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Bluebird – Wings
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Tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard
Wings
Bluebird
(McCartney)
From: "Band on the Run" (1973)
For the version on the album all the strings are tuned down to d-A-F-C-G-D and the song,
actually in Gm, is played in Am. It is worth taking the effort as it really sounds "right",
especially the "Blackbird-y" link leading from verse 4 into the final chorus. I added
the chords to this original, retuned version below. On the live album "Wings Over America",
the band uses standard tuning and still plays in Am – one of the rare occasions
a live version is played in a higher key than the original, when most people would rather
play it safe and choose a lower key as to not strain their voices on tour. McCartney,
however, knew he could sing it it anyway and obviously considered the voicings
of the chords more important than the actual key.
If you don't want to retune and still want to play the song in its original key without
breaking your fingers playing barree throughout, use a capo 1st fret and play it like this:
Capo 1st fret
F#m
Late at night when the wind is still
Em A6
I'll come flying through your door,
Em A
And you'll know what love is for.
Dmaj7
I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird
G6
I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird
Yeah ,yeah ,yeah.
Dmaj7
I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird,
G6
I'm a bluebird
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
F#m
Touch your lips with a magic kiss
Em A6
And you'll be a bluebird too,
Em A
And you'll know what love can do.
Dmaj7
I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird
G6
I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird
Yeah ,yeah ,yeah.
Dmaj7
I'm a bluebird, I'm a bluebird,
G6
I'm a bluebird
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Bm Bm/A C#m(7) F#
Bluebird (Bluebird) Ah ha,
Bm Bm/A C#m(7) F#
Bluebird (Bluebird) Ah ha,
G Dmaj7
Bluebird (Bluebi---rd)
F#m
Fly away through the midnight air
Em A6
As we head across the sea,
Em A
And at last we will be free.
Dmaj7
You're a bluebird, you're a bluebird
G6
You're a bluebird, you're a bluebird
Yeah ,yeah ,yeah.
Dmaj7
You're a bluebird, you're a bluebird,
G6
You're a bluebird
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/w/wings/bluebird_crd_ver_2.html ]
Bm Bm/A C#m(7) F#
Bluebird (Bluebird) Ah ha,
Bm Bm/A C#m(7) F#
Bluebird (Bluebird) Ah ha,
G Dmaj7
Bluebird (Bluebi---rd)
| F#m | F#m | Em | A6 | Em | A | Dmaj7 | G6 | Dmaj7 | G6 |
(sax solo)
Bm Bm/A C#m(7) F#
Bluebird (Bluebird) Ah ha,
Bm Bm/A C#m(7) F#
Bluebird (Bluebird) Ah ha,
G Dmaj7
Bluebird (Bluebi---rd)
F#m
All alone on a desert island
Em A6
We're living in the trees,
Em A
And we're flying in the breeze.
Dmaj7
We're the bluebirds, we're the bluebirds
Bm G
We're the bluebirds, we're the bluebirds
(capo 1st fret)
e|----------------|
B|3---2-----------|
G|--------4---3---|
D|----------------|
A|2---0-----------|
E|--------3---2---| Bm Bm/A C#m7 F#
Singing Bluebird, bluebird, Ah ha/bluebird
Bm Bm/A C#m7 F#
Bluebird, bluebird, Ah ha/bluebird
G Dmaj7
Bluebird, bluebird, Ah ha/bluebird
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Original chords
(Album version: strings tuned down to d-A-F-C-G-d,
live version: standard tuning)
verse 1
| Am | Am | Gm | C6 | Gm | C |
| Fmaj7 | Bb6 | Fmaj7 | Bb6 |
verse 2
| Am | Am | Gm | C6 | Gm | C |
| Fmaj7 | Bb6 | Fmaj7 | Bb6 |
chorus
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Bb | Fmaj7 |
verse 3
| Am | Am | Gm | C6 | Gm | C |
| Fmaj7 | Bb6 | Fmaj7 | Bb6 |
chorus
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Bb | Fmaj7 |
solo
| Am | Am | Gm | C6 | Gm | C |
| Fmaj7 | Bb6 | Fmaj7 | Bb6 |
chorus
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Bb | Fmaj7 |
verse 4 (variation)
| Am | Am | Gm | C6 | Gm | C |
| Fmaj7 | Dm Bb | * |
chorus
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Dm | Dm/C | Em(7) | A |
| Bb | Fmaj7 |
*
e|----------------|
B|6---5---3---2---|
G|----------------|
D|----------------|
A|5---3---1---0---|
E|----------------|
