The White Stripes
"Icky Thump"
Words and Music written and recorded by, "The White Stripes"
Transcribed by, Ryan Teixera.
Symbol Key:
p = Pull off
\ = Slide up
Song Order:
INTRO
1st Riff
INTRO
1st Riff
2nd Riff
INTRO
1st Riff
Solo
1st Riff (Fade Out)
INTRO
(Only play this one at the beginning of the song, other times through out
when the INTRO is played this part is NOT included.)
EI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
BI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
GI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----X-9---7---9---------------|I
DI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----X-9---7---9----------I----| 1X
AI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----X-7---5---7---------------|I
EI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----X-------------------------|I
EI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
BI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
GI------X----X----X----X----X---X-----X-9---7----9-------------------|I
DI------X----X----X----X----X---X-----X-9---7----9--------------I----| 7X
AI------X----X----X----X----X---X-----X-7---5----7-------------------|I
EI------X----X----X----X----X---X-----X------------------------------|I
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or you can play the INTRO like this... I personally prefer the first one,
but others may disagree.
(Only play this one at the beginning of the song, other times through out
when the INTRO is played this part is NOT included.)
EI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
BI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
GI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----7---9---7---9-------------|I
DI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----7---9---7---9--------I----| 1X
AI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X----5---7---5---7-------------|I
EI------X----X----X----X----X----X----X------------------------------|I
EI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
BI-------------------------------------------------------------------|I
GI------X----X----X----X----X----X----7---9---7---9------------------|I
DI------X----X----X----X----X----X----7---9---7---9-------------I----| 7X
AI------X----X----X----X----X----X----5---7---5---7------------------|I
EI------X----X----X----X----X----X-----------------------------------|I
Main Riff (1st Riff)
(2x)
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/w/white_stripes/icky_thump_tab_ver_3.html ]
EI--------------------------------------I-----------------------------------------|I
BI--------------------------------------I-----------------------------------------|I
GI-----------------------------2--------I-------------------7--6------------------|I
DI--7---5p4---------------X----2---2----I-----7---5p4-------------7----5----2-----|I
AI-----------5-5--4-------X----0---2----I--------------4---------------5----2-----|I
EI--------------------5---X--------0----I------------------------------3----0-----|I
On the second time play the ghost notes and let thing ring.
EI--------------------------------------I-----------------------------------------|I
BI--------------------------------------I-----------------------------------------|I
GI-----------------------------2--------I--------------------7--9--7--9\----------|I
DI--7---5p4---------------X----2---2----I------7----5p4------7--9--7--9\-----2----|I
AI-----------5-5--4-------X----0---2----I----------------4---5--7--5--7\-----2----|I
EI--------------------5---X--------0----I------------------------------------0----|I
Secondary Riff (2nd Riff)
EI------------------------------------------|I
BI------------------------------------------|I
GI--7-6-----8-7-----10-9------12-11---------|I
DI------7-------8--------10---------12--I---| 4x
AI------------------------------------------|I
EI------------------------------------------|I
Solo
It's indistinguishable, I'm unable to accurately reproduce this so I'd much rather have
guys just do some improvisation over the D Pentatonic Scale
and add a little Jack White flavor into it.
Lyrics of "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes...
Yah hee, icky thump
Who'd-a thunk
Sittin' drunk
On a wagon to Mexico
Her hair, what a chump
And my head
Got a bump
When I hit it on the radio
Red-head seņorita
Lookin' dead
Came to said,
"I need a bed" en espaņol
So I gave a drink of water
I'm gonna sing around the collar
Well, I don't need a microphone
Icky thump, with the lump
In my throat
Grab my coat
And now it's reckon
I was ready to go
Yeah, I swam beside the hair
She had one white eye
One blank stare
Lookin up, lyin there
On a stand in her hair
Was a candy cane
Black rum, sugar cane
Dry eye, somethin' strange
La la, la la la la la la la la la laaa laaa laaa
Well, Americans:
What, nothin' better to do
Why don't you kick yourself out
You're an immigrant too.
Who's usin' who
What should we do
Well you can't be a pimp
And a prostitute too
Icky thump, handcuffed to a bunk
Robbed blind
Looked around
And there was nobody else
Left alone
I hit myself with a stone
Went home
And learned how to clean up after myself
