Freedom Of The Road Chords & Tabs
Freedom of the Road
By Martin Sexton
Transcribed by: Jason Fenner
This tab was transcribed from the following show:
- Live in NYC at Central Park Summerstage (7/19/97)
Note:
- The purpose of this tab is to give access to all the intricate MS guitar licks
and accents.
- You can play a very basic version of this song in 5 minutes by looking at the
chord signatures.
- I'd suggest playing the song a few times with the basic chords before tackling
all this.
-------------------
Tuning: Normal
- However Martin is tuned down what seems to be a quarter step on the album...
so if you are playing with the album, tune to his guitar)
- Helpful hint - the first bass note after the B7 chord is an E use that to tune.
B7 (x21222)
E (022100)
E6 (022120)
E7 (022130)
ESus (022200)
B (799877)
Bsus (799977)
A (577655)
Asus (577755)
A7 (575655)
Song Notes:
- During this song Martin slaps the strings to sort of mute the sound every two
beats...
- I didn't bother to write them all in...but listen and you'll get the feel
immediately
- Also, when I tabbed out chords, I tabbed out the notes emphasized...but they are
often all strummed - or atleast brushed lightly - as MS fingerpicks...
INTRO/:
let ring...
E -2---------------------------|
B -2---------------------------|
G -2---------------------------|
D -1---------------------------|
A -2---------------------------|
E -----------------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B7 In a westerly direction...
VERSE 1
* = accent or sustain if possible
E -0--0-2-2s4------------------|------------5*------------------|
B -0---------------------------|------------5-------------------|
G -1-1-2 2s-4------------------|------------6h7-7-7p6-----------|
D -2---------------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------|
A -2---------------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------|
E -0----------------------2----|--4-5-------5-5-5-5-5-------4--2|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E A(Asus)A
This car is my train
E --------0--------------------|--------------------------------|
B -----------------------------|---------------7----------------|
G ----1h2---1------------------|---------------8-----8----------|
D ----2-----2------------------|------------9--9--9--9----------|
A ----------2------------------|------------9-----9--9----------|
E -0--------0--------------9--8|----7-------7-----7--7-------4-2|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E B
I'm drivin and I'm a wonderin' ...what it is I'm running from again
E ------0----------------------|----------------5---------------|
B -----------3-----------------|-----------------5--------------|
G --------1--------------------|------------6h7----6------------|
D ----2------------------------|------------7------7------------|
A ----2------------------------|--------------------------------|
E -0--0-----------0--------2--4|----5-------5------5--------5--6|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E7 A
And I feel like 80 year old man...still holding on to 29
E -------7---------------------|--------------------------------|
B -------7---------------------|----0------2s---------3s--------|
G -----8---8----8--------------|----1-S----1t---------1t--------|
D -----9---9----9--------------|----2-T----2r---------2r--------|
A -----9---9----9--------------|----2-R----2u---------2u--------|
E -7---7---7----7--------------|----0-U----0m---------0m--------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^-M . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B E
and up ahead on the horizon Is the California line....
CHORUS 1:
E --------------5--7-s-9-------|--------------0-----------------|
B -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
G --------------6--7-s-9------4|-2--1-----1h2----1--------------|
D -----------------------------|----2-----2------2--------------|
A -----------------------------|----2-----2------2--------------|
E --0-2-4-5--------------------|----0------------0----------9-8-|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A E
And I've had enough!!! Of this Freedom of the road
E -------7---------------------|---5-------------(7)------------|
B -------7---------------------|---5-------------(7)------------|
G -----8---8----8--------------|---6-------------(8)------------|
D -----9---9----9--------------|---7-------------(9)------------|
A -----9---9----9--------------|---7-------------(9)------------|
E -7---7---7----7--------------|---5-------------(7)------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
Never was good with decisions... atleast that's what I've been told
VERSE 2
E --------------0--------------|------------5-------------------|
B -----------------------------|------------5-------------------|
G -1---------------------------|------------6h7-7-7p6-----------|
D -2-----2--4s6----------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------|
A -2----2----------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7-----------|
E -0-2s4------------------2----|--4-5-------5-5-5-5-5-------4--2|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E A(Asus)A
Up ahead, a truck's carrying a wideload pre-fab house cut in half
E --------0--------------------|------------7-7-----------------|
B ---------0-------------------|------------7--7----------------|
G ----1-------1----------------|------------8-----8-------------|
D ----2-------2----------------|------------9-----9-------------|
A ----2-------2----------------|------------9-----9-------------|
E -0----------0------------9--8|----7-------7-----7-------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E B
A cute little front door and 2 windows love - ain't sure I should cry or I should laugh
E ------0----------------------|------------5---5---------------|
B -----------3-----------------|------------5----5--------------|
G --------1-------------2---4--|6-----------6------6------------|
D ----2------------------------|7-----------7------7------------|
A ----2------------------------|7-------------------------------|
E -0--0------------------------|5---5-------5------5--------9--8|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E7 A
You see I broke a house up myself once...as I stumbled to the door
E -------7---------------------|--------------------------------|
B -------7---------------------|-------------2------3-----------|
G -----8---8----8--------------|----1-S------1------1-----------|
D -----9---9----9--------------|----2-T------2------2-----------|
A -----9---9----9--------------|----2-R------2------2-----------|
E -7---7---7----7--------------|----0-U------0------0----0-2-4-5|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^-M . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B E
read her note by the dawn's light...so don't you come around here anymore...
CHORUS 2:
E --------------5--7-s-9-------|--------------------------------|
B -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
G --------------6--7-s-9------4|-2--1-----1h2-2-2-2p1-----------|
D -----------------------------|----2-----2-2-2-2-2-2-----------|
A -----------------------------|----2-----2-2-2-2-2-2-----------|
E --0-2-4-5-------------------4|-2--0-----0-0-0-0-0-0-------5-6-|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A E
And I've had enough!!! Of my Freedom of the road
E -------7---------------------|---0-S---0----0-----------------|
B --------7--------------------|---0-t---2----3-----------------|
G -----8---8----8--------------|---1-r---1----1-----------------|
D -----9---9----9--------------|---2-u---2----2-----------------|
A -----9---9----9--------------|---2-m---2----2-----------------|
E -7---7---7----7--------------|---0-----0----0--------0--2--4--|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B E/E6/E7
never was good with decisions...oh don't you now that's what I've been told -yes I have been told)
E -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
B -----5-5--5------------------|----0----0----------------------|
G -----7--7p6------------------|----2----1----------------------|
D -----7----7------------------|----2----2----------------------|
A ----------7------------------|---------2----------------------|
E -5---5----5-----------4--2---|-0--0----0----------------9-8-7-|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A E
I've been holding on to this ticket...cuz one day I'll pay my toll
E -7--7------------------------|---5----------------------------|
B -7---7-----------------------|---5----------------------------|
G -8-----8---------------------|---6----------------------------|
D -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------|
A -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------|
E -7-----7---------------------|---5----------------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A B A
And magic road grant this freedom...to someone else for I'll be coming home
INTERLUDE:
E ----------0---0--0--0--------|-----5----s5--------------------|
B --5-----------0--2--3--------|-----5----s5--------------------|
G -4-4-----2-2s-1--1--1--------|-----6----s6-------------4--2---|
D --------------2--2--2--------|-----7----s7--------------------|
A --------------2--2--2--------|-----7----s7--------------------|
E --------------0--0--0---0--2-|4-5--5----s5--------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E Strum... A
yes I will... And don't you know There'll be no more pay-per-view movies
E -----------------------------|-----5----s5------------5-------|
B -----------------------------|-----5----s5------------5-------|
G -1---2----4------------------|-----6----s6--------------------|
D -----------------------------|-----7----s7--------------------|
A -----------------------------|-----7----s7--------------------|
E -0---2----4-------------9s3s5|-----5----s5--------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E A
In these economy motels... No more trash in the backseat!!
