James - America

Taken from the single Sometimes

Written and performed by James

Backing Riff:

e----------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------0------0----------------------------0------
D------2------2----------------------0------0-------4---4---4----
A--0-0---0--0---0-3-3---3--3---3----------------5-5---5-------5--
E--------------------------------3-3---3--3---3------------------

Slide Riff:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D--5/7---7/9-9/10-10--10\5-5---5/7----------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Main Riff:

e--3/5-5---5-5---5-5--3/5-5---5-5---5-5--5\3-3---3-3---3-3--3\2-2-2-2--
B--------5-----5------------5-----5------------3-----3-----------------
G----------------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------

Song Structure:

This a song of two halves.  In the opening quiet half two guitars play.  The backing riff, presumably played by Jim because Saul's fiddling, is repeated until the drums kick in, although a slightly slow variation is played at the very start of the song.  Larry's Slide Riff is is also repeated continuously until the drums kick in, at which point the backing riff drops out and Larry starts playing the Main Riff.  Although this Main Riff only occurs at two points, variations crop up throughout the rest of the song.
And the chords never change from a progression of Am C G D.

Lyrics/Chords:

            Am      C      G      D
We're going dow-ow-own on America-ah

      Am      C      G      D
Going dow-ow-own on America-ah

 
    Am
You made me blush

You made me scream

    C
But was it pain or ecstasy?

G
I was never sure

      D
I was never sure

 
    Am
You sucked the life right out of me

   C
My loving cup was well received

G
Everyone was thrilled

     D
Everyone was thrilled

 

Going down on America

Going down on America

 

The priceless jewels,

The rush of fame

I want to play your heady game

Deeper than before

Deeper than before

Those swollen lips I can resist

Just aching for a prince's kiss

Longer than before

Longer than before

 

Going down on America

Going down on America

On America, on America, on America, on America



  
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk