Music From Big Pink


The Band ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Album: Music from Big Pink ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tracks 1. Tears of Rage 2. To Kingdom Come 3. In a Station 4. Caledonia Mission 5. The Weight 6. We Can Talk 7. Long Black Veil 8. Chest Fever 9. Lonesome Suzie 10. This Wheel's on Fire 11. I Shall Be Released ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 1. Tears of Rage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Bob Dylan and Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1967, 1970 Dwarf Music See Peter Viney's article on "Tears of Rage" for more about this song. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- C Am F Dm We carried you in our arms on Independence Day Bb F C And now you'd throw us all aside and put us all away Am F Dm Oh, what dear daughter 'neath the sun could treat a father so? Bb F C To wait upon him hand and foot and always tell him "No" (Chorus:) E7 Am Tears of rage, tears of grief F C Why must I always be the thief? E7 Am Come to me now, you know we're so low F C7 Fmaj7 C And life is brief It was all very painless When you went out to receive All that false instruction Which we never could believe And now the heart is filled with gold As if it was a purse But, oh, what kind of love is this Which goes from bad to worse? (Chorus) We pointed you the way to go And scratched your name in sand Though you just thought it was nothing more Than a place for you to stand I want you to know that while we watched You discovered no one would be true And I myself was among The ones who thought It was just a childish thing to do (Chorus) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 2. To Kingdom Come ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by J.R.Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music The "Robbie Lick" for the end of every fourth line in a verse is an E chord, and then an D7 chord, and then that D7 chord slid up two frets. Robbie also does this in "Caledonia but in G instead of E. Also, the piano puts in chords that the guitar doesn't play. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- B Forefather pointed to kingdom come F# Sadly told his only son A Just be careful what you do "Robbie Lick" It all comes back on you. False witness spread the news Somebody's gonna lose Either she or me or you, Nothing we can do. (Chorus) A E Don't you say a word A E Or reveal a thing you've learned A Abm C#m Time will tell you well F#m A B If you truly, truly fell Tarred and feathered, yea! Thistles and thorns, One or the other He kindly warns. Now you look out the window tell me What do you see? I see a golden calf pointing Back at me. I been sitting in here for so darn long Waitin' for the end to come along. Holy roaster on the brink Take a chance, swim or sink. False witness, cast an evil eye said I cannot tell a lie, Haints and saints don't bother me I'm not alone you see. (Chorus) haints: dialect word for haunts i.e. ghosts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 3. In A Station ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- C Em F Dm Once I walked through the halls of a station G C7 Someone called your name C Em F Dm In the street I heard children laughing G C7 They all sound the same C F Wonder, could you ever know me C G Know the reason why I live C F Is there nothing you can show me Eb F/G C Life seems so little to give Once I climbed up the face of a mountain And ate the wild fruit there Fell asleep until the moonlight woke me And I could taste your hair Isn't everybody dreaming! Then the voice I hear is real Out of all the idle scheming Can't we have something to feel Once upon a time leaves me empty Tomorrow never comes I could sing the sound of your laughter Still I don't know your name Must be some way to repay you Out of all the good you gave If a rumour should delay you Love seems so little to save ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 4. Caledonia Mission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by J.R. Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music For an analysis of the lyrics, and more, see Peter Viney's article on "Caledonia Mission". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G C She reads the leaves and she leads the life G D That she learned so well from the old wives Em D C D It's so strange to arrange it, you know I wouldn't change it Em D C D But hear me if you're near me, can I just rearrange it? G7 The watchman covers me G7 With his remedy G7 I can't see and it's hard to feel D C D G I think his magic might be real I can't get to you from your garden gate You know it's always locked by the magistrate Now he don't care why you cry, he thinks it's just a lie To get out, I don't doubt that you'd make a try If the good times get you through I know the dogs won't bother you We'll be gone in moonshine time I've got a place they'll never find You know I do believe in your hexagram But can you tell me how they all knew the plan? Did you trip or slip on their gifts, you know you were just a con? You knew it, why d'you do it, I've been hiding in the dark Now I must be on my way I guess you really have to stay Inside the mission law Down in Modock, Arkansas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 5. The Weight ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by J.R.Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music For an analysis of the lyrics, and more, see Peter Viney's article on "The Weight". Bass tablature also avalable ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A C#m D A I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead; C#m D A I just need some place where I can lay my head. C#m D A "Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?" C#m D A He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said. (Chorus:) A E D A E D Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free; A E D A D Take a load off Fanny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me. A E D A D I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide; When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side. I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown." She said, "I gotta go, but m'friend can stick around." (Chorus) Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say It's just ol' Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day. "Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?" He said, "Do me a favor, son, woncha stay an' keep Anna Lee company?" (Chorus) Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog. He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog." I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man." He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can." (Chorus) Catch a cannon ball now, t'take me down the line My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time. To get back to Miss Fanny, you know she's the only one. Who sent me here with her regards for everyone. (Chorus) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 6. We Can Talk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music For more about this song, see Peter Viney's article on "We Can Talk". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- D Em7 D G We can talk about it now A It's that same old riddle only starting from the middle D Em D G I'd fix it but I don't know how A Well, we could try to reason but you might think it's treason G One voice for all F E7 A Echoing across the hall Bm G Don't give up on father clock A D A We can talk about it now D Em D G Come, let me show you how A To keep the wheels turnin' you've got to keep the engine churnin' D Em D G Did you ever milk a cow A I had the chance one day but I was all dressed up for Sunday G F Everybody, everywhere E7 A Do you really care Bm G Pick up your heads and walk A D G7 We can talk about it now C E7 F It seems to me we've been holding something underneath our tongues C E7 I'm afraid if you ever got a pat on the back F G It would likely burst your lungs A E7 A E7 Woh, stop me, if I should sound kinda down in the mouth A E7 A But I'd rather be burned in Canada than to freeze here in the south D Em Dm G Pulling that eternal plough A We've got to find a sharper blade or have a new one made D Em D G Rest awhile and cool your brow A Don't need it, no need to slave, the whip is in the grave G F No salt, no trance E7 A It's safe now to take a backward glance Bm G The leaves have turned to chalk A D A D We can talk about it now, A D We can talk about it now ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 6. Long Black Veil ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by M.J.Wilkin and D.Dill. Album: Music from Big Pink ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G Ten years ago on a cool dark night D C G There was someone killed 'neath the town hall light G There were few at the scene and they all did agree D C G That the man who ran looked a lot like me The judge said "Son, what is your alibi? If you were somewhere else then you won't have to die" I spoke not a word although it meant my life I had been in the arms of my best friend's wife C G C G She walks these hills in a long black veil C G C G She visits my grave where the night winds wail G C G Nobody knows, no, and nobody sees C G D C Nobody knows but me The scaffold was high and eternity neared She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans In a long black veil she cries over my bones ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 7. Chest Fever ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by J.R. Robertson. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music For more about this song, see Peter Viney's notes on "Chest Fever". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- E D/E A/E E D/E A/E D/E I know she's a tracker, any scarlet would back her A/E E D/E A E D They say she's a chooser, but I just can't refuse her A/E She was just there, but then she can't be here no more E B D E B D E And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees B D E F# But just before she leaves, she receives She's been down in the dunes and she's dealt with the goons Now she drinks from the bitter cup, I'm trying to get her to give it up She was just here, I fear she can't be here no more And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees But just before she leaves, she receives Ab C#m It's long, long when she's gone, I get weary holding on F#m7 (F#7?) B7 Now I'm coldly fading fast, I don't think I'm gonna last Very much longer "She's stoned" said the Swede, and the moon calf agreed I'm like a viper in shock with my eyes in the clock She was just there somewhere and here I am again And as my mind unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees But just before she leaves, she receives ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 9.Lonesome Suzie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- C E7 Am Fmaj7 Bb C Lonesome Suzie, never got the breaks E7 Am G She's always losing so she sits and cries and shakes C E7 Am F Bb C It's so hard just to watch her, and if I touch her Eb Bb C Am C G C Oh, poor Suzie, I'm wondrin' what to do She just sits there, hoping for a friend I don't fit here, but I may have a friend to lend Maybe I mistook her, but I can't overlook her Must be someone who can pull her through E7 Am Fmaj7 Bb C Anyone who's felt that bad could tell me what to say E7 Am G Even if she'd just get mad, she might be better off that way C E7 Am And where is all the understanding Fmaj7 Bb C Her problems can't be that demanding Eb Bb C Am Why is it she looks that way C Gsus4 C Every time she starts to cry? Lonesome Suzie, I can't watch you cry no longer If you can use me until you feel a little stronger I guess just watching you has made me lonesome too Why don't we get together, Dm7 G7 C What else can we do? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 10.This Wheel's On Fire ----------------------------------------------------------------------------by Bob Dylan Rick Danko. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1967,1970 Dwarf Music See Peter Viney's article for more about this song. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Am If your memory serves you well Bo7 We're going to meet again and wait E So I'm going to unpack all my things F Dm Am And sit before it gets too late C Am No man alive will come to you C Am With another tale to tell C A And you know that we shall meet again F Dm Am If your memory serves you well CHORUS: Dm F C G G7 This wheel's on fire, rolling down the road C G F C Best notify my next of kin F G A This wheel shall explode! If your memory serves you well, I was going to confiscate your lace And wrap it up in a sailor's knot and hide it in your case If I knew for sure that it was yours, and it was oh so hard to tell And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well (CHORUS) If your memory serves you well, you'll remember that you're the one Who called on them to call on me to get you your favours done And after every plan had failed and there was nothing more to tell And you know that we shall meet again if your memory serves you well (CHORUS) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track 11. I Shall Be Released ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Bob Dylan. Album: Music from Big Pink © 1967,1970 Dwarf Music ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- E F#m They say everything can be replaced Abm A B E They say every distance is not near F#m So I remember every face Abm A B E B Of every man who put me here (Chorus:) E F#m I see my light come shinin' Abm A B E From the west unto the east F#m Any day now, any day now Abm A B E I shall be released They say ev'ry man needs protection They say that ev'ry man must fall Yet I swear I see my reflection Somewhere so high above this wall (Chorus) Now yonder standing there in this lonely crowd A man who swears he's not to blame All day long I hear him shouting so loud Just crying out that he was framed (Chorus) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music from Big Pink - The Band - (41:35) - 1968 - Capitol SKAO-2955 Gatefold sleeve LP Original Master Recording released on vinyl in 1980 (Mobile Fidelity MFSL-1-039) Compact Disc: Capitol 46069-2 (1986) Ultra Disc released in 198? (Mobile Fidelity UDCD-527) Limited Edition CD: Capitol Japan M57626 (1998) Remastered CD with bonus tracks: Capitol/EMI 50837 (2000) DVD-Audio w/complete lyrics on screen, photo gallery and discography: Capitol/EMI Products (2003) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------