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/m/martin_sexton/freedom_of_the_road_tab.html ]
E -0---------------------------|--5--------s5-------------------|
B -0---------------------------|--5--------s5-------------------|
G -1-----010101*---------------|--6--------s6-------------------|
D -2---------------------------|--7--------s7-------------------|
A -2---------------------------|--7--------s7-------------------|
E -0---------------------------|--5--------s5-------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E *trill A7
>From Mickey-D's or Taco Bell... No more playing my trump card
E ---5--------------5----------|--------------------------------|
B ---5--------------5----------|--------------------------------|
G ---6-----6--6--6--6----------|-------------------1------------|
D ---7---7-7--5--5--5----------|-----------2-------2------------|
A ---7---7-7--7--7-------------|--2-2------2-------2------------|
E ---5-0-5-5--5--5-------------|--0-0------0-------0------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A/A7 E strum...getting louder
For the Ladies in the Lounge I think I'll leave a little something...
E -----------------------------|--------5------9--10--9---------|
B -----------------------------|--------5-----------------------|
G ----1------------------------|--------6------9--11--9---------|
D ----2------------------------|--------7-----------------------|
A ----2------------------------|--------7-----------------------|
E ----0------------------------|--------5-----------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E (banging on the E chord still)A
TRAVELLING MAN TO SCROUNGE You know I mean it yes I do-hoo-oooo
E --0-------7-------5----------|--5-----------------------------|
B --0-------7-------5----------|--5h7p5-----5-7-5-------7*-8*---|
G --1-------8-------6----------|--6h7p6-----6-7-6------8*-------|
D --2-------9-------7----------|--7---------7-7-7-----9*--------|
A --2-------9-------7----------|--------------------------------|
E --0-------7-------5----------|---------7--7-7-7----9----------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E B A A *this may be harmonics
but if you play an acoustic, just
press your finger right on the fret
to get that muted fuzzy sound
VERSE 3
E -0--0--0---------------------|------------5------------x------|
B -0--0--0---------------------|------------5------------x------|
G -1--1--2--1------------------|------------6h7-7-7p6----x------|
D -2--2--2--2------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7----x------|
A -2--------2------------------|------------7-7-7-7-7----x------|
E -0--------0-------------2----|--4-5-------5-5-5-5-5----x--4--2|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E A(Asus)A
And I know there's got be someone out there...who believes
E --------0--------------------|---------------7----------------|
B -----------------------------|------------7----7--------------|
G ----1h2---1------------------|------------8-----8-------------|
D ----2-----2------------------|------------9-----9-------------|
A ----2-----2------------------|------------9-----9-------------|
E -0--------0--------------9--8|----7-------7-----7----------4-2|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E B
I've got a picture of my boy in my back pocket.. along with these
rocks I've found in Arizona I wanna show him
E ------0----------------------|--------------------------------|
B -----------3-----------------|------------5-5--5-5-5-5--------|
G --------1--------------------|------------6h7--7-7-7p6--------|
D ----2------------------------|------------7-7--7-7-7-7--------|
A ----2------------------------|------------7-7--7-7-7----------|
E -0--0-----------0--------2--4|----5-------5-5--7-7-7-5----9--8|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E7 A
And I know I'm gonna return to an awkward silence.. y'see there's a whole lot of
work I've never known
E -------7---------------------|--------------------------------|
B --------7--------------------|-----------2--------3-----------|
G -----8----8----8-------------|----1-S----1--------1-----------|
D -----9----9----9-------------|----2-T----2--------2-----------|
A -----9----9----9-------------|----2-R----2--------2-----------|
E -7---7----7----7-------------|----0-U----0--------0----0-2-4-5|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^-M . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B E
but I know I've gotta make my amends... if I'm gonna regain the trust
of my long lost son...
CHORUS 3:
E --------------5--5-5-5-5-----|----------0---2s4---------------|
B --------------5--5-5-5-5-----|--------------------------------|
G --------------6h77-7-7p6-----|----1----1--(s2-4)--------------|
D --------------7--7-7-7-7-----|----2---2-----------------------|
A --------------7--7-7-7-7-----|----2---------------------------|
E --0-2-4-5-----5--5-5-5-5-----|----0--0------------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A E (this lick is tough to time...)
