First of all, this is the bass line throughout the entire song.
Every "-" indicates an eighth note
G|--------|--------|
D|--------|--------|
A|5---5---|5---5235|
E|--5---5-|--5-----|
The bassline starts, the after a few measures, the guitar kicks in with this...
Dm
e|--1---1-|
B|--3---3-|
B|2-2---2-|
D|--0-0-0-|
A|--------|
E|--------|
This is the pluck/strum pattern that is consistent throughout the entire song, it is
easy, just pluck the third string, then strum the entire chord, then pluck the fourth
then strum the entire chord. The lead instrument in the song is the banjo, and I do not
banjo so I cannot give you that tab. But this is the guitar.
Dm
I had me a wife, I had me some daughters.
Am
I tried so hard, I never knew still waters.
Dm
Nothing to eat and nothing to drink.
Dm
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Dm Am Dm
Nothing for a man to do but sit around and think.
Dm
Well, I'm a-thinkin' and a-thinkin', till there's nothin' I ain't thunk.
Am
Breathing in the stink, till finally I stunk.
Dm
It was at that time, I swear I lost my mind.
Dm
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
Dm Am Dm
I started making plans to kill my own kind.
(Banjo kicks in)
Dm
"Come, little daughter," I said to the youngest one,
Am
"Put your coat on, we'll have some fun.
Dm
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We'll go out to the mountains, the one to explore."
Dm
Her face, it lit up, I was standing by the door.
Dm Am Dm
Her face, it lit up, I was standing by the door.
Dm
"Come, little daughter, I will carry the lanterns.
Am
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caverns.
Dm
We'll go out tonight, we'll go to the caves.
Dm
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves.
Dm Am Dm
Kiss your mother goodnight and remember that God saves."
(For this verse, the guitar part is only a percussive raking of the strings, Gordon
just strikes on the quarter notes but sometimes he mixes it up and plays a few eighth or
beats)
I led her to a hole, a deep black well.
I said "make a wish, make sure and not tell
And close your eyes dear, and count to seven.
Know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven.
Know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven."
(No guitar for this verse)
I gave her a push, I gave her a shove.
I pushed with all my might, I pushed with all my love.
I threw my child into a bottomless pit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
She was screaming as she fell, but I never heard her hit.
(Continues with percussive quarter note strums.)
(The bridge for the guitar is the same as the first verse, I have listened to the song
closely and any leads or solos are banjo or bass, the guitar just strums)
(The next two verses are just percussive rakes of the strings)
Gather 'round, boys, to the tale that I tell.
You wanna know how to take a short trip to hell?
It's guaranteed to get your own place in hell.
Just take your lovely daughter and push her in the well.
Take your lovely daughter and throw her in the well.
Don't speak to me of lovers with a broken heart.
You wanna know what will really tear you apart?
I'm going out to the barn, with a never-stoppin' pain...
I'm going out to the barn, to hang myself in shame.
