Dire Straits - Iron Hand
Tab by Eric Beckman
This tab covers the main acoustic guitar parts. I've made a detailed description of the
intro lick which repeats now and then throughout the song and go through the first verse.
Since all the guitar bits simply repeat you should be able to figure it out as you go.
I haven't transcribed the little dobro slide licks that play now and then throughout song,
but if someone really wants them, comment or send me a message and I'll see about adding
it in.
The Bm lick in detail
=====================
---- Start by fretting a full B minor bar chord.
v
------ Here you want to release your left index finger
v to play the legato notes on the E-string but
keep the other three fingers in place.
| . | . | . | .
|---------------------------------|-0-h-2-------2-p-0---------------|
|---------3---------------3-------|---------------------3-----------| Try to let the
|---------4---------------4-------|-----------------------------4---| single notes ring
|---------4---------------4-------|---------4---------------4-------| out.
|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|-----------------2---------------|---------------------------------|
p a p a a p a m p i
m m
i i
Right hand guide:
p - thumb
i - index finger
m - middle finger
a - ring finger
Note: Mark doesn't always play the thirds in the chords. I've written them in throughout
but feel free to include them or not (play them like power chords) if you feel it's easier
or sounds better.
The first verse
===============
Note: Mark varies in how he alternates between the bass notes in the chords. I've written
down the first verse as I remember it but feel free to play around with alternating your
thumb between the E and A strings or play along with the record to hear exactly where he
alternates.
Bm A Bm
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | .
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0h2---2p0-------|
|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----------3-----|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|---------------4-|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
|-2---------------|-2-------2-------|-0-------0-------|-2---------------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|---------2-------|-----------------|
With all the cla- ri- ty of a dream
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/d/dire_straits/iron_hand_tab_ver_3.html ]
A Bm
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | .
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0h2---2p0-------|
|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----------3-----|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|---------------4-|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
|-2---------------|-2---------------|-0-------0-------|-2---------------|-----------------|
|---------2-------|---------2-------|-----------------|---------2-------|-----------------|
The sky so Blue the grass so green
Bm A Bm
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | .
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|-----3-------3---|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
|-2---------------|-2-------2-------|-0-------0-------|-2---------------|---------2-------|
|---------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|---------2-------|-2---------------|
The rank and file and the na- vy blue
Em A F#m Bm
| . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | .
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----3-------3---|
|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|
|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
|---------2-------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-2---------------|
|-0---------------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-2-------2-------|---------2-------|
The deep and strong straight and true
| . | . | . | . | . | .
|-0h2---2p0-------|-----------------|-0h2---2p0-------|
|-----------3-----|-----3-------3---|-----------3-----|
|---------------4-|-----4-------4---|---------------4-|
|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
|-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------|
|-----------------|---------2-------|-----------------|
Lyrics
======
The blue line they got the given sign
The belts and boots march forward in time
The wood and the leather club and shield
Swept like a wave across the battlefield
Now with all the clarity of a dream
The blood so red the grass so green
The gleam of spur on a chestnut flank
The cavalry did burst upon the ranks
Oh the iron will and the iron hand
In England's green and pleasant land
No music for the shameful scene
That night they said it had even shocked the Queen
Well alas we've seen it all before
Knights in armour days of yore
The same old fears and the same old crimes
We haven't changed since ancient times
