James - What For

Taken from the album Strip Mine

Written and performed by James


Main Riff Version 1:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3-2--------2------------------
A--3------------------5-------5-3h5----5p3-3------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Main Riff Version 2:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3-2----3-2--------------------
A--3------------------5-------5------5h7p5-3------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Main Riff Version 3:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----5-5--3p2h3-5-3p2---2-3h5p3-2---2--3h5p3-2----------
A--3------------------5-----------5------------5-3------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Chorus Riff:

e----------------------------------------3--------------
B----5-3------5-3---------5-3------5-3------------------
G--5-----5--5-----5-----5-----5--5-----5----------------
D-------------------5-----------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Song Structure:

The song starts with the Main Riff, after a fashion.  The Riff appears in a number of guises with a number of endings, and all of them are tabbed above.  These are played throughout the song.  During the verses the odd slashes of appropriate chord are all that are played.  During the chorus the Chorus Riff is played.  And these chords shouldn't be too hard, C F G is the progression that repeats for the entire song.
The song ends with a long IMPROVISATION.  This means YOU MAKE IT UP YOURSELF, I DON'T HAVE TO TAB IT FOR YOU.

Lyrics/Chords:

  C    F                    G
Today, I won't think of any sad things.

         C                F              G
Will not think of torture or the rape of nature.

     C      F                   G
Just today, I won't touch those sickening papers.

          C              F                  G
Will just let myself get swept away by this beautiful day.


What for, tell me, tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

 

The sunset tonight is beyond all words

In the sky above the square, starlings spiral, dancing on air.

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

 

I will pass through the glass into air past those birds

In the square, I am sun, I am sky in my mind's eye

 

Today, I will dive into foaming seas

Sick fish, myself, and some strange debris.

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

Oh I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

I would prefer to be anywhere away from here

 

What for, tell me tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for

 

I will pass through the glass into air past those birds

In the square I am sun I am sky

 

What for, tell me tell me, what for

What for, tell me, tell me, what for


  
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk