-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gord Downie
SECRET PATH ALBUM
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Tabbed by: Pat Malavi
Release date: October 18, 2016
-- Track listing –
1. The Stranger
2. Swing Set
3. Seven Matches
4. I Will Not Be Struck
5. Son
6. Secret Path
7. Don't Let This Touch You
8. Haunt Them, Haunt Them, Haunt Them
9. The Only Place To Be
10. Here, Here and Here
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Track 1 – The Stranger
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Tuning to Open C: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YReQQ5_akME
Open C tuning Standard tuning
--------------- or ---------------
G 7-7-11-x-x-x G 32000x
D x0222x D xx023x
C x0000x C x3201x
[Intro]
G D C
G D C
[Chorus 1]
G D C
I am the stranger, you can’t see me
G D C
I am the stranger, do you know what I mean?
[Verse 1]
G D C
I navigate the mud, I walk above the path
G D C
Jumping to the right, and then I jump to the left
G D C
On a secret path, the one that nobody knows
G D C
And I’m moving fast, on the path nobody knows
[Verse 2]
G D C
And what I’m feeling, is anyone’s guess
G D C
What is in my head, and what’s in my chest
G D C
I’m not gonna stop, I’m just catching my breath
G D C
They’re not gonna stop, please just let me catch my breath
[Chorus 2]
G D C
I am the stranger, you can’t see me
G D C
I am the stranger, do you know what I mean?
[Verse 3]
G D C
That is not my dad, my dad is not a wild man
G D C
Doesn’t even drink, my daddy’s not a wild man
G D C
On a secret path, the one that nobody knows
G D C
And I’m moving fast, on the path nobody knows
[Outro]
G D C
I am the stranger
G D C
I am the stranger
G D C
I am the stranger
G D C
I am the stranger
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Track 2 – Swing Set
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Verse Chorus
----------- -----------
E 0221xx F#m 2442xx
A x0222x A x0222x
Capo 3rd fret
[Pre-Verse]
E
We were at the swing set
E
“Now?” I asked, “not yet” you said
[Verse 1]
E A
Turnin’ round and round in my seat
E A
Chains chiming over my head
E A
When the tension is complete
E A
And there is no way out of it
[Chorus 1]
Fm A Fm A
Now, not yet
Fm A Fm A
Now, not yet
[Verse 2]
E A
Over the rise, on the lawn
E A
Someone draggin’ someone
E A
A kid lookin’ me in the eye
E A
Teacher not lookin’ at anyone
[Chorus 2]
Fm A Fm A
Now, now yes
Fm A Fm A
Now, now yes
[Interlude]
E A Fm
[Verse 3]
E A
I looked behind me only once
E A
Didn’t see nobody chasin’ us
E A
Just my swing dancin’ in the sun
E A
Dancin’ wildly where it was
[Chorus 3]
Fm A Fm A
Now, now yes
Fm A Fm A
Now, now yes
Fm A Fm A
Now yes
Fm A Fm A
Now yes
Fm A Fm A
Now yes
Fm A Fm A E
Now yes
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Track 3 – Seven Matches
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verse Chorus
--------- ---------
D xx023x A x022xx
G 3200xx G 3200xx
[Intro]
D
[Verse 1]
D G
She gave me matches, seven wooden matches
D G
She put them into a small, slim glass jar with a screw-top lid
D G
I fingered that jar, I put it in my pocket
D G
She said, “can’t go into the woods without them”, I smiled at her and left
[Chorus 1]
A G
And I kept them dry, and as long as there were six
A G
I’d be fine, and as long as there were five
[Verse 2]
D G
Matches in that jar, mile after mile
D G
All the chkk-chkk-chkk, chkk sound of the matches, and the memory of her smile
D G
D G
[Chorus 2]
A G
I kept them dry, and as long as there were five
A G
I’d be fine, and as long as there were four
[Verse 3]
D G
Matches in a jar, with a screw-top lid
D G
I know she did not mean to hurt my feelings, but that’s what she did
[Chorus 3]
A G
I kept them dry, and as long as there were three
A G
I’d be fine, as long as there were two
D
Matches in that jar
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Track 4 – I Will Not Be Struck
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Intro + Post-Chorus Verse Chorus
------------------- ---------- ----------
A/C# x422xx Fm x4422x C x3201x
Esus4 0222xx D xx023x Em 02200x
Fm 2442xx A x02220 D xx023x
A x0222x
Capo 5th fret
[Intro]
A/C# Esus4
e|------------------|------------------|
B|------------------|------------------|
G|------------------|------------------|
D|------------------|---------4-2------| x4
A|----4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-2---4---0-----4--|
E|--0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|---0---0-----0-0--|
Fm A
Fm A
[Verse 1]
Fm D
In this earth-like world
Fm D A D
In this earth-like world, before they arrived
Fm D
Under this sun-like star
Fm D A D
Under this sun-like star, they civilized
[Chorus 1]
C Em D
Run along the river, on a Secret Path
C Em D
I will not be struck, I’m not going back
[Post-Chorus 1] – repeat Intro riff
A/C# Esus4 A/C#
I can see father’s face
Esus4 A/C#
Warming his feet by the stove
Esus4 A/C#
We used to have each other
Esus4 Fm A
Now we only have ourselves
[Interlude]
D G
D G
A D
[Verse 2]
Fm D
Then I put my ear
Fm D A D
Then I put my ear, right against the rail
Fm D
So what I couldn’t hear
Fm D A D
What I couldn’t hear, I would feel
[Chorus 2]
C Em D
Run along the river, on a Secret Path
C Em D
I will not be struck, I’m not going back
