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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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SWAN SWAN H
The Rhythm guitar is played on a 12 - string while the other part is
played on a regular 6 - string.
This song is in 6/8 time. In the intro, Peter plays an Am chord. On
beat four, he lifts up his finger on the second fret of the D string
then hammers it right back on. Its an old trick but one of my
favorites. He also does it on the Dm chord when it's played for a
whole 6 beats - except of course, he lifts his finger off of the G
string.
Am Dm G
Swan, swan, hummingbird
Am Dm
Hurrah, we are all free now
Am Dm G
What noisy cats are we
Am Dm
Girl and dog he bore his cross
Am Dm G
Swan, swan, hummingbird
Am Dm
Hurrah, we are all free now
Am Dm G Am
A long, low time ago, people talk to me
Em F
Johnny Reb what's the price of fans
Em F
Forty a piece or three for one dollar?
Em F
Hey captain don't you want to buy
Em C G
Some bone chains and toothpicks?
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/r/rem/swan_swan_h_crd.html ]
{same as first verse}
Night wings, her hair chains,
Here's your wooden greenback, sing
Wooden beams and dovetail sweep
I struck that picture ninety times,
I walked that path a hundred ninety,
Long, low time ago, people talk to me
G Bm
A pistol hot cup of rhyme
C D
The whiskey is water, the water is wine
G Bm C C/B
Marching feet, Johnny Reb, what's the price of heroes?
{Em to F progression}
Six in one, half dozen the other,
Tell that to the captain's mother,
Hey captain don't you want to buy,
Some bone chains and toothpicks?
Night wings, her hair chains
Swan, swan, hummingbird
Hurrah, we are all free now
What noisy cats are we
Long, low time ago, people talk to me
A pistol hot cup of rhyme,
The whiskey is water, the water is wine
{end on Am}
Here's what goes on in the background:
#1:
Swan Swan...
Am Dm G Am Dm
(D)--------0-2-|-0---|-----|-------0-2-|-0-|
(A)-0-2-3------|---0-|-----|-0-2-3-----|---| Back over
(E)------------|-----|-3---|-----------|---|
#2:
Johnny rep...
Em F Em F
(A)-2---0-2-|-3-0---|-2---0-2-|-3-|
(E)---3-----|-----1-|---3-----|---|
When switching from #1 to #2 or #3 do this
...some bones, chains...
Em F Em Am
(A)-2---0-2-|-3--|-2---|-0-2-3-|
(E)---3-----|----|-----|-------| ... 1st time
| G D C D
This on (G)-----|-0-0-0-----|---------|---------|---------|
A Pistol... (D)---0-|-------4-2-|-4-2-0-0-|---------|-0-0-2-4-|
(#3) (A)-----|-----------|---------|-3-3-2-3-|---------|
|2nd time
|D Em
(D) |-0-0-0-|Six.--..
(A) |--------------..