You see I've had me enough y'all... Of my freedom of the road
E -----------------------------|---0-S---0----0-----------------|
B -----------------------------|---0-t---2----3-----------------|
G -----8---s8----8-------------|---1-r---1----1-----------------|
D -----9---s9----9-------------|---2-u---2----2-----------------|
A -----9---s9----9-------------|---2-m---2----2-----------------|
E -7---7---s7----7-------------|---0-----0----0--------0--2--4--|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B E/E6/E7
lord won't you help me with my decision...for I fear I'm growing old (I feel it everyday)
E -----------------------------|-------0------------------------|
B -----5----5------------------|----0----0----------------------|
G -----7----7p6----------------|----2----1----------------------|
D -----7----7------------------|----2----2----------------------|
A ----------7------------------|---------2----------------------|
E -5---5----5-----------4--2---|-0--0----0----------------9-8-7-|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
A E
I'm holding on my ticket...it's today I'll pay this toll
E -7---------------------------|---5----------------------------|
B -7---------------------------|---5----------------------------|
G -8-----8---------------------|---6----------------------------|
D -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------|
A -9-----9---------------------|---7----------------------------|
E -7-----7---------------------|---5----------------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
B (strum) A (strum)
And magic road grant your freedom...your sweet freedom!!!
E -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
B -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
G -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
D -------(high-pitched scream)-|--------------------------------|
A -----------------------------|--------------------------------|
E -----------------------------|---------------12s0-------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E (his scream is equal to the 12th fret on the high E, then up to the 16th)
E ----0------------------------|-----0--2-2s4-------------------|
B -----0-----------------------|--------------------------------|
G -----------------------------|----1--2--2s4-------------------|
D --------------2--------------|--------------------------------|
A ----------2-4---4-2----------|--------------------------------|
E --0----2s4----------2p0---4s5|--0-----------------------------|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
E
I'm coming home...
***
Extra Special Bonus Ending of Happiness
- you'll hear this a lot on his live recordings...it's just an extended
version of the one above, except he finishes the scale...
E ----0------------------------|----0-2-4-5-7-9-11-12-14--16---0|
B -----0-----------------------|-------------------------------0|
G -----------------------------|---1-2-4-6-8-9-11-13-14---16---1|
D --------------2--------------|-------------------------------2|
A ----------2-4---4-2----------|-------------------------------2|
E --0----2s4----------2p0---4s5|-0-------------------------0---0|
^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ . ^ .
Here are all the lyrics in regular form
In a westerly direction
this car is my train
I'm driving and I'm a wonderin'
what it is I'm runnin from again
and I feel like and 80 year old man
still holding on to 29
and up ahead on the horizon
is the California Line
And I've had enough
of this freedom of the road
never was good with decision
atleast that's what I've been told
up ahead a truck's carrying a wideload
a prefab house cut in half
a cute little front door and 2 windows love
ain't sure whether to cry or should I laugh
you see I broke a home up myself once
as I stumbled to that door
I read that note by the dawn's light
saying don't you come 'round here anymore
And I've had enough
of this freedom of the road
never was good with decisions
atleast that's what I've been told - yes I have been told
I've been holding on to this ticket
cuz one day I'll pay my toll
and magic road grant this freedom...
to someone else..for I'll be coming home...yes I will
And don't you know
there'll be no more pay-per-view movies
in these economy motels
no more trash in the backseat
from MickeyD's or Taco Bell
No more playing my trump card
for the ladies in the lounge
think I'll leave a little something
for the next tra---veling man to scrounge
you know I mean... I mean it, yes I do..
And I know there's got to be someone out there
who believes
I got a picture of my boy in back pocket
along with these rocks I found in Arizona I wanna show him
and I know I'm gonna return to an awkward silence
you see there's a whole lot of work I've never known
but I know I've gotta make my amends
If I'm gonna regain the trust of my long lost son
You see I've had me enough y'all
of my freedom of the road
lord won't you help me with my decision
for I fear I'm growing old - I feel it everyday
I'm been holding on my ticket
It's today I'll pay this toll
and magic road grant your freedom...
your sweet freedom
Ahhhhh!!!!
I'm coming home...
