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Oh Mercy - Bob Dylan
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All songs tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard
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Released September 18, 1989
Recorded February–April 1989
Genre Rock
Length 38:46
Label Columbia
Producer Daniel Lanois
Writers All songs written by Bob Dylan
Track List
1. Political World 3:43
2. Where Teardrops Fall 2:30
3. Everything Is Broken 3:12
4. Ring Them Bells 3:00
5. Man in the Long Black Coat 4:30
6. Most of the Time 5:02
7. What Good Am I? 4:45
8. Disease of Conceit 3:41
9. What Was It You Wanted 5:02
10. Shooting Star 3:12
Musicians
Bob Dylan – vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, 12-string guitar, organ
Malcolm Burn – tambourine, keyboards, on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
Rockin' Dopsie – accordion on 2
Willie Green – drums on 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10
Tony Hall – bass guitar on 1, 3, 6, 8, 10
John Hart – saxophone on 2
Daryl Johnson – percussion on 3
Larry Jolivet – bass guitar on 2
Daniel Lanois – dobro, lap steel, guitar, omnichord, bass guitar
(performs on all tracks except 8)
Cyril Neville – percussion on 1, 6, 9
Alton Rubin, Jr. – scrub board on 2
Mason Ruffner – guitar on 1, 8, 10
Brian Stoltz – guitar on 1, 3, 8, 10
Paul Synegal – guitar on 2
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1. Political World - Bob Dylan
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[Intro]
| F#m | % | % | % |
| F#m | % | % | % |
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Love don't have any place
F#m
We're living in times where men commit crimes
F#m | F#m | % | % | % |
And crime don't have any face.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Icicles hanging down
F#m
Wedding bells ring and angels sing
F#m | F#m | % |
And clouds cover up the ground.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Wisdom is thrown in jail
F#m
It rots in a cell, misguided as hell
F#m | F#m | % |
Leaving no one to pick up a trail.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Where mercy walks the plank
F#m
Life is in mirrors, death disappears
F#m | F#m | % | % | % |
Up the steps into the nearest bank.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Where courage is a thing of the past
F#m
Houses are haunted, children are unwanted
F#m
The next day could be your last.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
The one we can see and feel
F#m
But there's no one to check, it's all a stacked deck
F#m | F#m | % | % | % |
We all know for sure that it's real.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
In the cities of lonesome fear
F#m
Little by little you turn in the middle
F#m | F#m | % |
But you're never sure why you're here.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Under the microscope
F#m
You can travel anywhere and hang yourself there
F#m | F#m | % |
You always got more than enough rope.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Turning and trashing about
F#m
As soon as you're awake you're trained to take
F#m | F#m | % | % | % |
What looks like the easy way out.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Where peace is not welcome at all
F#m
It's turned away from the door to wonder some more
F#m | F#m | % | % | % |
Or put up against the wall.
[Verse]
F#m
We live in a political world
F#m
Everything is hers and his
F#m
Climb into the frame and shout God's name
F#m
But you're not even sure what it is.
[Outro]
| F#m | % | % | % |
(repeat and fade)
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2. Where Teardrops Fall - Bob Dylan
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[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-e
Eb6 x-3-2-2-1-x
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[Intro] (slide)
| G | % | % | C Eb6 |
| G | % | G Dsus4 | G |
[Verse]
G
Far away where the soft winds blow
G C Eb6
Far away from it all
G
There is a place you go
G Dsus4 G
Where teardrops fall
[Verse]
G
Far away in the stormy night
G C Eb6
Far away and over the wall
G
You are there in the flickering light
G Dsus4 G
Where teardrops fall
[Middle 8]
C
We banged the drum slowly
C
And played the fife lowly
G
You know the song in my heart
C
In the turning of twilight
C
In the shadows of moonlight
Eb6 D
You can show me a new place to start
[Verse]
G
I've torn my clothes and I've drained the cup
G C Eb6
Strippin' away at it all
G
Thinking of you when the sun comes up
G Dsus4 G
Where teardrops fall
[Solo] (slide)
| G | % | % | C Eb6 |
| G | % | G Dsus4 | G |
[Middle 8]
C
By rivers of blindness
C
In love and with kindness
G
We could hold up a toast if we meet
C
To the cuttin' of fences
C
To sharpen the senses
Eb6 D
That linger in the fireball heat
[Verse]
G
Roses are red, violets are blue
G C Eb6
And time is beginning to crawl
G
I just might have to come see you
G Dsus4 G
Where teardrops fall
[Coda] (sax)
| G | % | % | C Eb6 |
| G | % | G Dsus4 | G
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3. Everything is Broken - Bob Dylan
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Riff (guitar/bass)
E7 A7
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
e|----------------| |----------------|
B|----------------| |----------------|
G|----------------| |----------------|
D|----------------| |----------------|
A|----------------| |0-0-4-5-6-7-6-7-|
E|0-0-4-5-6-7-6-7-| |----------------|
[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-e
E7 0-2-2-4-3-4
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[Intro]
| E7 | % | % | % |
(riff)
| E7 | % | % | % |
[Verse]
E7
Broken lines, broken strings, broken threads, broken springs
A7 E7
Broken idols, broken heads, people sleeping in broken beds
B7 A7
Ain't no use jivin', ain't no use jokin'
E7 | E7 | % | % | % |
Everything is broken
[Verse]
E7
Broken bottles, broken plates, broken switches, broken gates
A7 E7
Broken dishes, broken parts, streets are filled with broken hearts
B7 A7
Broken words never meant to be spoken
E7 | E7 | % | % | % |
Everything is broken
[Middle 8]
B7
Seems like every time you stop and turn around
A7
Something else has just hit the ground
[Verse]
E7
Broken cutters, broken saws, broken buckles, broken laws
A7 E7
Broken bodies, broken bones, broken voices on broken phones
B7 A7
Take a deep breath, feel like you're chokin'
E7
Everything is broken
[Solo] (harp]
| E7 | % | % | % |
| A7 | % | E7 | % |
| B7 | A7 | E7 | % |
[Middle 8]
B7
Every time you leave and go off some place
A7
Things fall to pieces in my face
[Verse]
E7
Broken hands on broken plows, broken treaties, broken vows
A7 E7
Broken pipes, broken tools, people bending broken rules
B7 A7
Hound dog howlin', bullfrog croakin'
E7
Everything is broken
[Solo] (harp]
| E7 | % | % | % |
| A7 | % | E7 | % |
| B7 | A7 | E7 | % |
(repeat verse pattern and fade)
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4. Ring them Bells - Bob Dylan
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Following the main vocal line, Dylan plays a lot of changes on the piano on
his recording that are hard to do on a guitar. I skipped most of them for
this tab and kept to the underlying chord (mostly C).
capo: 1st fret
play: C
key: C#/Db
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[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-E
F/A x-0-3-2-1-1
G/B x-2-0-0-3-3
F/G 3-x-3-2-1-1
Abaug 4-x-2-1-1-x
C/G 3-x-2-0-1-0
D9/F# 2-x-0-2-1-0
Fmaj7 (t)1-3-3-2-1-0
C/E 0(3)2-0-1-0
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[Intro]
| C | C G | Am | Am F/A G/B | C | % |
[Verse] 1
C
Ring them bells, ye heathen
F/A C
From the city that dreams
C
Ring them bells from the sanctuaries
F/G
’Cross the valleys and streams
F C
For they’re deep and they’re wide
C F
And the world’s on its side
C
And time is running backwards
F/G C
And so is the bride
[Interlude]
| F/A F/A G/B | C | % |
[Verse] 2
C
Ring them bells St. Peter
F/A C
Where the four winds blow
C
Ring them bells with an iron hand
F/G
So the people will know
F C
Oh it’s rush hour now
C F
On the wheel and the plow
C
And the sun is going down
F/G C
Upon the sacred cow
[Interlude]
| F/A F/A G/B | C | % |
[Verse] 3
C
Ring them bells Sweet Martha
F/G C
For the poor man’s son
C
Ring them bells so the world will know
G
That God is one
F C
Oh the shepherd is asleep
C F
Where the willows weep
C
And the mountains are filled
F/G C
With lost sheep
[Middle 8]
Am C
Ring them bells for the blind and the deaf
Am C
Ring them bells for all of us who are left
Am Abaug
Ring them bells for the chosen few
C/G D9/F#
Who will judge the many when the game is through
Fmaj7 C/E
Ring them bells, for the time that flies
Dm7
For the child that cries
F/G
When innocence dies
[Verse] 4
C
Ring them bells St. Catherine
F/G C
From the top of the room
C
Ring them from the fortress
