James - English Beefcake

Taken from the album Pleased To Meet You

Written and performed by James

Lead 1:

       Bm         D            A            Em
e------7-----|-----5-------|-----5-----|----------------------
B----7---7---|-------7-----|-------5---|-----------8--8p7-----
G----------7-|---7-----7---|---6-----6-|---------9--------h9--
D--9---------|-7---------7-|-7---------|-11-11p9--------------
A------------|-------------|-----------|----------------------
E------------|-------------|-----------|----------------------

Lead 2:

         D               A                    G
e------5---5-----|-----5---5-----|-----3--3------5-3----5-3---
B--------7---7---|-------5---5---|----------3--------3-----3--
G----7---------7-|---6---------6-|---4--------4---------------
D--7-------------|-7-------------|-5--------------------------
A----------------|---------------|----------------------------
E----------------|---------------|----------------------------

Song Structure:

The song begins on a chord of Bm.  When the violin kicks in a chord progression of Bm D A Em 
starts up which stays throughout the verses and violin solos.  During the chorus the progression 
alters slightly to Bm A D Em.  During this period the guitar part Lead 1 is played, repeatedly.  
The chords are marked so you can follow it during the chorus too (note, the |'s are NOT bar lines, 
but a convenient way of distinguishing which part goes with which chord).

After the second violin solo the song is held on an Em until Tim starts singing the 
"Unable to break obsession" ending, at which point the chords change to D A G G.  After a couple of 
repetions of the vocals the guitar part Lead 2 kicks in.  Note that when Tim sings "STILL unable to 
break obsession" instead of "Unable to break obsession" the chord progression becomes D A A G i.e. 
hold the A chord for longer and the G chord for less time.  This is why I've again marked the chords 
on the Lead line.  Towards the end of the ending another guitar kicks in just playing the chords.
And if you're wondering, the original version on the Brixton 2000 bootleg has the same chord structure.

Lyrics/Chords:

  Bm
I wish I could create myself

  D
A cool machine

Designed to help

    A                   Em
Not always hurting

 
     Bm
Just plug me in

And do the rounds

  D
Impress your friends


Save yourself pounds 

     A                  Em
I'll not be wanting

 

I wish that things could be that way

But every dog must have its day

The orchestra's tuning

 

I understand your suffering

I've felt the same sting in my heart

That's why I'm singing

 
Bm               A
Drifting away as lovers do

D                 Em
Heads you win and tails I lose

Bm
Nothing to say

         A
And much less to do

  D
Unhappy me

  Em
Unhappy you

 

I know you want it all to end

Transform a love into a friend

Magicians can do

 

Gut feelings come

Gut feelings go

Like rivers we have no control

They just keep flowing

 

Yes I wish I could create myself

A cool machine

Or someone else

A lot less knowing

 

Drifting away as lovers do

Heads you win and tails I lose

Nothing to say

And much less to do

Unhappy me

Unhappy you

 

Love can heal

And love can sting

Heads you lose and tails I win

Unhappy me

Unhappy you

Nothing to say

And much less to do

 

D                     A
   There's nothing to say
         
                 G
I get in the way

Unable to break obsession


D                     A
   There's nothing to say
         
I get in the way

          G
Still unable to break obsession



  
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk