Tracy Chapman (born March 30, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for the singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' Bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", and "Give Me One Reason." She is a multi-platinum and multi-Grammy award-winning artist.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
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****************************************************************************** Talkin' Bout A Revolution [email protected] (David Wong)
Simple song really, just four chords. G(320003), C(add9)(x32030), Em (022000), and D(xx0232). Again and again.
Don't you know They're talkin' about a revolution It sounds like a whisper Don't you know They're talkin' about a revolution It sounds like a whisper
While they're standing in the welfare lines Crying at the doorsteps of those armies of salvation Wasting time in the enemployment lines Sitting around waiting for a promotion
Poor people gonna rise up And get their share Poor people gonna rise up And take what's theirs
Don't you know You better run, run, run... Oh I said you better Run, run, run...
Finally the tables are starting to turn Talkin' bout a revolution
****************************************************************************** Fast Car [email protected] (David Wong) Fast Car: e-----------0----0----------|5------4----4-------- Repeat this over, and B--T------------------------|---------------------over, until the bridge "I re- G--A--6-7-6-----------------|---------------------member we were driving..." D--B--7-----7----------7----|7------7--------7----where the following chords A---------------------------|---------------------come in: E---------------------------|---------------------
D, for one measure, A for one measure, F#m(244222) for a measure, Esus (022200) for a measure, then a measure in which a D and F#m are given equal time, followed by a measure of E. Repeat the last two measures, then play one with a D and E. Back to the repeating riff.
You got a fast car I want a ticket to anywhere Maybe we make a deal Maybe together we can get somewhere
Anyplace is better Starting from zero got nothing to lose Maybe we'll make something But me myself I got nothing to prove
You got a fast car And I got a plan to get us out of here I been working at the convenience store Managed to save just a little bit of money We won't have to drive too far Just 'cross the border and into the city You and I can both get jobs And finally see what it means to be living
You see my old man's got a problem He live with the bottle that's the way it is He says his body's too old for working I say his body's too young to look like his My mama went off and left him She wanted more from life than he could give I said somebody's got to take care of him So I quit school and that's what I did
You got a fast car But is it fast enough so we can fly away We gotta make a decision We leave tonight or live and die this way
I remember we were driving driving in your car The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk City lights lay out before us And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder And I had a feeling that I belonged And I had feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone
You got a fast car And we go cruising to entertain ourselves You still ain't got a job And I work in a market as a checkout girl I know things will get better You'll find work and I'll get promoted We'll move out of the shelter Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car And I got a job that pays all our bills You stay out drinking late at the bar See more of your friends than you do of your kids I'd always hoped for better Thought maybe together you and me would find it I got no plans I ain't going nowhere So take your fast car and keep on driving
You got a fast car But is it fast enough so you can fly away You gotta make a decision You leave tonight or live and die this way
****************************************************************************** Across The Lines [email protected] (David Wong)
Across The Lines:
Pretty much just four chords, F#m (244222), E (022100), Bm (x244322), and D (xx0232). If I recall correctly there's a break that goes between an A and A(add9) (x02420) and back to A, but am not sure. Also not sure, but in the outro I think she's playing G and A.
Across the lines Who could dare to go Under the bridge Over the tracks That separates whites from blacks
Choose sides Or run for your life Tonight the riots behin On back streets of America They kill the dream of America
Little black girl gets assaulted Ain't no reason why Newspaper prints the story And racist tempers fly Next day it start a riot Knives and guns are drawn Two black boys get killed One white boy goes blind
Little black girl gets assaulted Don't no one know her name Lots of people hurt and angry She's the one to blame
****************************************************************************** Behind The Wall (a cappella)
Last night I heard the screaming Loud voices behind the wall Another sleepless night for me It won't do no good to call The police Always come late If they come at all
And when they arrive They say they can't interfere With domestic affairs Between a man and his wife And as they walk out the door The tears well up in her eyes
Last night I heard the screaming Then a silence that chilled my soul I prayed that I was dreaming When I saw the ambulance in the road
And the policeman said "I'm here to keep the peace Will the crowd disperse I think we all could use some sleep"
****************************************************************************** Baby Can I Hold You [email protected] (David Wong)
Baby Can I Hold You: DA7susA7 e-----2---2--2-0---2---|0---0---0-------- This is played and repeated twice, B--T--3---3--3-3---3-0-|3---3-0-2--------the second time it's repeated the voc- G--A--2---2--2-2---2---|0---0---0--------als come in: "Sorry- is all that you D--B--0---0--0-0---0---|2---2---2--------can't say." However on "say" an Em A----------------------|0---0---0--------chord is played. Repeat the chord E----------------------|-----------------changes, but go to a D on "still" in "years go by and still." Repeat once more landing on an Em, then change to a G, then A each time "sorry" is repeated. Watch for the time signature changes around the G. This entire sequence is repeated, with the exception of the opening strums before the singing begins. Of course, substitute the next verses, i.e. "Forgive me..." The remaining part of the song goes: EmGD "baby, can I hold you tonight. EmGBm Baby, if I told you the right words, A oo- at the right time, DEmF#mGA repeat. you'd be mine.
