NEEDLES AND PINS by JACKIE de SHANNON in C
This is the best version by the writer of the song in the key that she sings it in –
really soulful, with a clever key change.
If you find the intro challenging it is easier in the key of D, but it leaves you with a
key change to F#!
You can play the intro through most of the first and second verse, but definitely half
the intro where the -------------- appears. Listen to Jackie’s version and you will soon
pick it up.
The song actually fades, but I have added a final line
Mike Perry
Intro: CCsus2CCsus2Csus4CCsus2CCsus2C x2
e-0---0---1-0-------0-0---1-0-----0-----0---------------------|
B-1-3-1-3-1-1-3s5s3-1-1-3-1-3-1-1-3s5s3-1---------------------|
G-0-0-0-0-0-0-------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------0---------------------|
D-2-2-2-2-2-2-------2-2-2-2-2-2-2-------2---------------------|
A-3-3-3-3-3-3-------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-------3---------------------|
E-------------------------------------------------------------|
First Verse
C
I saw him today, I saw his face
Am
It was the face I loved, and I knew
C
I had to run away
Am
And get down on my knees and pra-a-ay, that they’d go away
C Am
And still they begin,------------needles and pins
F G
Because of all my pride, the tears I gotta hide
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/jackie_deshannon/needles_and_pins_crd.html ]
Second Verse
C
Oh I thought I was smart, I’d won his heart
Am
I didn't think I'd lose, but now I see
C
She's worse to him than me, let her go ahead
Am
Take his love instead, and one day he will see
C Am
Just how to say please------------and get down on his knees
F G
Oh that's how it begins, he'll feel those needle and pins
G G G G/F# E
A-hurtin' him, A-hurtin' him
Bridge, then key change
E D
Why can't I stop, and tell myself I'm wrong, I'm wrong, so wrong
C B
Why can't I stand up, and tell myself I'm strong
n.C. E
Because, I saw him today, I saw his face
C#m
It was the face I loved, I can’t let go
E
Although I know he’ll make me cry
C#m
Oh a wo-ah woh till the day I die
E
But people I got to live now
C#m
And though I know that I’ll just forgive now
A B
Yeah when it begins, he'll feel those needle and pins
B
A-hurtin' him, stop it now
B E
Stop those needles, stop those pins
C#m A
Lord when they begin, oh won’t you hear what I say
B
Somebody take them away, stop ’em now, stop ‘em
B E
Stop those needles and pins
E C#m A
Oh when they begin I feel those needles and pins
B
A-hurtin’ me, hurtin’ me
B E
Needles and pins
