Fiddlin’ To My Grave (6/8 time) by Mike Finders, Finnders and Youngberg, (FY5) 2011
NOTES: To help account for Mikes lyrical timing, each chord symbol represents 1/2 measure, 3 beats;
the dot . is 3 more beats, the other half of the measure.
(nc) G . . Em D . G .
I could play Uncle Pen before I was 10, fiddle Sally Gooden all day.
G . . Em D . G .
And I could steal the smiles of all the old guys, And we’d sit on the old porch and play.
C . Em . C . Em D
There’d often be a bottle go ‘round, that I soon began to crave
G . . /Em D . G . G . . Em D . G . G .
And it’s the only life I’ve ever known, I’ll be fiddlin’ to my grave [Fiddle]
G . . Em D . G .
Well I coulda gone to the army I guess or got a job at the old lumber yard,
G . . Em D . G .
But it’d be a waste not to taste that sweet moonshine, and a’workin’ just seemed too hard.
C . Em . C . Em D
I guess I knew from early on I’d be no boss-man’s slave,
G . . Em D . G . G . . Em D . G . G *
And it’s the only life I’ve ever known, I’ll be fiddlin’ to my grave [Mandolin]
*. G . . Em D . G .
So I hopped in a van with a band and we hit that old road, playin’ 200 shows a year.
G . . Em D . G .
And all the places and times, they’re one long line in the haze of the smoke and the beer
C . Em . C . Em D
And a few of the ladies tried to take me in, they found I could not be saved
G . . Em D . G . G . . Em D . G . G .
And it’s the only life I’ve ever known, I’ll be fiddlin’ to my grave [Banjo]
[BREAK]
G . . Em D . G . C . Em . C . Em D G . . Em D . G . G . G . G .
[Banjo] [Fiddle] [All]
G . . Em D . G .
Now the time’s gone by in the blink of an eye, I’m old before I’m young.
G . . Em D . G .
I got a cough that won’t quit from the gin and cigarettes, I have to leave my last song un-sung
C . Em . C . Em D
There’s no care plan there for a fiddler like me, no retirement did I save
G . . Em D . G . C . Em . C . Em D
And it’s the only life I’ve ever known, I’ll be fiddlin’ to my grave [Fiddle, Banjo]
[All] G . . Em D . G .
G . . Em D . [a cap.]
And it’s the only life I’ve ever known, I’ll be fiddlin’ to my grave
(A) I I I vi V V I I and (B) IV IV vi vi IV IV vi V AABA