This is a simple and groovy song. Here's how I play it.
F Dm
(pause) F
Here I sleep the morning through
Dm
'Til the wail of the call to prayer awakes me
F
And there ain't nothing at all to do but rise and follow
Dm
The day wherever it takes me
F
I stand at the window and I look at the sea
Dm
And I am what I am, and what will be will be
F
I stand at the window and I look at the sea
Dm
And I make me a pot of opium tea
( p a u s e ) F
Down at the port I watch the boats come in
Dm
Watch the boats come in can do something to you
F
And the kids gather around with an outstretched hand
Dm
And I toss them a dirham or two
F
Well, I wonder if my children are thinking of me
Dm
Cause I am what I am, and what will be will be
F
I wonder if my kids are thinking of me
Dm
And I smile and I sip my opium tea
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/n/nick_cave_and_the_bad_seeds/opium_tea_crd.html ]
(pause) F
At night the sea lashes the rust red ramparts
Dm
And the shapes of hooded men who pass me
F
And the moan of the wind laughs and laughs and laughs
Dm
The strange luck that fate has cast me
F
Well, the cats on the rampart sing merrily
Dm
That he is what he is and what will be will be
F
Yeah, the cats on the rampart sing merrily
Dm
And I sit and I drink of my opium tea
F
I'm a prisoner here, I can never go home
Dm
There is nothing here to win or lose
F
There are no choices needed to be made at all
Dm
Not even the choice of having to choose
F
Well, I'm a prisoner here, yes, but I'm also free
Dm
Cause I am what I am and what will be will be
F
I'm a prisoner here, yeah, but I'm also free
Dm
And I smile and I sip my opium tea.
Someone should figure out the melody bit, the part the organ plays after the choruses.
Figure it out then post it, that'd be nifty.
