Forums » Gillian Welch and David Rawlings "Guitar Tabs"
Company Grave Blues?
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Anyone willing to take a stab at the chords for Company Grave Blues? I absolutely love this song, and only just started playing acoustic guitar two weeks ago, so there is no way I can work this stuff out on my own yet. Here are the lyrics, and a recording. There's also a great version that opens the Lexington 1999 show from Spontaneous Wednesday's rocking collection if anyone's got that one.
A company girl of tender age,
A company girl of tender age,
I came to know my mother's trade.
We're up at dark and on the line,We're up at dark and on the line,
Where morning cracks and spindle wide.
Each night I hear her cough and curse,Each night I hear her cough and curse,
Through restless eyes, a bedside nurse.
Now by her side, I'll end the chill, (* I hear, "all damp and chill," but I could be wrong.)Now by her side, I'll end the chill,
I'll lay her down in a potters field.
I'd rather die and blow away,I'd rather die and blow away,
Than take my rest in a company grave.
I'd rather die and blow away.
(Incidentally the verses are ordered differently in the live version from 1999... like those better than this.)
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these are the lyrics i hear:
A company girl of tender age
A company girl of tender age
I came to know my mother's trade
It’s up at dark and on the line
It’s up at dark and on the line
Where the morning cracks and spindles whine*
It’s up at dark and on the line
At night I hear her cough and curse
At night I hear her cough and curse
Through restless hours, a bedside nurse
I'd rather die and blow away
I'd rather die and blow away
Than to take my rest in a company grave
I'd rather die and blow away
Now by her side, all damp and chill
Now by her side, all damp and chill
I'll lay her down in a potters field
*"spindles whine" - an image used again directly in revelator -
These lyrics were the ones posted with the YouTube video. "Spindle wide" doesn't make any sense but I wasn't paying much attention when I pasted them.
Oh, and thanks for the chords, Jason. Those seem to be the same and same capo for the version of Wichita that I know.
This post was edited by RunningRattie at November 19, 2012 12:44 PM PST -
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thanks RunningRattie and Gibsongirl for the lyrics for this song. It is one that I would like to learn as well. I had a go at figuring out the chords. There are some twists to it. In the last verse the song line deviates with this e min chord. Also, in the intro, in the instrumental bit and in the last verse the rhythm goes unexpected. This is what I make of it ...
capo on 3
intro
G G G G
one two three
G G G G
G G G G
G D G
A company girl of tender age
C C G
A company girl of tender age
D D G
I came to know my mother's trade
We're up at dark and on the line
We're up at dark and on the line
Where the morning cracks and spindles whine*
G G G G
Each night I hear her cough and curse
Each night I hear her cough and curse
Through restless hours, a bedside nurse
Now by her side, all damp and chill
Now by her side, all damp and chill
I'll lay her down in a potters field
(INSTRUMENTAL)
G G G G
D G G G G
G G G D G
I'd rather die ... and blow away
C C C G
I'd rather die and blow away
C C G Emin Emin
Than to take my rest in a company grave ...
D D D G
I'd rather die and blow away
This post was edited by niels at August 25, 2013 3:00 AM PDT -