Sorry Is all that you can't say Years gone by and still Words don't come easily Like sorry like sorry
Forgive me Is all that you can't say Years gone by and still Words don't come easily Like forgive me forgive me
But you can say baby Baby can I hold you tonight Maybe if I told you the right words At the right time you'd be mine
I love you Is all that you can't say Years gone by and still Words don't come easily Like I love you I love you
****************************************************************************** Mountains O' Things
Chords in this one are Am, Dm, F and G.
The life I've always wanted I guess I'll never have I'll be working for somebody else Until I'm in my grave I'll be dreaming of life of ease And mountains o' things
To have a big expensive car Drag my furs on the ground And have a maid that I can tell To bring me anything Everyone will look at me with envy and with greed I'll revel in their attention And mountains Oh mountains o' things
Sweet lazy life Champagne and caviar I hope you'll come and find me Cause you know who we are Those who deserve the best in life And know what money's worth And those whose sole misfortune Was having mountains o' nothing at birth
Oh they tell me There's still time to save my soul They tell me Renounce all Renounce all tose material things you gained by Exploiting other human beings
Consume more than you need This is the dream Make you pauper Or make you queen I won't die lonely I'll have it all prearranged A grave that's deep and wide enough For me and all my mountains o' things
Mostly I feel lonely Good good people are Good people are only My stepping stones It's gonna take all my mountains o' things To surround me Keep all my enemies away Keep my sadness and loneliness at bay
I'll be dreaming, dreaming, dreaming.. Dreaming...
****************************************************************************** She's Got Her Ticket Chords are C, G and Am.
She's got her ticket I think she gonna use it I think she going to fly away No one should try and stop her Persuade her with their power She says that her mind is made Up
Why not leave why not Go away Too much hatred Corruption and greed Give your life And invariably they leave you with Nothing
Young girl ain't got no chances No roots to keep her strong She's shed all pretenses That someday she'll belong Some folks call her a runaway A failure in the race But she knows where her ticket takes her She will find her place in the sun
The chords used in this are Bm (x24432), G (320003), A (x02220), D(add9) (xx0230), and A(add9) (x02420). The intro is merely alternating between Bm and G, and adding hammers-on. In the case of the Bm hammer-on the three fingers other than the one barring at the second fret. With the G hammer on the pointer finger. After that:
Bm Why do the babies starve, there's enough food to feed the world? GA Why, when there's so many of us are there people still alone? Bm Why are the missiles called peacekeepers, when they're aimed to kill? GA Why is a woman still not safe when she's in her home?
D(add9) Love is hate A(add9) war is peace, Bm no is yes,- G we're all free.---- But, some-
Bm body's gonna have to answer, the time is coming soon. Amidst G all these questions and contradictions there're A some who seek the truth.
Tell me...
But somebody's gonna have to answer The time is coming soon When the blind remove their blinders And the speechless speak the truth
Tell me...
****************************************************************************** For My Lover [email protected] (David Wong)
For My Lover: I use "^" for hammer-on, and the "d" and "u" to indicate downaward and upward strums. Here's the intro: EmGDCmaj7 D u D u D u D u e-----0---0-----------3---3-----------|2---2---2---0---------| B--T--0---0-----------0---0-----------|3---3---3---0---------| G--A--0---0-----------0---0-----------|2---2---2---0---------| D--B--2---2-------0---0---0-------0---|0---0---0---2---------| A-----2---2---0^2-----2---2---0^2-----|------------3---------| E-----0---0-----------3---3-----------|----------------------| The intro is repeated, and then:
EmG Two weeks in a Virginia jail DA For my lover, for my lover. EmG Twenty thousand dollar bail DA For my lover, for my lover.---
C And everybody thinks A(add9) (x02420) I'm the fool. D They don't get---any C love from you. Em Things we won't do for love--- A(add9) Em I'd climb a mountain if I had to, G risk my life so I could have you--- D you- you- you- you... Cmaj7 (x32000) you- you -you -you -you.
Repeat this progression with these lyrics:
Everyday I'm psychoanalyzed for my lover, for my lover. Dope me up and I tell them lies for my lover, for my lover.--- And everybody thinks... etc.
Stay on the Cmaj7 the second time through an extra measure, for: Cmaj7 I follow my heart Em and leave my head to ponder D deep in this love--- no Cmaj7 man can shake. Keep with these chord changes for the rmaining lyrics: I follow my heart and leave my mind to wonder, is this love worth- the sacri- fices I make?
Two weeks in a Virginia jail...
****************************************************************************** If Not Now...
If not now then when If not today then Why make your promises A love declared for days to come Is as good as none
You can wait 'til morning comes You can wait for the new day You can wait and lose this heart You can wait and soon be sorry
Now love's the only thing that's free We must take it where it's found Pretty soon it may be costly
If not now what then We all must live out lives Always feeling Always thinking The moment has arrived
****************************************************************************** For You
There's no words to say No words to convey This feeling inside I have for you Deep in my heart Safe from the guards Of intellect and reason Leaving me at a loss For words to express my feelings Deep in my heart
Look at me losing control Thinking I have a hold But with feelings this strong I'm no longer the master Of my emotions