------2--2--2--------|-----7----s7--------------------| E --------------0--0--0---0--2-|4-5--5----s5--------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) Strum... Ayes (x02220@1)I will... And don't you know There'll be no more pay-per-view movies E -----------------------------|-----5----s5------------5-------| B -----------------------------|-----5----s5------------5-------| G -1---2----4------------------|-----6----s6--------------------| D -----------------------------|-----7----s7--------------------| A -----------------------------|-----7----s7--------------------| E -0---2----4-------------9s3s5|-----5----s5--------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) AIn (x02220@1)these economy motels... No more trash in the backseat!! E -0---------------------------|--5--------s5-------------------| B -0---------------------------|--5--------s5-------------------| G -1-----010101*---------------|--6--------s6-------------------| D -2---------------------------|--7--------s7-------------------| A -2---------------------------|--7--------s7-------------------| E -0---------------------------|--5--------s5-------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) *trill A7 (x02020@1) >From Mickey-D's or Taco Bell... No more playing my trump card E ---5--------------5----------|--------------------------------| B ---5--------------5----------|--------------------------------| G ---6-----6--6--6--6----------|-------------------1------------| D ---7---7-7--5--5--5----------|-----------2-------2------------| A ---7---7-7--7--7-------------|--2-2------2-------2------------| E ---5-0-5-5--5--5-------------|--0-0------0-------0------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A/A7 E (022100@1)strum...getting louder For the Ladies in the Lounge I think I'll leave a little something... E -----------------------------|--------5------9--10--9---------| B -----------------------------|--------5-----------------------| G ----1------------------------|--------6------9--11--9---------| D ----2------------------------|--------7-----------------------| A ----2------------------------|--------7-----------------------| E ----0------------------------|--------5-----------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (banging on the E chord still)A TRAVELLING MAN TO SCROUNGE You know I mean it yes I do-hoo-oooo E --0-------7-------5----------|--5-----------------------------| B --0-------7-------5----------|--5h7p5-----5-7-5-------7*-8*---| G --1-------8-------6----------|--6h7p6-----6-7-6------8*-------| D --2-------9-------7----------|--7---------7-7-7-----9*--------| A --2-------9-------7----------|--------------------------------| E --0-------7-------5----------|---------7--7-7-7----9----------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) B (x2444x@1) A (x02220@1) A (x02220@1) *this may be harmonics but if you play an acoustic, just press your finger right on the fret to get that muted fuzzy sound VERSE 3 E -0--0--0---------------------|------------5------------x------| B -0--0--0---------------------|------------5------------x------| G -1--1--2--1------------------|------------6h7-7-7p6----x------| D -2--2--2--2------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7----x------| A -2--------2------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7----x------| E -0--------0-------------2----|--4-5-------5-5-5-5-5----x--4--2| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) A(Asus)A And I know there's got be someone out there...who believes E --------0--------------------|---------------7----------------| B -----------------------------|------------7----7--------------| G ----1h2---1------------------|------------8-----8-------------| D ----2-----2------------------|------------9-----9-------------| A ----2-----2------------------|------------9-----9-------------| E -0--------0--------------9--8|----7-------7-----7----------4-2| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) BI've (x2444x@1)got a picture of my boy in my back pocket.. along with these rocks I've found in Arizona I wanna show him E ------0----------------------|--------------------------------| B -----------3-----------------|------------5-5--5-5-5-5--------| G --------1--------------------|------------6h7--7-7-7p6--------| D ----2------------------------|------------7-7--7-7-7-7--------| A ----2------------------------|------------7-7--7-7-7----------| E -0--0-----------0--------2--4|----5-------5-5--7-7-7-5----9--8| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E7 (020130@1) AAnd (x02220@1)I know I'm gonna return to an awkward silence.. y'see there's a whole lot of work I've never known E -------7---------------------|--------------------------------| B --------7--------------------|-----------2--------3-----------| G -----8----8----8-------------|----1-S----1--------1-----------| D -----9----9----9-------------|----2-T----2--------2-----------| A -----9----9----9-------------|----2-R----2--------2-----------| E -7---7----7----7-------------|----0-U----0--------0----0-2-4-5| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^-M . ^ . ^ . ^ . B (x2444x@1) Ebut (022100@1)I know I've gotta make my amends... if I'm gonna regain the trust of my long lost son... CHORUS 3: E --------------5--5-5-5-5-----|----------0---2s4---------------| B --------------5--5-5-5-5-----|--------------------------------| G --------------6h77-7-7p6-----|----1----1--(s2-4)--------------| D --------------7--7-7-7-7-----|----2---2-----------------------| A --------------7--7-7-7-7-----|----2---------------------------| E --0-2-4-5-----5--5-5-5-5-----|----0--0------------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A (x02220@1) E (022100@1) (this lick is tough to time...) You see I've had me enough y'all... Of my freedom of the road E -----------------------------|---0-S---0----0-----------------| B -----------------------------|---0-t---2----3-----------------| G -----8---s8----8-------------|---1-r---1----1-----------------| D -----9---s9----9-------------|---2-u---2----2-----------------| A -----9---s9----9-------------|---2-m---2----2-----------------| E -7---7---s7----7-------------|---0-----0----0--------0--2--4--| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . B (x2444x@1) E/E6/E7 lord won't you help me with my decision...for I fear I'm growing old (I feel it everyday) E -----------------------------|-------0------------------------| B -----5----5------------------|----0----0----------------------| G -----7----7p6----------------|----2----1----------------------| D -----7----7------------------|----2----2----------------------| A ----------7------------------|---------2----------------------| E -5---5----5-----------4--2---|-0--0----0----------------9-8-7-| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . A (x02220@1) E (022100@1) I'm holding on my ticket...it's today I'll pay this toll E -7---------------------------|---5----------------------------| B -7---------------------------|---5----------------------------| G -8-----8---------------------|---6----------------------------| D -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------| A -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------| E -7-----7---------------------|---5----------------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . B (x2444x@1) (strum) A(strum) (x02220@1) And magic road grant your freedom...your sweet freedom!!! E -----------------------------|--------------------------------| B -----------------------------|--------------------------------| G -----------------------------|--------------------------------| D -------(high-pitched scream)-|--------------------------------| A -----------------------------|--------------------------------| E -----------------------------|---------------12s0-------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (his scream is equal to the 12th fret on the high E, then up to the 16th) E ----0------------------------|-----0--2-2s4-------------------| B -----0-----------------------|--------------------------------| G -----------------------------|----1--2--2s4-------------------| D --------------2--------------|--------------------------------| A ----------2-4---4-2----------|--------------------------------| E --0----2s4----------2p0---4s5|--0-----------------------------| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . E (022100@1) I'm coming home... *** Extra Special Bonus Ending of Happiness - you'll hear this a lot on his live recordings...it's just an extended version of the one above, except he finishes the scale... E ----0------------------------|----0-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-14--16---0| B -----0-----------------------|-------------------------------0| G -----------------------------|---1-2-4-6-8-9-11-13-14---16---1| D --------------2--------------|-------------------------------2| A ----------2-4---4-2----------|-------------------------------2| E --0----2s4----------2p0---4s5|-0-------------------------0---0| ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . Here are all the lyrics in regular form In a westerly direction this car is my train I'm driving and I'm a wonderin' what it is I'm runnin from again and I feel like and 80 year old man still holding on to 29 and up ahead on the horizon is the California Line And I've had enough of this freedom of the road never was good with decision atleast that's what I've been told up ahead a truck's carrying a wideload a prefab house cut in half a cute little front door and 2 windows love ain't sure whether to cry or should I laugh you see I broke a home up myself once as I stumbled to that door I read that note by the dawn's light saying don't you come 'round here anymore And I've had enough of this freedom of the road never was good with decisions atleast that's what I've been told - yes I have been told I've been holding on to this ticket cuz one day I'll pay my toll and magic road grant this freedom... to someone else..for I'll be coming home...yes I will And don't you know there'll be no more pay-per-view movies in these economy motels no more trash in the backseat from MickeyD's or Taco Bell No more playing my trump card for the ladies in the lounge think I'll leave a little something for the next tra---veling man to scrounge you know I mean... I mean it, yes I do.. And I know there's got to be someone out there who believes I got a picture of my boy in back pocket along with these rocks I found in Arizona I wanna show him and I know I'm gonna return to an awkward silence you see there's a whole lot of work I've never known but I know I've gotta make my amends If I'm gonna regain the trust of my long lost son You see I've had me enough y'all of my freedom of the road lord won't you help me with my decision for I fear I'm growing old - I feel it everyday I'm been holding on my ticket It's today I'll pay this toll and magic road grant your freedom... your sweet freedom Ahhhhh!!!! I'm coming home...
