MAY DAY! - ELVIS PERKINS
transcribed by Ben Whitlock
Intro arpeggios
E C#m B B riff
e|-----4--------4--------7~~~--7--5--0h4--2-0--------------------------------|
B|---5---5----5---5----7-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-4--------6--------8-------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Verse:
E C#m B E C#m B
Lala la la la la la la lala La la la la la
E C#m B E B (riff)
Lala la la la la la la lala laaaa
E C#m B E C#m B
Well I don’t care your cameras caught me crying as I left your gates
E C#m B E B
Or that your maintenance men they caught our last embrace
E C#m B E C#m B
Well you were on the verge of tears when I first knew I would know you
E G# C#m Am B
And now your ancient black tears they stain your robe
E C#m B E C#m B
Calypso will come with me on that morning April day
E C#m B E B (riff)
To the city of my childhood in a cage
E C#m B E C#m B
On the broad back of the earth we will drive twelve hours straight
E G# C#m Am B
And we’ll take turns feeling crazy and okay
Chorus:
Am E F# E
On May Day, May Day listen for the sound
Am E B
Of the ambulances singing rounds down the avenue
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/e/elvis_perkins/may_day_crd.html ]
E C#m B E C#m B
Well the Captain of America he sings through his toothpaste
E C#m B E B (riff)
And the bubbles of his words will float away
E C#m B E C#m B
As he gargles out a hymn in the funny fish voice way
E G# C#m Am B
And all the sorrow seems to go away
Am E F# E
On May Day, May Day listen for the sound
Am E B
Of the Geiger counters counting down
Bridge:
E C#m G# E C#m G#
To one and blast off baby to the inter-space of stars
E C#m G# B
Out to the star encrusted boulevard...
Guitar Solo
E C#m B E C#m B E C#m G# Am B
e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------6-6h8--6------9---8--6-6h8------------6-9-9-8-8-6-6-5-7p5h7---5-4-|
D|--------6-9--6-9--9------9---6-----------------9-6----7-9-----------------------------|
A|--7---7-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Am E F# E
On May Day, May Day can you hear the sound
Am E B
Of the megaphones calling out instructions
E C#m B E C#m B
And I need your quiet empire where forgetful Persians roam
E C#m B E B (riff)
And with two hands full of silver I’ll go home
E C#m B E C#m B
Return me to my kingdom where my children wait for me
E G# C#m Am B
To build them flying saucers on black sea
Am E F# E
On May Day, May Day they are going down
Am E B
Send the fleet of black-and-whites wailing downtown
E C#m B E C#m B
Lala la la la la la la lala La la la la la
E C#m B E B
Lala la la la la la la lala laaaa
Coda:
Am E Am F G
May Day, May Day, May Day, May Daaay
Am E Am F G
May Day, May Day, May Day, May Daaay
Am E Am F G
May Day, May Day, May Day, May Daaay
Am E Am F C
May Day, May Day, May Day, May Daaaaaaay
