Dont Take Me Alive
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From: Bruce & Peggy Mackinnon
"DON'T TAKE ME ALIVE"
Steely Dan
The Royal Scam
This old thing from The Royal Scam album has some tricky parts
in it, a lot of electric guitar shots etc. which tend to moderate
the sound of the chord, but I've tried to make it playable, while
staying as true to the actual song as possible. Note that there
is a syncopation to this song which makes it difficult to place
the chords over the words as they change, or present it in the
form of an even 4/4 bar count. My advice is play the chart along
with the record if you get confused.
Also, I've included two different shapes for an F/G chord to be played
at different times. One will be called F/G*, and the other F/G**.
This tune is one of my favorite examples of brilliant Steely Dan
lyrics and their usual superbly crafted music.
INTRO:
First slowly strum out a G7#9 with this shape: EADGBE
355466
This may look like an impossibility, like a cruel, unusual and
unplayable chord, but it can be done. You must use the power
of the force. First you use your ring (3rd) finger to cover
BOTH the 4th and 5th strings on the 5th fret (straight down on
the fingertip, not barred), and next you use the baby finger to
barr both the 1st and 2nd strings on the 6th fret. Of course your
index finger is on the 6th string, 3rd fret, and your middle
finger is on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Once you've let it ring
for a few seconds you quickly play Eb/Ab and F/G* (shapes shown
below) as the last two beats of a lead-in bar, and you're into
the intro, which is a guitar solo over:
||| |
| Cm Csus4| Cm| F/G** | G7|
|| | |
| Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb| Csus4| Csus4 Eb/Ab F/G* |
||| |
| Cm Csus4| Cm| F/G** | G7|
||| |
| Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb| Csus4| Cm| Cm Gm7/C|
Vs. I
||| |
| Cm| Cm Cm7|
Agents of the law
||| |
| Cm| Gm Gm7|
Luckless pe destrians
| Gm Fm7|
I know you're out there
| Bb/Eb C/F| D/G|
With rage in your eyes and your megaphones
||| |
| Eb/Ab F/G| Cm Cm7|
Saying all is forgiven
| Cm| Gm Gm7|
Mad Dog sur render
| Gm| Fm7|
How can I answer?
| Bb/Eb C/F| D/G|
A man of my mind can do anything.
Chorus:
| Eb/Ab F/G* | Cm|
I'm a book keeper's son
| Cm| F/G** | G7|
I don't want to shoot no one
Well, I Fm7crossed my old Gm7man back in Abmaj7Oregon, Bbdon't take me
A Csus4live Csus4
||
F/G| Cm| Cm|
Got a case of dyna mite
| F/G** | G7|
I could hold out here all night
| Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb|
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
| Csus4| Csus4| Csus4| Csus4|
a live
Vs. II
Can you hear the Cmevil crowdCm7
The lies and the Gmlaughter Gm7
I hear my Fm7insides,
The Bb/Ebmechanized C/Fhum of a D/Gnother worldEb/Ab
Where F/Gno sun Cmis shiningCm7
No red light GmflashingGm7
Here in this Fm7darkness
I Bb/Ebknow what I've C/Fdone
I D/Gknow all at once who I Eb/Abam
* CHORUS *
F/G* | Cm|
I'm a book keeper's son
| Cm| F/G** | G7|
I don't want to shoot no one
Well, I Fm7crossed my old Gm7man back in Abmaj7Oregon, Bbdon't take me
Csus4Alive Csus4
||
F/G| Cm| Cm|
Got a case of dyna mite
| F/G** | G7|
I could hold out here all night
| Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb|
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
| Csus4| Csus4| Csus4| Csus4|
alive
BRIDGE: There is some keyboard and guitar work here which
mostly is played over a 'C' bass note, and although it would
be messy to try to write it out note for note, I think you
can get away with playing these chords: (formations shown below).
|| | |
| Cm Fsus4/C| F/C Csus4| Cm Fsus4/C| F/C G/A F/G* |
|| | | ||| |
| Cm Fsus4/C| F/C G/A F/G* | C/F| D/G| Eb/Ab|
| Eb/Ab F/G* |
* CHORUS *
F/G* | Cm|
I'm a book keeper's son
| Cm| F/G** | G7|
I don't want to shoot no one
Well, I Fm7crossed my old Gm7man back in Abmaj7Oregon, Bbdon't take me
A Csus4live Csus4
||
F/G| Cm7| Cm7|
Got a case of dyna mite
| F/G** | G7|
I could hold out here all night
Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb|
Well I | crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
| Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb| Fm7 Gm7| Abmaj7 Bb| Cm|(hold)
a live . . . don't take me alive
* End *
Chord formations: ( 1 to 9 represent fret numbers, but to avoid
confusion, a=10th fret, b=11th fret etc. )
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
XbdcbX XaaaaX 8Xa888 8Xaa88 3X321X 3X343X
Eb/Ab F/G* Cm Csus4 F/G** G7
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
1x111X 3X333X 4X554X 6X876X 8X888X 3X433X
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb Cm7 Gm
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
X6876X X8a98X XacbaX 8XaabX 8XaaaX XccccX
Bb/Eb C/F D/G Fsus4/C F/C G/A
All chords in this song (18)
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Dont Take Me Alive
by Steely Dan
Chords in this song · guitar
Cm
Csus4
F/G
G7
Fm7
Gm7
Abmaj7
Bb
Eb/Ab
Gm7/C
Cm7
Gm
Bb/Eb
C/F
D/G
Fsus4/C
F/C
G/A
From: Bruce & Peggy Mackinnon
"DON'T TAKE ME ALIVE"
Steely Dan
The Royal Scam
This old thing from The Royal Scam album has some tricky parts
in it, a lot of electric guitar shots etc. which tend to moderate
the sound of the chord, but I've tried to make it playable, while
staying as true to the actual song as possible. Note that there
is a syncopation to this song which makes it difficult to place
the chords over the words as they change, or present it in the
form of an even 4/4 bar count. My advice is play the chart along
with the record if you get confused.
