From: phillip@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Phillip Charles Saunders)
Subject: TAB:RichardThompson-IWantToSeeTheBrightLightsTonight
Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
version 1.0, Nov 12,1993
Transcribed by Phil Saunders (phillip@phoenix.princeton.edu)
Additions/Corrections welcome!
When I Get To The Border (Lyrics,Chords)
The Calvary Cross (Lyrics,Chords)
Withered And Died (Lyrics,Chords)
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (Lyrics,Chords)
Down Where The Drunkards Roll (Lyrics,Chords)
We Sing Hallelujah (Lyrics,Chords)
Has He Got A Friend For Me? (Lyrics,Chords)
The Little Beggar Girl (Lyrics,Chords)
The End Of The Rainbow (Lyrics,Chords)
The Great Valerio (Lyrics,Chords,Tab)
The See Saw (Instrumental,Tab)
WHEN I GET TO THE BORDER
Intro: C F(add D)
C
Dirty people take what's mine
F G
I can leave them all behind
C G/B Am C/G
They can never cross that line
F G
When I get to the Border
Sawbones standing at the dorr
Waiting 'til I hit the floor
He won't find me anymore
When I get to the Border
G
Monday morning, monday morning
G
Closing in on me
G D/F# Em
I'm packing up and running away
C D
To where nobody picks on me
If you see a box of pine
With a name that looks like mine.
Just say I drowned in a barrel of wine.
When I got to the Border
A one way ticket's in my hand
Heading for the chosen land
My troubles will all turn to sand
When I get to the Border
Salty girl with yellow hair
Waiting in that rocking chair
And if I'm weary I won't care
When I get to the Border
Monday morning, monday morning
Closing in on me
I'm packing up and running away
To where nobody picks on me
Dusty road will smell so sweet
Paved with gold beneath my feet
And I'll be dancing down the street
When I get to the Border
When I get to the Border
THE CALVARY CROSS
Fabulous guitar intro not transcribed--I'd love to have this
F Am G
F Am
G F Am
I was under the Calvary Cross
G F Am
The pale-face lady she said to me
G F Am
I've watched you with my one green eye.
G F Am
And I'll hurt you 'till you need me.
G F Am
You scuff your heels and you spit on your shoes.
G F Am
You do nothing with reason
G F Am
One day you catch a train
G F Am
Never leaves the station.
CHORUS
C
Everything you do
F (8th fret)
Everything you do
C G
You do for me
Now you can make believe on your tin whistle
You can be my broom boy
Scrub me 'till I shine in the dark
I'll be your light 'till doomsday
Black cat cross your path.
Why don't you follow
My claw's in you and my light's in you
This is your first day of sorrow
CHORUS
WITHERED AND DIED
C F
This cruel country has driven me down
G C F G
Teased me and lied, teased me and lied
C F
I've only sad stories to tell to this town
G C
My dreams have withered and died
F C Dm
Once I was bending the tops of the trees
C Dm Am G
Kind words in my ear, kind faces to see
Then I struck up with a boy from the West,
Played run and hide, played run and hide.
Count one to ten and he's gone with the rest
My dreams have withered and died
Silver moon sail up and silver moon shine
On the waters so wide, waters so wide
Steal from the bed of some good friend of mine
My dreams have withered and died
If I was a butterfly lived for a day
Then I could be free just blowing away
This cruel country has driven me down
Teased me and lied, teased me and lied
I've only sad stories to tell to this town
My dreams have withered and dies
I WANT TO SEE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS TONIGHT
C Bb F/A G C
I'm so tired of working everyday
G C
Now the Weekend's come I'm gonna throw my troubles away
C Bb F/A G C
If you've got the cab fare mister you'll do alright.
C G/B F/A G C
I want to see the bright lights tonight
CHORUS
F
Meet me at the station don't be late
G F G
I need to spend some money and I just can't wait
F C/E Dm C
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
C G/B F/A G C
I want to see the bright lights tonight
There's crazy people running all over town
There's a silver band just marching up and down
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
CHORUS
A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor
Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for.
I'm gonna dream 'till Monday comes in sight
I want to see the bright lights tonight
CHORUS
F C/E Dm C
Take me to the dance and hold me tight
C G/B F/A G C
I want to see the bright lights tonight
C F C
DOWN WHERE THE DRUNKARDS ROLL
(capo 3rd fret to play with record. Song is recorded in Bb,
but written here in G)
G
See the boys out walking
C G
The boys who look so fine
C G
Dressed up in green velvet
C G
Their silver buckles shine
G
Soon they'll be bleary-eyed
D C
Under a keg of wine
CHORUS
C/G D
Down where the drunkards roll
C/G D
Down where the drunkards roll
See that lover standing
Staring at the ground
He's looking for the real thing
Lies were all he found
You can get the real thing
It will only cost a pound
There goes a troubled woman
She dreams a troubled dream
She lives out on the highway
She keeps her money clean
Soon she'll be returning
To the place where she's the queen
You can be a gambler
Who never drew a hand
You can be a sailor
Who never left dry land
You can be lord Jesus
All the world will understand
WE SING HALLELUJAH
Intro A E A Asus E
A E
A man is like a rusty wheel
A E
On a rusty cart
A E/G# F#m D E
He sings his song as he rattles along
D E A
and then he falls apart.
