Sleeping Sickness Chords & Tabs
City And Colour - Sleeping Sickness
Tuning: Standard (E A D G B E)
Key: E minor (E F# G A B C D E)
Tempo: 67-68 bpm
Transcribed by Robert from Astlessons
Link to my tutorial on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RefjrPbeTb0
No disrespect intended towards previous uploaders, there has been some good
transcriptions, and since Dallas varies it live sometimes you can see this as
an alternative version rather than a correction. However this is in my opinion
how he plays both on the album and on most live performances. Here is a clip
of him playing this way live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXCARmz5iZI
[Intro]: Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch] x2
Em C G
I awoke, only to find my lungs empty
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G
And through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G
And now my dreams are nothing like they were meant to be
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G
And I'm breaking down, I think I'm breaking down
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G
And I'm afraid to sleep because of what haunts me
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G
Such as living with the uncertainty
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch]
That I'll never find the words to say which would completely explain
Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch]
Just how I'm breaking down
[Chorus]
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead, but now it's like the night is taking sides
Dadd4/A Em C/G
With all the worries that occupy the back of my mind
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Could it be this misery will suffice
[Interlude]: Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch] x2
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/c/city_and_colour/sleeping_sickness_crd_ver_7.html ]
Em C G
I've become a simple souvenir of someone's kill
[ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch]
And like the sea I'm constantly changing from calm to ill
Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch] Em
Madness fills my heart and soul as if the great divide could swallow me whole
C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch]
Oh how I'm breaking down
[Chorus] (+oh in my life)
[Solo - part 1]: Dadd4/A Em C/G x4 [Solo - part 2]: Em C G [ch]G5/F#[/ch] x2
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Someone come and, someone come and save my life (save my life)
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Someone come and, someone come and save my life (save my life)
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Someone come and, someone come and save my life
Dadd4/A Em C/G
Could it be this misery will suffice
Chords:
Em (0 2 2 0 0 0)
C (X 3 2 0 1 0)
G (3 2 0 0 3 0) (G6 to be exact if you play the high E-string)
G5/F# (2 X 0 0 3 0) (also has a added sixth if you play the high E-string)
Dadd4/A (5 5 4 0 3 0)
C/G (3 3 2 0 1 0)
Clarification:
Chordname (E A D G B E)
X = Don't play / Muffle
Ps. he sometimes also muffles/avoids playing the high E-string on some of the
chords, giving the song a "darker" feeling to it.
I have also seen him replacing the Em live during the solo parts, but those videos
were too poor quality to see or hear what he replaces it with. My guess is that he
moves the Dadd4/A shape up the fretboard and changes it slightly. If anyone has seen
a better live performance and knows what chord it is then please leave a comment and
share it, I absolutely don't mind and also wish to know for myself.
Free papers for this song are available in .pdf on my website, you can find the link
in the description on the YouTube tutorial. Among the papers available are Lyrics &
Chords, Chord Diagrams, Playing Patterns (strumming) and Tablature (only on additions).
If you need further help or explanations don't hesitate to ask, if it's a subject where
other people may benefit from the answer it's best done by posting a comment on the
tutorial, but posts here and personal messages will also be answered (though not as fast)!
//Robert