F/G
For the lilies that bloom
F C
Oh the lines are long
C F
And the fighting is strong
C
And they’re breaking down the distance
F/G C
Between right and wrong
[Coda]
| G | F | G | F |
| C | % | F/G C
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5. Man in the Long Black Coat - Bob Dylan
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[Intro]
| F#m |
freely
time signature: 6/8
| F#m| % |
| F#m A | E C#m | F#m A | E F#m |
| F#m A | E C#m | F#m A |3/4 E | F#m | % |
| E | % | F#m A |3/4 E | F#m | % |
[Verse] 1
F#m A E C#m
Crickets are chirpin’, the water is high
F#m A E F#m
There’s a soft cotton dress on the line hangin’ dry
F#m A E C#m
Window wide open, African trees
F#m A E F#m
Bent over backwards from a hurricane breeze
E E
Not a word of goodbye, not even a note
F#m A
She gone with the man
E F#m
In the long black coat
[Verse]2
F#m A E C#m
Somebody seen him hanging around
F#m A E F#m
At the old dance hall on the outskirts of town
F#m A E C#m
He looked into her eyes when she stopped him to ask
F#m A E F#m
If he wanted to dance, he had a face like a mask
E E
Somebody said from the Bible he’d quote
F#m A
There was dust on the man
E F#m
In the long black coat
[Verse] 3
F#m A E C#m
Preacher was a talkin’, there’s a sermon he gave
F#m A E F#m
He said every man’s conscience is vile and depraved
F#m A E C#m
You cannot depend on it to be your guide
F#m A E F#m
When it’s you who must keep it satisfied
E E
It ain’t easy to swallow, it sticks in the throat
F#m A
She gave her heart to the man
E F#m
In the long black coat
[Middle 8]
D A
There are no mistakes in life some people say
F#m E F#m
It is true sometimes you can see it that way
D A
But people don't live or die, people just float
F#m A
She went with the man
E F#m
In the long black coat
[Verse] 4
F#m A E C#m
There’s smoke on the water, it’s been there since June
F#m A E F#m
Tree trunks uprooted, 'neath the high crescent moon
F#m A E C#m
Feel the pulse and vibration and the rumbling force
F#m A E F#m
Somebody is out there beating on a dead horse
E E
She never said nothing, there was nothing she wrote
F#m A
She gone with the man
E F#m
In the long black coat
[Outro]
| F#m | % | % | % |
| F#m E | F#m |
| F#m E | F#m |
| F#m E | F#m | F#m
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6. Most of the Time - Bob Dylan
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[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-e
F/G 3-x-3-2-1-1
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[Intro]
| F | % |
(freely)
| C | F | C | F |
[Verse]
C
Most of the time
F
I’m clear focused all around
C
Most of the time
F
I can keep both feet on the ground
Am G F
I can follow the path, I can read the signs
Am G F
Stay right with it when the road unwinds
C F
I can handle whatever I stumble upon
Am G F
I don’t even notice she’s gone
[ C ]
Most of the time
[Interlude]
| C | F | C | F |
[Verse]
C
Most of the time
F
It’s well understood
C
Most of the time
F
I wouldn’t change it if I could
Am G F
I can make it all match up, I can hold my own
Am G F
I can deal with the situation right down to the bone
C F
I can survive, I can endure
Am G F
And I don’t even think about her
[ C ]
Most of the time
[Interlude]
| C | F | C | F |
[Verse]
C
Most of the time
F
My head is on straight
C
Most of the time
F
I’m strong enough not to hate
Am G F
I don’t build up illusion ’til it makes me sick
Am G F
I ain’t afraid of confusion no matter how thick
C F
I can smile in the face of mankind
Am G F
Don’t even remember what her lips felt like on mine
[ C ]
Most of the time
[Interlude]
| C | F | C | F |
[Middle 8]
G Am
Most of the time
G C
She ain’t even in my mind
G Am
I wouldn’t know her if I saw her
G C
She’s that far behind
E
Most of the time
Am
I can’t even be sure
E
If she was ever with me
Am F/G
Or if I was with her
[Verse]
C
Most of the time
F
I’m halfway content
C
Most of the time
F
I know exactly where it went
Am G F
I don’t cheat on myself, I don’t run and hide
Am G F
Hide from the feelings that are buried inside
C F
I don’t compromise and I don’t pretend
Am G F
I don’t even care if I ever see her again
[ C ]
Most of the time
[Outro]
| C | F | C | F |
| C | F | C | F |
(repeat and fade)
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7. What Good Am I? - Bob Dylan
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[Intro]
| A E | A E | E A | E |
[Verse 1]
E A | E A | E |
What good am I if I'm like all the rest?
E A | E A | E |
If I just turn away, when I see how you're dressed
C#m | G#m | % |
If I shut myself off so, I can't hear you cry
A E A | E A | E |
What good am I?
[Verse 2]
A E A | E A | E |
What good am I if I know and don't do?
E A | E A | E |
If I see and don't say, if I look right through you
C#m | G#m | % |
If I turn a deaf ear, to the thundering sky
A E A | E A | E |
What good am I?
[Verse]
A E A | E A | E |
What good am I while you softly weep?
E A | E A | E |
And I hear in my head what you say in your sleep
C#m | G#m | % |
And I freeze in the moment, like the rest who don't try
A E A | E A | E |
What good am I?
[Middle 8]
C#m
What good am I then, to others and me?
C#m G#m
If I've had every chance, and yet still fail to see?
C#m
If my hands are tied, must I not wonder within
C#m G#m | F#m | % |
Who tied them and why and where must I have been?
[Verse]
E A | E A | E |
What good am I if I say foolish things?
E A | E A | E |
And I laugh in the face of what sorrow brings
C#m | G#m | % |
And I just turn my back, while you silently die
A E A | E A | E |
What good am I?
[Verse] instrumental
2/4
| E | A | E A | E |
2/4
| E | A | E A | E |
2/4
| C#m | C#m | G#m | % |
2/4
| A E | A | E A |
[Coda]
| E A |
| E A |
| E A | E A | E
(freely)
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8. The Disease of Conceit - Bob Dylan
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Capo: 1st fret
Play: C
Key: C#/Db
[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-E
C/E 0(3)2-0-1-0
D7/F# 2-x-0-2-1-0
Dm7/G 3-x-0-2-1-1
Am/G 3-x-2-2-1-0
F/G 3-x-3-2-1-1
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[Intro] (slide)
| C C/E | F C/E| F D7/F# | Dm7/G |
[Verse] 1
C C/E
There's a whole lot of people suffering tonight
F
From the disease of conceit
C/E F D7/F#
Whole lot of people struggling tonight
Dm7/G
From the disease of conceit
Am Am/G
Comes right down the highway
F C
Straight down the line
Am Am/G
Rips into your senses
F C
Through your body and your mind
F D7/F# C/G
Nothing about it that's sweet
F/G C
The disease of conceit
[Verse] 2
C C/E
There's a whole lot of hearts breaking tonight
F
From the disease of conceit
C/E F D7/F#
Whole lot of hearts shaking tonight
Dm7/G
From the disease of conceit
Am Am/G
Steps into your room
F C
Eats your soul
Am Am/G
Over your senses
F C
You have no control
F D7/F# C/G
Ain't nothing too discreet
F/G C
About the disease of conceit
[Verse] 3
C C/E
There's a whole lot of people dying tonight
F
From the disease of conceit
C/E F D7/F#
Whole lot of people crying tonight
Dm7/G
From the disease of conceit
Am Am/G
Comes right out of nowhere
F C
And you're down for the count
Am Am/G
From the outside world
F C
The pressure will mount
F D7/F# C/G
Turn you into a piece of meat
F/G C
The disease of conceit
[Middlle 8]
Am Am/G
Conceit is a disease
F C
But the doctors got no cure
Am Am/G
They've done a lot of research on it
D F/G
But what it is, they're still not sure
[Verse] 4
C C/E
There's a whole lot of people in trouble tonight
F
From the disease of conceit
C/E F D7/F#
Whole lot of people seeing double tonight
Dm7/G
From the disease of conceit
Am Am/G
Give ya delusions of grandeur
F C
And an evil eye
Am Am/G
Give you the idea that
F C
You're too good to die
F D7/F# C/G
Then they bury you from your head to your feet
F/G C
From the disease of conceit
[Coda] (guitar solo)
| C C/E | F C/E| F D7/F# | Dm7/G |
| Am Am/G | F C | Am Am/G | F C |
| F D7/F# | C/G Dm7/G | C
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9. What was it you wanted? - Bob Dylan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capo: 4th fret
Play: Am
Key: C#m
[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-E
Dm/A x-0-3-2-3-x
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Intro]
| Dm7 | Dm/A | Am | % |
[Verse]
Am
What was it you wanted?
Am
Tell me again so I'll know
Am
What's happening in there
Am
What's going on in your show
Dm7
What was it you wanted
Dm/A
Could you say it again?
Am
I'll be back in a minute
Am
You can get it together by then
[Interlude]
| F | Em | Am | % |
[Verse]
Am
What was it you wanted
Am
You can tell me, I'm back
Am
We can start it all over
Am
Get it back on the track
Dm7
You got my attention
Dm/A
Go ahead, speak
Am
What was it you wanted
Am
When you were kissing my cheek?
[Interlude]
| F | Em | Am | % |
[Verse]
Am
Was there somebody looking
Am
When you gave me that kiss
Am
Someone there in the shadows
Am
Someone that I might have missed?
Dm7
Is there something you needed
Dm/A
Something I don't understand
Am
What was it you wanted
Am
Do I have it here in my hand?
[Interlude]
| C | Em | Am | % |
[Middle 8]
Em
Whatever you wanted
Em
Slipped out of my mind
Em
Would you remind me again
Em
If you'd be so kind
Em
Has the record been breaking
Em
Did the needle just skip
Em
Is there somebody waiting
Em
Was there a slip of the lip?
[Verse]
Am
What was it you wanted
Am
I ain't keeping score
Am
Are you the same person
Am
That was here before?
Dm7
Is it something important?
Dm/A
Maybe not
Am
What was it you wanted?
Am
Tell me again I forgot
[Interlude]
| C | Em | Am | % |
[Solo]
| Am | % | % | % |
| Dm7 | Dm/A | Am | % |
| C | Em | Am | % |
[Middle 8]
Em
Whatever you wanted
Em
What could it be
Em
Did somebody tell you
Em
That you could get it from me
Em
Is it something that comes natural
Em
Is it easy to say
Em
Why do you want it
Em
Who are you anyway?
[Verse]
Am
Is the scenery changing
Am
Am I getting it wrong
Am
Is the whole thing going backwards
Am
Are they playing our song?
Dm7
Where were you when it started
Dm/A
Do you want it for free
Am
What was it you wanted
Am
Are you talking to me?
[Outro]
| C | Em | Am | % |
| F | Em | Am | % |
| C | Em | Am | % | Am
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Shooting Star - Bob Dylan
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capo: 4th fret
Play: C
Key: E
[Chords]
E-A-D-G-B-E
C/E 0(3)2-0-1-0
Abaug 4-x-2-1-1(0)
Am7/G 3-x-2-0-1-0
Am/F# 2-x-2-2-1-0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capo 4th fret
[Intro]
| C | C/E | F | C |
| C | C/E | F | F |
| F | G | C | F |
| C | C/E | F | C |
[Verse]
C C/E
Seen a shooting star tonight
F C
And I thought of you
C C/E
You were trying to break into another world
F
A world I never knew
F G C F
I always kind of wondered if you ever made it through
C C/E
Seen a shooting star tonight
F C
And I thought of you
[Verse]
C C/E
Seen a shooting star tonight
F C
And I thought of me
C
If I was still the same
C/E F
If I ever became what you wanted me to be
F G C F
Did I miss the mark or overstep the line that only you could see
C C/E
Seen a shooting star tonight
F C
And I thought of me
[Middle 8]
Am Abaug
Listen to the engine listen to the bell
Am7/G Am/F# F
As the last fire truck from hell goes rolling by
G C F C
All good people are praying
Am Abaug
It's the last temptation the last account
Am7/G Am/F#
The last time you might hear the sermon on the mount
F F/G
The last radio is playing.
[Verse]
C C/E F C
Seen a shooting star tonight slip away
C C/E F
Tomorrow will be another day
F G
Guess it's too late to say the things to you
C F
That you needed to hear me say
C C/E F C
Seen a shooting star tonight slip away
[Coda] (Harp)
| C | C/E | F | C |
| C | C/E | F | F |
| F | G | C | F |
| C | C/E | F | C