CHORUS
A E
And We'll sing hallelujah
A E
At the turning of the year
A E/G# F#m D E
And we work all day in the old fashioned way
D E A
'Til the shining star appears
A man is like a briar
He covers himself with thorns
he laughs like a clown when his fortunes are down
And his clothes are ragged and torn
CHORUS
A man is like a three string fiddle
Hanging on the wall.
He plays when somebody scrapes on the bow
Or he can't play at all.
CHORUS
A man is like his father
Wishes he'd never been born.
He longs for the time when the clock bell will chime
And he's dead for evermore.
CHORUS
HAS HE GOT A FRIEND FOR ME?
(capo 3rd fret to play with record, chords are written in G, song
recorded in Bb)
Intro
Am F C G
C G
Saturday Night and I'm all alone.
D Am
No ring on the door bell no ring on the phone
Em D C G Am Dm C G
And nobody wants to know anyone lonely like me.
Your boy friend's good looking, he's got it all there.
It looks like God made him with something to spare
You look good together,
Scurrying off down the street
CHORUS
D
Has he got a friend,
C G
Has he got a friend for me?
C
Has he got a friend,
D G
Has he got a friend for me?
He's got the haunt of the sea in his eyes
He wouldn't notice me passing by.
I could be in the gutter or dangling down from a tree
If you know someone who's graceful and wise.
Doesn't mind girls who are clumsy and shy.
I don't mind going with someone that I've never seen.
THE LITTLE BEGGAR GIRL
G D C D
I'm just a little beggar girl and Sally is my name
G F C G
You can call me a skiver abd I'll call you the same
G F C F
You can show me you're sorry if you think it's a shame
G C G
That I'm only a poor little beggar girl
G D
Yes I'm only a poor little beggar girl
G F C F
You can show me you're sorry if you think it's a shame
G C G
That I'm only a poor little beggar girl
I'll dance with my peg leg, a wiggling at your knee
I'll play on my accordion, my father gave to me
For it's well worth it all to please a gent such as thee
For I'm only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I'm only a poor little beggar girl
And it's well worth it all to please a gent such as thee
That I'm only a poor little beggar girl
I've been down to London, I've been up to Crew
I travel far and wide to do the work that I do
Cause I love taking money off a snob like you
For I'm only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I'm only a poor little beggar girl
Cause I love taking money off a snob like you
That I'm only a poor little beggar girl
Oh the poor they will be rich and the rich they will be poor
That's according to Saul when he wrote down the law
And I'd much rather be rich after than before
For I'm only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I'm only a poor little beggar girl
And I'd much rather be rich after than before
For I'm only a poor little beggar girl
If the words of my song do your conscience alarm
Just remember generosity is like a lucky charm
If you give me your money, it'll do you no harm
For I'm only a poor little beggar girl
Yes I'm only a poor little beggar girl
If you give me your money, it'll do you no harm
For I'm only a poor little beggar girl
THE END OF THE RAINBOW
Richard Thompson
Transcribed by Phil Saunders
(Capo 3rd fret, recorded in Cm, transcribed in Am)
Am F
I feel for you, you little horror
Dm G
Safe at your mother's breast
Dm Am F G
No lucky break for you around the corner
Am Am/G F
'Cause your father is a bully
Dm G
And he thinks that you're a pest
C(?) F C Am
And your sister she's no better than a whore.
Dm Am F G
Life seems so rosy in the cradle,
Am G F G
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
Dm Am F G
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
Am G F G
There's nothing to grow up for anymore
Tycoons and barrow boys will rob you
And throw you on the side
And all because they love themselves sincerely
And the man hold a bread knife
Up to you throat it's four feet wide
And he's anxious just to show you what it's for.
Your mother works so hard to make you happy
But take a look outside your nursery door
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
There's nothing to grow up for anymore
All the sad and empty faces
That pass you in the street
All running in their sleep, all in a dream
Every loving handshake
Is just another man to beat
How your heart aches just to cut hiom to the core
Life seems so rosy in the cradle,
But I'll be a friend I'll tell you what's in store
There's nothing at the end of the rainbow.