Also, I've included two different shapes for an F/G chord to be played
at different times. One will be called F/G*, and the other F/G**.
This tune is one of my favorite examples of brilliant Steely Dan
lyrics and their usual superbly crafted music.
INTRO:
First slowly strum out a G7#9 with this shape: EADGBE
355466
This may look like an impossibility, like a cruel, unusual and
unplayable chord, but it can be done. You must use the power
of the force. First you use your ring (3rd) finger to cover
BOTH the 4th and 5th strings on the 5th fret (straight down on
the fingertip, not barred), and next you use the baby finger to
barr both the 1st and 2nd strings on the 6th fret. Of course your
index finger is on the 6th string, 3rd fret, and your middle
finger is on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Once you've let it ring
for a few seconds you quickly play Eb/Ab and F/G* (shapes shown
below) as the last two beats of a lead-in bar, and you're into
the intro, which is a guitar solo over:
||| |
Cm Csus4 Cm F/G G7
| | | ** | |
|| | |
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb Csus4 Csus4 Eb/Ab F/G
| | | | * |
||| |
Cm Csus4 Cm F/G G7
| | | ** | |
||| |
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb Csus4 Cm Cm Gm7/C
| | | | | |
Vs. I
||| |
Cm Cm Cm7
| | |
Agents of the law
||| |
Cm Gm Gm7
| | |
Luckless pe destrians
Gm Fm7
| |
I know you're out there
Bb/Eb C/F D/G
| | |
With rage in your eyes and your megaphones
||| |
Eb/Ab F/G Cm Cm7
| | |
Saying all is forgiven
Cm Gm Gm7
| | |
Mad Dog sur render
Gm Fm7
| | |
How can I answer?
Bb/Eb C/F D/G
| | |
A man of my mind can do anything.
Chorus:
Eb/Ab F/G Cm
| * | |
I'm a book keeper's son
Cm F/G G7
| | ** | |
I don't want to shoot no one
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
Csus4 Csus4
A live
||
F/G Cm Cm
| | |
Got a case of dyna mite
F/G G7
| ** | |
I could hold out here all night
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb
| | |
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
Csus4 Csus4 Csus4 Csus4
| | | | |
a live
Vs. II
Cm Cm7
Can you hear the evil crowd
Gm Gm7
The lies and the laughter
Fm7
I hear my insides,
Bb/Eb C/F D/G Eb/Ab
The mechanized hum of a nother world
F/G Cm Cm7
Where no sun is shining
Gm Gm7
No red light flashing
Fm7
Here in this darkness
Bb/Eb C/F
I know what I've done
D/G Eb/Ab
I know all at once who I am
* CHORUS *
F/G Cm
* | |
I'm a book keeper's son
Cm F/G G7
| | ** | |
I don't want to shoot no one
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
Csus4 Csus4
Alive
||
F/G Cm Cm
| | |
Got a case of dyna mite
F/G G7
| ** | |
I could hold out here all night
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb
| | |
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
Csus4 Csus4 Csus4 Csus4
| | | | |
alive
BRIDGE: There is some keyboard and guitar work here which
mostly is played over a 'C' bass note, and although it would
be messy to try to write it out note for note, I think you
can get away with playing these chords: (formations shown below).
|| | |
Cm Fsus4/C F/C Csus4 Cm Fsus4/C F/C G/A F/G
| | | | * |
|| | | ||| |
Cm Fsus4/C F/C G/A F/G C/F D/G Eb/Ab
| | * | | | |
Eb/Ab F/G
| * |
* CHORUS *
F/G Cm
* | |
I'm a book keeper's son
Cm F/G G7
| | ** | |
I don't want to shoot no one
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb
Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
Csus4 Csus4
A live
||
F/G Cm7 Cm7
| | |
Got a case of dyna mite
F/G G7
| ** | |
I could hold out here all night
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb
| |
Well I | crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb Cm
| | | | | |(hold)
a live . . . don't take me alive
* End *
Chord formations: ( 1 to 9 represent fret numbers, but to avoid
confusion, a=10th fret, b=11th fret etc. )
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
XbdcbX XaaaaX 8Xa888 8Xaa88 3X321X 3X343X
Eb/Ab F/G Cm Csus4 F/G G7
* **
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
1x111X 3X333X 4X554X 6X876X 8X888X 3X433X
Fm7 Gm7 Abmaj7 Bb Cm7 Gm
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
X6876X X8a98X XacbaX 8XaabX 8XaaaX XccccX
Bb/Eb C/F D/G Fsus4/C F/C G/A
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About Dont Take Me Alive Chords by Steely Dan
Learn how to play Dont Take Me Alive by Steely Dan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Dont Take Me Alive chords”, “Dont Take Me Alive guitar chords”, or “Steely Dan Dont Take Me Alive chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Dont Take Me Alive chords and for experienced players who want accurate Dont Take Me Alive lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include F/G, G7, Eb/Ab, Cm, Csus4, Fm7.
FAQ — Dont Take Me Alive by Steely Dan
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The chords for "Dont Take Me Alive" show the original chord names (including F/G, G7, Eb/Ab, Cm, Csus4, Fm7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.