Tracks
1. Tears of Rage
2. To Kingdom Come
3. In a Station
4. Caledonia Mission
5. The Weight
6. We Can Talk
7. Long Black Veil
8. Chest Fever
9. Lonesome Suzie
10. This Wheel's on Fire
11. I Shall Be Released
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Track 1. Tears of Rage
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by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1967, 1970 Dwarf Music
See Peter Viney's article on "Tears of Rage" for more about this song.
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C Am F Dm
We carried you in our arms on Independence Day
Bb F C
And now you'd throw us all aside and put us all away
Am F Dm
Oh, what dear daughter 'neath the sun could treat a father so?
Bb F C
To wait upon him hand and foot and always tell him "No"
(Chorus:)
E7 Am
Tears of rage, tears of grief
F C
Why must I always be the thief?
E7 Am
Come to me now, you know we're so low
F C7 F7M C
And life is brief
It was all very painless
When you went out to receive
All that false instruction
Which we never could believe
And now the heart is filled with gold
As if it was a purse
But, oh, what kind of love is this
Which goes from bad to worse?
(Chorus)
We pointed you the way to go
And scratched your name in sand
Though you just thought it was nothing more
Than a place for you to stand
I want you to know that while we watched
You discovered no one would be true
And I myself was among
The ones who thought
It was just a childish thing to do
(Chorus)
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Track 2. To Kingdom Come
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by J.R.Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
The "Robbie Lick" for the end of every fourth line in a verse is an E chord, and then an
D7 chord, and then that D7 chord slid up two frets. Robbie also does this in "Caledonia
but in G instead of E. Also, the piano puts in chords that the guitar doesn't play.
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B
Forefather pointed to kingdom come
F#
Sadly told his only son
A
Just be careful what you do
"Robbie Lick"
It all comes back on you.
False witness spread the news
Somebody's gonna lose
Either she or me or you,
Nothing we can do.
(Chorus)
A E
Don't you say a word
A E
Or reveal a thing you've learned
A Abm C#m
Time will tell you well
F#m A B
If you truly, truly fell
Tarred and feathered, yea!
Thistles and thorns,
One or the other
He kindly warns.
Now you look out the window tell me
What do you see?
I see a golden calf pointing
Back at me.
I been sitting in here for so darn long
Waitin' for the end to come along.
Holy roaster on the brink
Take a chance, swim or sink.
False witness, cast an evil eye
said I cannot tell a lie,
Haints and saints don't bother me
I'm not alone you see.
(Chorus)
haints: dialect word for haunts i.e. ghosts.
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Track 3. In A Station
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by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
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C Em F Dm
Once I walked through the halls of a station
G C7
Someone called your name
C Em F Dm
In the street I heard children laughing
G C7
They all sound the same
C F
Wonder, could you ever know me
C G
Know the reason why I live
C F
Is there nothing you can show me
Eb F/G C
Life seems so little to give
Once I climbed up the face of a mountain
And ate the wild fruit there
Fell asleep until the moonlight woke me
And I could taste your hair
Isn't everybody dreaming!
Then the voice I hear is real
Out of all the idle scheming
Can't we have something to feel
Once upon a time leaves me empty
Tomorrow never comes
I could sing the sound of your laughter
Still I don't know your name
Must be some way to repay you
Out of all the good you gave
If a rumour should delay you
Love seems so little to save
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Track 4. Caledonia Mission
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by J.R. Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
For an analysis of the lyrics, and more, see Peter Viney's article on "Caledonia Mission".
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G C
She reads the leaves and she leads the life
G D
That she learned so well from the old wives
Em D C D
It's so strange to arrange it, you know I wouldn't change it
Em D C D
But hear me if you're near me, can I just rearrange it?
G7
The watchman covers me
G7
With his remedy
G7
I can't see and it's hard to feel
D C D G
I think his magic might be real
I can't get to you from your garden gate
You know it's always locked by the magistrate
Now he don't care why you cry, he thinks it's just a lie
To get out, I don't doubt that you'd make a try
If the good times get you through
I know the dogs won't bother you
We'll be gone in moonshine time
I've got a place they'll never find
You know I do believe in your hexagram
But can you tell me how they all knew the plan?
Did you trip or slip on their gifts, you know you were just a con?
You knew it, why d'you do it, I've been hiding in the dark
Now I must be on my way
I guess you really have to stay
Inside the mission law
Down in Modock, Arkansas
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Track 5. The Weight
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by J.R.Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
For an analysis of the lyrics, and more, see Peter Viney's article on "The Weight".
Bass tablature also avalable
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A C#m D A
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead;
C#m D A
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
C#m D A
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
C#m D A
He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said.
(Chorus:)
A E D A E D
Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free;
A E D
A D
Take a load off Fanny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.
A E D A D
I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide;
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown."
She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around."
(Chorus)
Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day.
"Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep Anna Lee company?"
(Chorus)
Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog."
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man."
He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can."
(Chorus)
Catch a cannon ball now, t'take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time.
To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.
(Chorus)
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Track 6. We Can Talk
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by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
For more about this song, see Peter Viney's article on "We Can Talk".
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D Em7 D G
We can talk about it now
A
It's that same old riddle only starting from the middle
D Em D G
I'd fix it but I don't know how
A
Well, we could try to reason but you might think it's treason
G
One voice for all
F E7 A
Echoing across the hall
Bm G
Don't give up on father clock
A D A
We can talk about it now
D Em D G
Come, let me show you how
A
To keep the wheels turnin' you've got to keep the engine churnin'
D Em D G
Did you ever milk a cow
A
I had the chance one day but I was all dressed up for Sunday
G F
Everybody, everywhere
E7 A
Do you really care
Bm G
Pick up your heads and walk
A D G7
We can talk about it now
C E7 F
It seems to me we've been holding something underneath our tongues
C E7
I'm afraid if you ever got a pat on the back
F G
It would likely burst your lungs
A E7 A E7
Woh, stop me, if I should sound kinda down in the mouth
A E7 A
But I'd rather be burned in Canada than to freeze here in the south
D Em Dm G
Pulling that eternal plough
A
We've got to find a sharper blade or have a new one made
D Em D G
Rest awhile and cool your brow
A
Don't need it, no need to slave, the whip is in the grave
G F
No salt, no trance
E7 A
It's safe now to take a backward glance
Bm G
The leaves have turned to chalk
A D A D
We can talk about it now,
A D
We can talk about it now
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Track 6. Long Black Veil
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by M.J.Wilkin and D.Dill. Album: Music from Big Pink
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G
Ten years ago on a cool dark night
D C G
There was someone killed 'neath the town hall light
G
There were few at the scene and they all did agree
D C G
That the man who ran looked a lot like me
The judge said "Son, what is your alibi?
If you were somewhere else then you won't have to die"
I spoke not a word although it meant my life
I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife
C G C G
She walks these hills in a long black veil
C G C G
She visits my grave where the night winds wail
G C G
Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees
C G D C
Nobody knows but me
The scaffold was high and eternity neared
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil she cries over my bones
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Track 7. Chest Fever
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by J.R. Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
For more about this song, see Peter Viney's notes on "Chest Fever".
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E D/E A/E
E D/E A/E
D/E
I know she's a tracker, any scarlet would back her
A/E E D/E A
E D
They say she's a chooser, but I just can't refuse her
A/E
She was just there, but then she can't be here no more
E B D E B
D E
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
B D E F#
But just before she leaves, she receives
She's been down in the dunes and she's dealt with the goons
Now she drinks from the bitter cup, I'm trying to get her to give it up
She was just here, I fear she can't be here no more
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
Ab C#m
It's long, long when she's gone, I get weary holding on
F#m7 ( F#7?) B7
Now I'm coldly fading fast, I don't think I'm gonna last
Very much longer
"She's stoned" said the Swede, and the moon calf agreed
I'm like a viper in shock with my eyes in the clock
She was just there somewhere and here I am again
And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But just before she leaves, she receives
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Track 9.Lonesome Suzie
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by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
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C E7 Am F7M Bb C
Lonesome Suzie, never got the breaks
E7 Am G
She's always losing so she sits and cries and shakes
C E7 Am F Bb C
It's so hard just to watch her, and if I touch her
Eb Bb C Am C G
C
Oh, poor Suzie, I'm wondrin' what to do
She just sits there, hoping for a friend
I don't fit here, but I may have a friend to lend
Maybe I mistook her, but I can't overlook her
Must be someone who can pull her through
E7 Am F7M Bb C
Anyone who's felt that bad could tell me what to say
E7 Am G
Even if she'd just get mad, she might be better off that way
C E7 Am
And where is all the understanding
F7M Bb C
Her problems can't be that demanding
Eb Bb C Am
Why is it she looks that way
C G4 C
Every time she starts to cry?
Lonesome Suzie, I can't watch you cry no longer
If you can use me until you feel a little stronger
I guess just watching you has made me lonesome too
Why don't we get together,
Dm7 G7 C
What else can we do?
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Track 10.This Wheel's On Fire
----------------------------------------------------------------------------by Bob Dylan
Rick Danko. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1967,1970 Dwarf Music
See Peter Viney's article for more about this song.
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Am
If your memory serves you well
Bo7
We're going to meet again and wait
E
So I'm going to unpack all my things
F Dm Am
And sit before it gets too late
C Am
No man alive will come to you
C Am
With another tale to tell
C A
And you know that we shall meet again
F Dm Am
If your memory serves you well
CHORUS:
Dm F C G G7
This wheel's on fire, rolling down the road
C G F C
Best notify my next of kin
F G A
This wheel shall explode!
If your memory serves you well, I was going to confiscate your lace
And wrap it up in a sailor's knot and hide it in your case
If I knew for sure that it was yours, and it was oh so hard to tell
And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well
(CHORUS)
If your memory serves you well, you'll remember that you're the one
Who called on them to call on me to get you your favours done
And after every plan had failed and there was nothing more to tell
And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well
(CHORUS)
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Track 11. I Shall Be Released
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by Bob Dylan. Album: Music from Big Pink
? 1967,1970 Dwarf Music
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E F#m
They say everything can be replaced
Abm A B E
They say every distance is not near
F#m
So I remember every face
Abm A B E B
Of every man who put me here
(Chorus:)
E F#m
I see my light come shinin'
Abm A B E
From the west unto the east
F#m
Any day now, any day now
Abm A B E
I shall be released
They say ev'ry man needs protection
They say that ev'ry man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
(Chorus)
Now yonder standing there in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shouting so loud
Just crying out that he was framed
(Chorus)
