Music From Big Pink

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The Band
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Album: Music from Big Pink
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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
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Track 1. Tears of Rage
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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.
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We Ccarried you in our Amarms on FIndependence DmDay
BbAnd now you'd throw us all Faside and Cput us all away
Oh, what dear daughter 'neath the Amsun could Ftreat a father so?Dm  
BbTo wait upon him Fhand and foot and Calways tell him "No"
(Chorus:)
E7Tears of rage, Amtears of grief
FWhy must I always Cbe the thief?
E7Come to me now, you know we're Amso low
FAnd life is C7briefFmaj7  C  
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)
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Track 2. To Kingdom Come
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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.
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BForefather pointed to kingdom come
F#Sadly told his only son
AJust 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)
ADon't you say a Eword
Or reveAal a thing Eyou've learned
ATime will telG#ml you weC#mll
If you trF#muly, truAly feBll
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.
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Track 3. In A Station
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by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink
© 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
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COnce I Emwalked through the Fhalls of a Dmstation
GSomeone called your C7name
CIn the Emstreet I heard Fchildren Dmlaughing
GThey all sound the C7same
CWonder, could you ever Fknow me
CKnow the reason why I Glive
CIs there nothing you can Fshow me
EbLife seems so F/Glittle to Cgive
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
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Track 4. Caledonia Mission
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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".
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She Greads the leaves and she Cleads the life
That she Glearned so well from the Dold wives
It's so Emstrange to arDrange it, Cyou know I wouldn't Dchange it
But Emhear me if you're Dnear me, Ccan I just rearDrange it?
G7The watchman covers me
G7With his remedy
G7I can't see and it's hard to feel
DI think his magic Cmight be DrealG  
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
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Track 5. The Weight
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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
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AI pulled into NC#mazareth, was Dfeelin' about half past Adead;
I just need some C#mplace where DI can lay my Ahead.
"Hey, mister, can you C#mtell me where a Dman might find a bAed?"
He just grinned and C#mshook my hand, and D"No!", was all he said.A  
(Chorus:)
ATake a Eload off DFanny, Atake a Eload for Dfree;
A E D
Take a loAad Doff 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)
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Track 6. We Can Talk
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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".
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DWe can talk aEm7bout Dit Gnow
It's that Asame old riddle only starting from the middle
I'd Dfix it but I Emdon't Dknow Ghow
Well, we Acould try to reason but you might think it's treason
GOne voice for all
F  E7Echoing across the Ahall
BmDon't give up on Gfather clock
AWe can talk about it nowD  A  
DCome, let me Emshow Dyou Ghow
To Akeep the wheels turnin' you've got to keep the engine churnin'
Did Dyou ever Emmilk Da Gcow
I Ahad the chance one day but I was all dressed up for Sunday
GEverybody, everyFwhere
E7Do you really Acare
BmPick up your heads and Gwalk
AWe can talk about it nowD  G7  
It Cseems to me we've been E7holding something Funderneath our tongues
I'm aCfraid if you ever got a E7pat on the back
It would Flikely burst your Glungs
Woh, Astop me, if E7I should sound kinda Adown in the E7mouth
But I'd Arather be burned in E7Canada than to Afreeze here in the south
DPulling that eEmternDmal Gplough
We've got to Afind a sharper blade or have a new one made
DRest awhile and Emcool Dyour Gbrow
Don't need it, Ano need to slave, the whip is in the grave
GNo salt, no Ftrance
It's E7safe now to take a Abackward glance
The Bmleaves have turned to Gchalk
AWe can talk about it now,D  A  D  
AWe can talk about it nowD  
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Track 6. Long Black Veil
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by M.J.Wilkin and D.Dill. Album: Music from Big Pink
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GTen years ago on a cool dark night
There was Dsomeone killed 'neath the Ctown hall Glight
GThere were few at the scene and they all did agree
That the Dman who ran looked a Clot like Gme
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
She Cwalks these Ghills in a Clong black Gveil
She Cvisits my Ggrave where the Cnight winds Gwail
GNobody knows, no, and Cnobody Gsees
CNobody Gknows Dbut Cme
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
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Track 7. Chest Fever
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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".
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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
ETheDy say she's a chooser, but I just can't refuse her
A/EShe was just there, but then she can't be here no more
E B D E B
And Das my miEnd unweaves, I feel the freeze down in my knees
But Bjust beDfore she Eleaves, F#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
ItG#'s long, long when she's gone, C#mI 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
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Track 9.Lonesome Suzie
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by Richard Manuel. Album: Music from Big Pink
© 1968, 1970 Dwarf Music
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CLoneE7some AmSuzie, Fmaj7never Bbgot the Cbreaks
She's E7always Amlosing Gso she sits and cries and shakes
CIt's E7so hard just to Amwatch her, Fand Bbif I Ctouch her
Eb Bb C Am C G
Oh, Cpoor 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
AnyE7one who's Amfelt that bad could Fmaj7tell me Bbwhat to Csay
Even E7if she'd just Amget mad, Gshe might be better off that way
CAnd where is E7all the Amunderstanding
Fmaj7Her problems Bbcan't be Cthat demanding
EbWhy Bbis it she Clooks that wAmay
CEvery time Gsus4she starts to Ccry?
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,
Dm7What else G7can we Cdo?
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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.
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If your meAmmory serves you well
Bo7
We're going to meet again and wait
So I'm goEing to unpack all my things
And sit before iFt gets too latDmeAm  
No Cman alive will cAmome to you
With aCnother tale to tAmell
And you knCow that we shall mAeet again
If your meFmory seDmrves you wAmell
CHORUS:
DmThis wheel's on fFire, rolCling down the rGoadG7  
Best nCotifGy my neFxt of kCin
TFhis wheel sGhall expAlode!
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)
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Track 11. I Shall Be Released
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by Bob Dylan. Album: Music from Big Pink
© 1967,1970 Dwarf Music
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EThey say everything can be reF#mplaced
G#mThey say every Adistance Bis not Enear
So I remember every F#mface
G#mOf every Aman who Bput me EhereB  
(Chorus:)
EI see my light come F#mshinin'
G#mFrom the Awest unBto the Eeast
Any day now, F#many day now
G#mI Ashall be BreEleased
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)
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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)
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All chords in this song (24)

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