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Goodbye – Steve Earle (live in Sydney)
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Version: Steve Earle live at Factory Theatre in Sydney on April 8, 2012
Tuning: Standard with capo on 5th fret.
Key: C (G relative to capo)
Timing 4/4
Tabbed by Robert Saunders
NOTES:
As with most folk-style finger-pickers, I think Steve Earle probably improvises every time he plays
this song. Please note that this is a tab of the live Sydney recording, which is on YouTube and is
the best version I've heard.
In the tab I’ve differentiated between the G (320003) and the Gadd9 (3X0203) chords. Although they
are both G chords with different melody notes, these are the two starting shapes that Steve Earle
uses, moving his second finger down from the 5th string to the 3rd string when he switches from the
G to the Gadd9. The Gadd9 becomes a D7sus4/G (3X021X) when he frets the 2nd string on the 1st fret
with his first finger. When playing the G chord he always frets the 5th string on the 2nd fret
(sometimes with a faint hammer-on) even though he doesn’t pick it.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions on how to improve this tab. I'm sure it's not perfect
but I think it's fairly accurate and it should give you a good idea of the different picking patterns
and variations he uses, and a base from which to improvise.
If you find this tab helpful please rate it so that other people can find it more easily. Thanks.
INTRO:
G G G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-----------0----|-0h1-----0------|----------------|-0---------0----|
G|-------0--------|---------------0|-----------0----|-------0--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--h1------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|-0---------0----|
G|-0h2-----------2|-------2--------|-------------2--|-------2--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-------1----|-0---------0----|--h1------------|---1---0--------|
G|-0--------------|-------0--------|-0h2-----------2|-----------2---0|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
G Gadd9 G Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|---0-------0----|---------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-----------0---2|-------2-------0|-----------0----|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
VERSE 1:
Gadd9 Gadd9 G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0--------|-----------0----|-------0--------|----------------|
G|---------------2|-------2--------|-0-------------0|-------0-------0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
I remember holding on to you
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--h1------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|-0---------0----|
G|--h2------------|-------2--------|-------------2--|-------2-------0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
Em Em C/G C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0-------0|-----------0----|-1--------------|-------1--------|
G|----------------|-------0--------|-2-------------2|-----------2----|
D|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|-3--------3-----|-3-------3------|
All them long and lonely nights that I
G G G Gadd9
E|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-------0-----|-0h1-------3----|---------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-------0---------|-------0-------0|-----------0----|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0--|------0------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
put you through
Gadd9 Gadd9 G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-----------0----|-------0--------|-------0--------|
G|---------------2|-------2--------|---------------0|-----------0---0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
Somewhere in there sure I made you cry
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|-0---------0----|
G|--------2-------|-------2--------|-------------2--|-------2--------|
D|------0------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2--------2-----|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-----------1|----------------|-0h1------------|-----------1----|
G|-0--------------|---0---0--------|-0h2-----------2|-------2--------|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
Can’t remember if we said goodbye
D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-1---------1----|-----------1----|-0--------------|
G|-------2--------|-2-----2--------|-0---------0----|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
CHORUS:
C/G C/G C/G C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-------1----|-0h1------------|-----------1----|----------------|
G|----------------|-------0--------|-------0-------0|-------0-------0|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
I recall all off them nights
C/G G G Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1--------|-0-----0-------0|-----------0----|---------------0|
G|-----------0----|-0---------0----|-------0h2------|-2--------------|
D|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
down in Mex i co One
G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|-----------0----|---------------1|
G|---------0------|-------2--------|-------2--------|-2--------------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
place I may never go in my
D7/F# D7sus4/G G D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--------1--1----|-1---------1----|-0---------0----|--h1-------1----|
G|----------------|-------2--------|-0-----0h2------|-0h2-----------2|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------3------|
life again
D7/F# D7sus4/G Gadd9 G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1--------|-1---------1----|-----------0----|-----------0----|
G|-----------2----|-------2--------|-2-----2-------0|---------------0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
Was I off some where
G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0--------|----------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|
G|---------------0|-------2--------|-------2--------|-------------2--|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
Just too high
D7/F# C/G C/G D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0---------0----|-0h1-----------1|---------1---0--|-0h1------------|
G|-------2--------|-0--------------|---0-----0---0--|-0h2-----------2|
D|-----2-------2--|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|
Well I can't remember if we said
D7/F#
E|----------------|
B|-------1--------|
G|----------------|
D|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|
goodbye
BRIDGE:
D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-1---------1----|-----------1----|-0-------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-------2--------|-2-----2--------|-0---------0----|-------2--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
G G G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-0h1-----0------|----------------|-0---------0----|
G|-0---------0----|---------------0|-----------0----|-------0--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|---------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-----------|-----------0----|-0h1-------------|-0-------------0|
