A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left by Andrew Bird Transcribed by: Chuck or Charmister Email: chhuckim@gmail for Q&A (LONG transcription; There are song comments "between the lines" and you can copy+paste and cut out the comments in Word if wanted: Credit to Charmister) Tuning: Standard E INTRO:(Either strum once lightly for melancholy effect or rhythmically) Dm Over prescribed G Under the mister C C/B (01022X) Play as walk down from open chord ?C? We had survived to A7 Turn on the history channel Dm G And ask our esteemed panel C Why are we alive C/B A7 And here's how they replied Dm G You're what happens when two substances collide Dm G Am And by all accounts you really should've died Am E (Pluck Root note and then rest of chord in 4/4) E (Then play ?E? chord loud into interlude?) Interlude (RIFF 1): Am C/G Gm F E (Interlude chords played behind RIFF 1) Am C/G Gm G]-----99--------[x2]-----99-55----[x2]----77-------[x2]--| D]--77----1010-77------55-------55------55----88-55-------| F E G]-----99--------------1010-99-----------| {last measure D]--77----1010-77---77---------99--------| one time} (All notes should be relatively staccato) [[Play this Interlude into Verse as many times as you want? Or if you are as does Andrew in his live version, then play until comfortable. w/ looping, have riff continue Verses and Chorus.]] VERSE 1: Am C/G Stretched out on the tarmac Gm F E Six miles south of North Platte Am C/G He can't stand to look back Gm F E At sixteen tons of HazMat PRE-CHORUS: Am And it's what goes B E Undelivered A D Gm Gm/F E Undelivered CHORUS: Am C/G Gm And it's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left F It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left E Of the what? Of the head to the left Am C/G Gm Exercise yourself 'till you're bereft F 'Cause it's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left E Of the...of the...to the... VERSE: Am C/G ..etc. Splayed out on a bathmat Six miles north of South Platte And he just wants his life back What's in that paper knapsack PRE-CHORUS: Am And it's what goes B E Undelivered A D Gm Gm/F E Undelivered CHORUS: Am C/G Gm It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left F E A nervous tic motion of the head OUTRO: Dm Over imbibed G Under the mister C C/B Barely alive we A7 Dm Cover the blisters in flannel G Though the words we speak are banal C Not one of them's a lie C/B A7 Not one of them's a lie Dm You're what happens when G Two substances collide Dm And by all accounts Am You really should've died (Song order may vary -Follow recording or cover in your own way. This song is one of my most favorites of Andrew Bird?s. I watch his live on ?looping? and was inspired to buy a 'Loop' pedal myself. Live Version that I am transcribing nearly to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRk2iHkOcNE I had to comprise (between live and album versions), for to mimic Andrew is to only try because of his talking-singing-voice and incredible whistling and violin playing). God Bless, and joyful music-ing!