From the Album: Cold Fact | Tabbed by: Doug McCabe
This song is played in the key of E (with a capo on the second fret). This is the
version from the Cold Fact Album. The live version is slightly different.
The introduction starts with down strums on the E chord and then an intermittent E & Em
before changing to A.
The A has a riff using your little finger on the E string on the 2nd & 3rd frets. This
riff occurs several times throughout the song.
Intro:
E, Em, A Etc.
Verse:
E A
Going down a dirty inner city side road, I plotted
E A
Madness passed me by, she smiled hi, I nodded
E B5 E
Looked up as the sky began to cry, she shot it
E A E
Meet a girl from Dearborn, early six o-clock this morn, a cold fact
A E
Asked about her bag, suburbia's such a drag, wont go back
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/s/sixto_rodriguez/inner_city_blues_crd.html ]
Chorus:
G D A E
'Cos Papa don't allow no new ideas round here
G D A E
And now he sees the news, but the pictures not too clear
A E
Mama, Papa, stop, treasure what you got; soon you may be caught without it
A E
The curfews set for eight; will it ever all be straight? I doubt it.
Verse:
E A E
Seven jealous fools playing by her rules, can't believe her
A E
He feels so in between, can't break the scene, it would grieve her
E B5 A
And that's the reason why he must cry, he'll never leave her.
E A
E
Crooked children, yellow chalk writing on the concrete walk, their King died
A E
Drinking from a Judas cup, looking down but seeing up, sweet red wine
Chorus:
G D A E
'Cos Papa don't allow no new ideas round here
G D A E
And now you hear the music, but the words don't sound too clear.
A E
Mama, Papa, stop. Treasure what you got. Soon you may be caught without it
A E
The curfews set for eight will it ever all be straight? I doubt it.
Outro:
E A
Going down a dusty, Georgian side road, I wonder
E B5 E
The wind splashed in my face, can smell a trace, of thunder.