G|-0h2-----------|-------2--------|-------------2---|---------2-----0|
D|-----0------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0--|
A|---------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2-----|-2-------2------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2------|
G G C/G C/G
E|----------------|-3--------------|----------------|-3--------------|
B|-------0-----1--|-----------0----|-0h1----h1-1----|---------------1|
G|-------0--------|----------------|-0-----0--------|-----------0---0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|--h2-0--h2---0--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
G G G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|p0-----1--------|-----------3----|-------3-------3|-------1-------1|
G|-----------0----|---------------0|----------------|---0-------0----|
D|p0---0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
HARMONICA PART:
It's difficult to hear exactly which notes he picks out here but it doesn't much matter what you play
as long as you stick to the chords with the alternating bass and pick the 2nd or 3rd string on the
"and" between beats 2 and 3 in most bars:
G G G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|p0--------------|-------0--------|---------------0|-----------0----|
G|----------------|---------------0|-------0--------|-------0--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|-------1--------|-----------1----|
G|----------------|-------2--------|---------------2|-------2--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1-------1|-----------1----|---------------1|-----------1----|
G|----------------|-------0-------0|-------2--------|-------2-------2|
D|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------2--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------2------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
G G G Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|---------------0|----------------|-----------0---1|---0-------0----|
G|-------0--------|-------0--------|-------0--------|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
VERSE 2:
Same chords as verse 1, with some slightly different picking patterns. The main difference is the
following bit which goes something like this:
Em Em C/G C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0--------|-------0-------0|h1-------------1|-------1--------|
G|h2-------------0|-----------0---0|----------------|--0--------0----|
D|h2---2-------2--|-----2-------2--|h2---2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|h3--------3-----|-3-------3------|
It's like the soft breeze Blowin' up from the Car...
G G G Gadd9
E|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0-----1---------|-3-----------3--|-3-------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-----------------|-------0--------|-----------0----|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0--|------0------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
..ri......be..an
Etc...
REPEAT CHORUS:
Very similar to the first chorus. The main difference is the slide up after "Mexico":
C/G G G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1--------|-----------0----|-0-----0---2----|/3---------3----|
G|-----------0----|-------0--------|-0-----0---1----|/4--------------|
D|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
down in Mex i co That's
G
E|----------------|
B|-3-----0--------|
G|-----------0----|
D|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|
one place I'll never go
Etc...
OUTRO:
D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-1---------1----|-----------1----|-0--------------|-0h1-----0------|
G|-------2--------|-2-----2--------|-0---------0----|---------0-----0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-----------1|---------1---0--|-0h1------------|-------1--------|
G|-0--------------|---0-----0------|-0h2-----------2|-----------2----|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
Can't remember if we said good-
Em Em C/G C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-----------0----|----------------|-----------1----|----------------|
G|-------0-------0|-----------0----|-------0-------0|-----------0----|
D|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
bye Goodbye Good-
G G
E|----------------|------------^3--|
B|-------0--------|-0h1-----0--^0--|
G|-----------0----|------------^0--|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0------^0--|
A|----------------|------------^2--|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3--^3--|
bye
*********************************************************************
p = pull-off
h = hammer-on
/ = slide up
^ = arpeggiate
*********************************************************************
LYRICS & CHORDS:
Chords (relative to capo):
Gadd9: 3X0203
G: 320003 (often switching to 320013 and occasionally 320033)
D7sus4/G: 3X021X
D7/F#: 20021X (often switching to 20020X)
C/G: 33201X
Em: 022000
"Same girl - some girls are just better for songs than others. Different harmonica."
VERSE 1:
Gadd9 Gadd9 G G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
I remember holding on to you
Em Em C/G C/G G G G Gadd9
All them long and, lonely nights that I put you through.
Gadd9 Gadd9 G G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
Somewhere in there, [I’m] sure I made you cry.
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F# D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G
[But] I can't remember if we said goodbye.
CHORUS:
C/G C/G C/G C/G C/G G G Gadd9
[But] I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7sus4/G G D7/F# D7/F#
One place I may never go in my life again
D7sus4/G Gadd9 G G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
Was I off somewhere, just too high?
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F# D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G Gadd9
Well I can't remember if we said goodbye.
BRIDGE:
G G G G
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
G G C/G C/G
G G G G
HARMONICA PART:
G G G G
D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F#
G G G Gadd9
VERSE 2:
Gadd9 Gadd9 G G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
I only miss you ever' now and then.
Em Em C/G C/G G G G Gadd9
It's like the soft breeze, blowing up from the Caribbean.
Gadd9 Gadd9 G G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
Most Novembers I break down and cry.
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F# D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G
Coz I can't remember if we said goodbye.
CHORUS:
C/G C/G C/G C/G C/G G G Gadd9
[But] I recall all of them nights down in Mexico
G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7sus4/G G D7/F# D7/F#
That's one place I'll never go in my life again
D7sus4/G Gadd9 G G D7/F# D7/F# D7/F# D7/F#
Was I off somewhere, just too high?
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F# D7sus4/G D7sus4/G G G
Well I can't remember if we said goodbye.
OUTRO:
C/G C/G D7/F# D7/F# Em Em
Can't remember if we said goodbye
C/G C/G
Goodbye
G G
Goodbye