There's nothing to grow up for anymore
THE GREAT VALERIO
Capo 7th Fret Verse
Am Am
-|-------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|
-|---------0-------0-|---------0-------0-|---------------------------|
-|-2---2-0-0-0-0H2---|-2---2-0-0-0-0H2---|-2---2---2---2-------------|
-|-2---2---2---------|-2---2---2---------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-----------|
-|-0---0---0---------|-0---0---0---------|-0---0---0---0-------------|
-|-------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|
Em7b5/Bb Am Dm/A
-|-----------------|-----------------|-------1-1P0--------------------|
-|-----3-----------|-----------------|-3---3-------3-0----------------|
-|-0---------0---0-|-2---2---2---2---|--------------------------------|
-|-2-2---2-3---0---|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-3---3-----3---3-3--------------|
-|-1-------1---1---|-0---0---0---0---|-0------------------------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|--------------------------------|
Am7(9) Em7b5/Bb Gm7b5/Bb Am G7
-|------------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----0-------0----|-----3--------2---|-----------------|-------0---------|
-|-2---4---2---4----|-0------------0---|-2---2---2---2---|-0---0-0-0---0---|
-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--|-2-2---2----3---3-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|---3---0-0-0-----|
-|-0---0---0---0----|-1--------1-------|-0---0---0---0---|---------------2-|
-|------------------|------------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
F6 G/F Am F6 G7 C
E7aug
-|-----------------|---------3P0-------|-----------------|------------------|
-|-----------------|-----0-------0---0-|-----------------|------------------|
-|-----2-------0---|---2---2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-------0---0----1-|
-|---0---0---0---0-|-2---2-------------|---0---0---0---0-|-----3---3---2----|
-|-3---3---2-------|-0-------------0---|-3---3---3-------|---2-----3---3----|
-|-1-------1-------|-------------------|-1-------1-------|-3----------------|
Am9 Dm9 Em7b5/Bb E7aug Am9
-|-----------------|-----0-------0---|-----------------|---------3---|
-|-----0-------0---|-3-----3---3---3-|-----3-----0---0-|---0-----0---|
-|---2---2---2---2-|---------2-------|---0---0-1-----1-|-2---2---2---|
-|-----2-------2---|---0-0---0---0---|-----2-------2---|---2-----2---|
-|-0-------0-------|-0---------------|-1-------3-------|-0-----0-----|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-------------4---|-------------|
Chorus
B7 // / // C // F // G // C // F
-|------------|-----------|-----------|------------------------------|
-|-0----------|-1----1----|-0----1----|-1-1-0-------0----------------|
-|-2----------|-0----2----|-0----0----|-2-----2---2------------------|
-|-1----------|-2----3----|-0----2----|-3-3-3-3-3-3------------------|
-|-2----------|-3----3----|------3----|-3-------3--------------------|
-|------------|-3---------|-3----3----|------------------------------|
Am9 Dm9 Em7b5/Bb E7aug Am9
-|-----------------|-----0-------0---|-----------------|----------------|
-|-----0-------0---|---3-------3-----|-----3-----0---0-|--------0-----0-|
-|-2-----2---2---2-|-2---2---2---2---|---0---0-1---1---|-2-2-0----0H2---|
-|-2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0-|-----2-----------|-2-2----2-------|
-|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-1-------3---3---|-0-0------------|
-|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
Am
-|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
-|----------0-0-------0-------|--------------------------------------|
-|-2--2-0H2-----2-0H2---2-0H2-|-2------------------------------------|
-|-2--2-----------------------|-2------------------------------------|
-|-0--0-----------------------|-0------------------------------------|
-|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
Am Em7b5/Bb
High up above the crowd
Am Dm/A
The great Valerio is walking
Am7(9) Em7b5/Bb Gm7b5/Bb
The rope seems hung from cloud to cloud
Am G7
And time stands still while he is walking
F6 G/F Am
His eye is steady on the target
F6 G7 C E7aug
His foot is sure upon the rope.
Am9 Dm9
Alone and peaceful as a mountain
Em7b5/Bb E7aug Am9
And certain as the mountain slope
CHORUS
B7 C F
How we wonder, how we wonder
G C F
Watching far below
Am7 Dm9
We would all be that great hero,
Em7b5/Bb E7+ Am
The great Valerio
We falter at the sight
We stumble in the mire
Fools who think they see the light
Prepare to balance on the wire
But we learn to watch together
And feed on what we see above
until our heart turn like the seaons
And we are acrobats of love
Come all you upstart jugglers
Are you really ready yet?
Who will help the tightrope walker,
When he stumbles to the net?
So come with me to see Valerio
As he dances through the air
I'm your friend until you use me
And then be sure I want be there.
The See Saw (Instrumental)
-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
-|---------0---2---|-------------|-----------------|-3---2---1---0---|
-|-0---2-----------|---------2---|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-----------------|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|
-|---0---0---0-|-5-0-3-0-2-0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|-0-----0---0---0-|
-|-------------|-------------3---|-2---0-----------|-------------0---|
-|-------------|-----------------|---------2-------|-----0---2-------|
-|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|
-|---------------|-------------0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|---|
-|---------------|-0-------------|-3---------------|-----------------|---|
-|-------------2-|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|---|
-|---------------|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|---|
-|---------------|---------------|-----------------|-----------------|---|
i|-0---0---0---0-|-0---0---0---0-|-0---0---0---0---|-0---0---0---0---|-0-|
A
A