[Post-Chorus 2] – repeat Intro riff
A/C# Esus4 A/C#
I been staring into space
Esus4 A/C#
Forever or else
Esus4 A/C#
Enter the wilderness
Esus4 Fm A
And we only have ourselves
Fm A
Fm A
Fm A
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Track 5 – Son
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Open C tuning
(tuning to Open-C: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YReQQ5_akME)
[Verse 1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|------------------------------------------------0------|
G|----------------------------------------5-------0------|
C|----------------------------------------5-------0------| x4
G|----7-----5-----7-----5-----7-----5-----5-------0------|
C|----------------------------------------5--------------|
You know that they just can’t re------sist
No man could make them feel ner-----vous
And they put ze----ro in----to it
And their coun--try does--n’t ex------ist
[Chorus 1]
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------5-----5-----5-----5-----5---|---4-----4-----4-----4-----4----|
C|--------4-----4-----4-----4-----4-|-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4--|
G|----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----|-5-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Son, when you dance I’ll be on your
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0----|
C|--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--|
G|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|-0-----0------0----0-----0------|
Shoulder, and you’ll feel it
e|--------------------------0-------------------|
C|-------/5--5--5--5--5--5--0-------------------|
G|-------/5--5--5--5--5--5--0-------------------|
C|-------/5--5--5--5--5--5--0-------------------| x4
G|----0---------------------0-------------------|
C|----0---------------------0------0-----0-0----|
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------5-----5-----5-----5-----5---|---4-----4-----4-----4-----4----|
C|--------4-----4-----4-----4-----4-|-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4--|
G|----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----|-5-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Son, when you dance I’ll be on your
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0----|
C|--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--|
G|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|-0-----0------0----0-----0------|
Shoulder, and you’ll feel it
[Post-Chorus 1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
G|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------0-----|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----------|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------------|
And when some--thing stirs in your heart
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------------|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----0-----|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------0-----|
A feel---ing so strong and in-----tense
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
G|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------0-----|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----------|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------------|
When some—thing oc----curs in your heart
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------------|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----0-----|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------0-----|
And there is----n't a next sen----tence
[Chorus 2]
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------5-----5-----5-----5-----5---|---4-----4-----4-----4-----4----|
C|--------4-----4-----4-----4-----4-|-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4--|
G|----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----|-5-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0----|
C|--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--|
G|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|-0-----0------0----0-----0------|
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------5-----5-----5-----5-----5---|---4-----4-----4-----4-----4----|
C|--------4-----4-----4-----4-----4-|-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4--|
G|----5-----5-----5-----5-----5-----|-5-----5-----5-----5-----5------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Son, when you dance I’ll be on your
e|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|--------------------------------|
G|------2-----2-----2-----2-----2---|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0----|
C|--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0-|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--|
G|----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----|--------------------------------|
C|----------------------------------|-0-----0------0----0-----0------|
Shoulder, and you’ll feel it
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|------------------------------------------------0------|
G|----------------------------------------5-------0------|
C|----------------------------------------5-------0------| x2
G|----7-----5-----7-----5-----7-----5-----5-------0------|
C|----------------------------------------5--------------|
[Verse 2]
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|------------------------------------------------0------|
G|----------------------------------------5-------0------|
C|----------------------------------------5-------0------| x6
G|----7-----5-----7-----5-----7-----5-----5-------0------|
C|----------------------------------------5--------------|
E-----ven as the world con---vul-----ses
Don't stop wish--ing what you wish
E-----ven as the world con---vul-----ses
E-----ven as the world con---vul-----ses
Don't stop wish--ing the things you wish
Don't stop wish--ing what you wish
[Post-Chorus 2]
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
G|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------0-----|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----------|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------------|
And when some--thing stirs in your heart
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------------|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----0-----|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------0-----|
A feel---ing so strong and in-----tense
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
G|-------------------------------------------------0-----|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------0-----|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----------|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------------|
When some—thing oc----curs in your heart
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
C|-----------------0------------------0------------------|
G|----------10-----------------10-----------10-----0-----|
C|----0------------------0-------------------------0-----|
And there is----n't a next sen----tence
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Track 6 – Secret Path
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Chorus and Bridge
-----------------
F# 244xxx
B x244xx
E 0221xx
Capo 1st fret
[Intro]
e|-----------------------|
B|-----------------------|
G|-----------------------|
D|-----------------------| x4
A|-----------------------|
E|--0---0---0---0---0-0--|
[Verse 1]
e|-------4---------------|-------2---------------|
B|---2-4-----------------|---2-4-----------------|
G|-----------------------|-----------3---1-------|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------| x4
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---0-0-0---0---0---0---|---0-0-0---0---0---0---|
Freezing rain, and ice pellets
Walking home, I’m covered in it
Walking home, all along the tracks
Secret path, did you say secret pa...
[Chorus 1]
F# B E
a--th?
B E B E
Pale blue, doesn’t do what they
B E B E
Said it’d do, it’s just a jacket
B E B E
It’s a windbreaker, it’s not a jean jacket, it’s
B E
They call it a windbreaker
[Verse 2]
e|-------4---------------|-------2---------------|
B|---2-4-----------------|---2-4-----------------|
G|-----------------------|-----------3---1-------|
D|-----------------------|-----------------------| x4
A|-----------------------|-----------------------|
E|---0-0-0---0---0---0---|---0-0-0---0---0---0---|
Walking home, all along the tracks
Secret path, he said secret path
I am soaked, --- to the skin
There’s never been, a colder rain that this one
[Chorus 2]
F# B E
I’m in
B E B E
Pale blue, doesn’t do what they
B E B E
Said it’d do, it’s not my jacket
B E B E
It’s a windbreaker, it’s not my jean jacket, it’s
B E
Just a windbreaker
[Bridge]
F# E F# E
And the fuck-off rocks, along the tracks
F# E F# E B
Secret path, there’s no secret path
[Verse 3]
e|----------4---------------|-------2---------------|
B|------2-4-----------------|---2-4-----------------|
G|--------------------------|-----------3---1-------|
D|--------------------------|-----------------------| x2
A|--------------------------|-----------------------|
E|------0-0-0---0---0---0---|---0-0-0---0---0---0---|
And the freezing rain, and the ice pellets
Coat the rail, so I can’t even tightrope it
End with B-chord
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Track 7 – Don't Let This Touch You
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chorus Verse Bridge
------------- ------------- -------------
A/C# x4222x A x0222x Dsus2 xx023x
Dsus2 xx0230 Dsus2 xx023x A x0222x
A x02220 F#m 2442xx
Bm x2443x
Capo 2nd fret
[Chorus 1]
A/C# Dsus2 A
Don't let this touch you
A Dsus2 A/C#
Don't let this touch you
[Verse 1]
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
Words are birds, words are snow
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
Words whisper, words don't make the rain go
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
Wilderness, can't be done
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
Unfinished, can't be done
[Chorus 2]
A/C# A A/C# A
Don't let it touch you
A Dsus2 A/C#
Don't let this touch you
[Verse 2]
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
Words are blanks, words are ghosts
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
Words are god, words don't make the rain go
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
I'm confused, by freedom
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
What do you do, with freedom?
[Bridge]
Dsus2 A
I heard them in the dark, heard the things they do
F#m Dsus2
I heard the heavy whispers, whispering, ‘don't let this touch you'
Bm
How-how
A
How-how
F#m
How-how
Dsus2
How-how
[Chorus 3]
A/C# Dsus2 A
Don't let this touch you
A Dsus2 A/C#
Don't
A/C# Dsus2 A
Don't let this touch you
A Dsus2 A/C#
Don't
[Outro]
Dsus2 A Dsus2 A Dsus2
His glowing face, ----- by the stove
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
His orange face, --- daddy make the rain go
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
A Dsus2 A Dsus2
A
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Track 8 – Haunt Them, Haunt Them, Haunt Them
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Em 02200x
G 32000x
Am x0221x
Em/F# 222xxx
Capo 4th fret
[Intro]
Em G Am G
[Verse 1]
Em
I think I'm in despair, the wind is in the trees
G
Basically, just waiting for something to come along and eat me
Am
Is this future's gate, where my dreams retreat
G
And all my memories are just memories of memories?
Em
And a-folded in a dream, pitch-black and glowing blue
G
A raven saying, “I know a way that I can help you”
Am
Oh-oh, I stared into his eyes, I saw my pale last days
G
Said, “What you can't escape, you gotta embrace”
[Chorus 1]
Em G
Ah-oh, I know a way to get back, this don't have to end
Am G
A way to get back, and haunt them, haunt them, haunt them
Em G Am G
[Verse 2]
Em
Then he wished me plain, as he flew away
G
Said I'd see him coming on that pale last day
Am
And he wished me plain, ordinary death
G
Said he'd be back after I escaped it
[Chorus 2]
G
Oh, I've seen how they are, how they'd all sell their souls
Em Em/F# Em
In little bits and pieces, ‘til they get old
G
They don't make a dent, in indifference
Em Em/F# Em
We'll haunt them, haunt them, haunt them
[Musical Interlude]
[Chorus 3]
Em G
But I want to go back, if this is the end
Am G
I want to go back, not to “haunt them, haunt them, haunt them”
Em G
Not to haunt them, haunt them
Am G
Not to haunt them, haunt, haunt
Em G
Haunt them, haunt them
Am G
Em
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Track 9 – The Only Place To Be
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verse Chorus
--------- ------------
D xx023x Bb x1333x
A x0222x D xx023x
A x0222x
A/C# x4222x
[Intro]
D A D
Bah-huh-uh, bah-huh-uh
Bb D
Ahh-ahh-ahh
Bb D
Ahh-ahh-ahh
Bb D
Ahh-ahh-ahh
A A/C#
Ahhh (here we go)
[Verse 1]
D
I'll just close my eyes, I'll just catch my breath
A D
This is the only place to be
D
I've got lots of time, my whole life ahead
A D
This is the only place to be
[Chorus 1]
Bb D
It's an, earth-like world
Bb D
It's cold and real
Bb D
With a sun-like star
A A/C#
I can feel
[Verse 2]
D
I am for the wolf, pitch-black and yellow eyes
A D
This is the only place to be
D
For the raven arriving first to get my eyes
A D
This is the only place to be
D
And I'm for the poor sun, always against the mindless night
A D
This is the only place to be
D
And I'm for the wind, in the pale blue sky
A D
This is the only place to be
[Chorus 2]
Bb D
On this, earth-like world
Bb D
It's cold and real
Bb D
With a sun-like star
A A/C#
You can feel
[Verse 3]
D
I'll just close my eyes, I'll just catch my breath
A D
This is the only place to be
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Track 10 – Here, Here and Here
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 0221xx
F# 2443xx
B x244xx
Repeat riff at end of each line:
e|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|----1---1-1---2----| x4
A|----2---2-2---2----|
E|-------------------|
E F# B E
I feel, here, here, and here
E F# B E
I hurt, here, here, and here
E F# B E
I live, here, here, and here
E F# B E
I died, here, here, and here
E F# B E
You sign, here, here, and here
E F# B E
Here, here, here, and here
E F# B E
Here, here, here, and here
