Song: This Is Not America (Single Version)
Artist: David Bowie with Pat Metheny Group (1985)
Album: The Falcon & The Snowman OST
URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Not_America;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP_oVzNb3Pc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_bzqyu_4N0 (Live)
Style: Jazz-inspired Rock Eulogy
Tuning: Standard
Capo 3
Chords:
EADGBe
Em 022000
Bm/D XX0432
Cmaj7 X32000
Em6/C# X45450
F#m7 242222
Gmaj7 320002
Em7 022030
Am7 X02010
Bm X24432
Bm7 X24232
Em 022000
Fm XX3111
Cm/D# XX1013
Fm6/D XX0111
Gm7 353333
C#maj7 X46564
G#maj7 465544
A#m7 X13121
INTRO:(Bass Riff 1, over) x3
g||—————————————————|————-————————|——————-———-——|—————————————|
D||—————————————————|—————-———————|——————————-——|—————————————|
A||—-10——10^10——10——|—-8—-8^8-—8——|——6-–6^6–-6——|—-8—-8^8-—8——|
E||—————————————————|——————-——————|—————-———————|—————————————|
INTRO:
Em Bm/D Cmaj7 Bm/D
This is not America
Em7
[Sh-la-la-la]
VERSE 1:
Bm/D Cmaj7
A little piece of you,
Bm/D Cmaj7
The little peace in me.
Em Bm/D
Will die,
Cmaj7 Bm/D Em
For this is not America.
BRIDGE 1:
Bm/D Cmaj7
Blossom fails to bloom,this season.
Bm/D Em Bm/D
Promise not to stare,too long.
Em6/C# F#m7
For this is not a miracle.
VERSE 2:
Gmaj7 Em7
There was a time,
Cmaj7 Am7
A storm that blew so pure.
Bm
For this could be the biggest sky,
Bm7
And I could have,
Em6/C#
The faintest idea.
CHORUS 1:
Cmaj7 Bm7
For this is not America.
Em Bm/D
[Sh-la-la-la]
Em6/C#
[Sh-la-la-la]
Bm/D
[Sh-la-la-la]
:: KEY CHANGE - Step Up 1+ ::
BRIDGE 2:
Fm Cm/D# C#maj7
This is not America, no -
Cm/D#
This is not -
Fm
[Sh-la-la-la]
VERSE 3:
Fm
Snowman melting,
Cm/D#
From the inside.
C#maj7
Falcon spirals,
Cm/D# Fm Cm/D#
To the ground.
C#maj7
So bloody red,
Cm/D#
Tomorrow’s clouds.
BRIDGE 3:
Fm Cm/D# C#maj7
A little piece of you,
Cm/D# Cmaj7
The little peace in me.
Fm Cm/D#
Will die,
Fm6/D Gm7
For this is not America.
VERSE 4:
G#maj7 Fm
There was a time,
C#maj7 A#m7
A wind that blew so young.
Cm7
For this could be the biggest sky,
Fm6/D
And I could have the faintest idea.
CHORUS 2:
Fm C#maj7 Cm7
But his is not America,
Fm Cm/D#
[Sh-la-la-la]
C#maj7
[Sh-la-la-la]
Cm/D#
[Sh-la-la-la]
CODA & BRIDGE 4: X2
Fm Cm/D# C#maj7
This is not America, no -
Cm/D#
This is not,
Fm Cm/D# C#maj7
This is not America, no -
Cm/D#
This is not.
[Cm/D#] (Hold & Fade) x4
[End]
NOTES:
1. I commenced to undertake a TAB of the ‘Extended Version 3’ of this song but found the long rambling
arrangement difficult to TAB. Moreso, when it's a terrible edit and clumsy insertion of Bowies lyrics.
Hence, I have deferred and attempted to capture the essence of the original Pat Metheny Group arrangement,
as depicted on the ’Single’ version.
2. Just to make it more accessible, take note of the UG ’simplify chords’ button on the left-hand side. :-R
