Denis Leary - The Kennedys Chords & Tabs

(Fuck) The Kennedy’s

This chord/lyric sheet is based off of the full version as played by Denis and his 
band during his 1993 MTV Unplugged special.

Performance notes:
The guitar plays a basic blues scale/riff alternating between the E and A chords.  
I elected to not display when to switch between chords, as it would muddy up this 
tab.  The guitar plays a B after the end of each verse.
 
Presidential Theme Intro

Drum fill (4 measures)
 Guitar plays a B over the final measure

Verses 1-4 (Blues riff in E)
 I drink, and I drive
 I’m the only one in my car who gets out alive
 Ted Kennedy

 You vote, and I win
 The Bishop says carousing is a cardinal sin
 But, the Cardinal’s on the payroll, so I’ll do it again
 Ted Kennedy, woah-oh
 Ted Kennedy

 I’m dead, and I’m gone
 I used to play touch football on the White House lawn
 Bobby Kennedy

 Big smile, big hair
 Jackie married Harry, and I really don’t care
 I had sex with Marilyn in my rockin’ chair
 Jack Kennedy woah-oh
 Mr. President


Drum break (8 measures)
 (“Ask not what your country…” & car crash/splash sound effects)
 Guitar plays B in final measure

[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/d/denis_leary/the_kennedys_crd.html ]
Verses 5-6 (Blues riff in E)
 I’m a joke, you don’t know
 I was supposed to be the president,
 but I died in the war!
 Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.

Well, I’m dad, and I’m bad
 I was an ignorant bootlegger and a genuine cad
 I didn’t think that Hitler was really so bad.
 Master Kennedy, woah-oh
 Master Kennedy


 
Bridge
 C#              G#                        A   B
   I was born to immigrant parents back in 1937
 C#                  G#
   I played Bobby in a TV movie, 
 A                  B
 Then I got to play JFK…
 E
  My name’s Martin Sheen’s, my name’s
        A       G# F#
 Martin Sheen’s my name.
 E
  My name’s Martin Sheen’s, my name’s
        A       G# F#
 Martin Sheen’s my name.


Solos (Piano, then guitar - 8 measures for each solo)
 Use verse chord progression


Verses 7-8 (Blues riff in E)
 And I’m rich, and it’s great
 I hang around Hyannisport and wake up late
 ‘Cause I’m a Kennedy

 Ich bein ein…
 Ich bein ein Berliner and we’re doin’ fine
 7000 relatives are waitin’ in line
 To be a Kennedy.  Woah-oh
 It’s the Kennedys, woah-oh
          E (let ring)                 (let vocals and guitars fade gradually)
 It’s the Kennedys, Kennedys, Kennedys…