Hank Williams
I'll Be A Bachelor Till I Die
Intro: Here are three alternate-octave riffs you can toy around with to simulate
the lap-steel guitar.
The 3rd is closest to the steel version, but I think any riff will work depending
on what you're going for.
The 2nd version acts as a template for starting the guitar solo after the first verse.
If you can use a slide, it sounds even better.
Intro chords: D A D
1st: Low-octave riff:
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------2~~--2-4-2-----------------------|
D|-------0---0-2-4-----------0-4-2-0------4---------|
A|-0-2-4---4----------------------------0-----------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
2nd: Same riff up an octave:
e|--------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------7-10~~-10-12-10---7----------7-----|
G|-----6-7-6-7-9-----------------7---9-7------------|
D|-7-9--------------------------------------7-------|
A|--------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------|
3rd: Same riff, up yet another octave:
e|----------------------14-17~~17-19-17----14-------------14|
B|-------14-15-14-15-17-----------------15----17-15---------|
G|-14-16------------------------------------------------14--|
D|----------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
VERSE 1:
D
I'll take you to the picture show and babe I'll hold your hand
D7
I'll sit up in your parlor let you cool me with your fan
G D
I'll listen to your troubles and pet you when you cry
A7 D
But get that marryin' out of your head I'll be a bachelor till I die
Guitar solo (I’m 99% certain of this. Listen to the song for precise timing):
D
e|----------------------7----------------------------7-10--|
B|---------------7-10-----10-----10--------------/7-10-----|
G|-------7-7-7-7-------------9/11--11\9p7---7-7------------|
D|-7-9-7---------------------------------9p7---------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|
D7 G
e|-10-7-----------------------------------10---10---10---10-|
B|------10--------------77777------------12---12---12---12--|
G|---------br9p7-7-7--7-10bbr7----------12---12---12---12---|
D|----------------9-----------9-8-7----12---12---12---12----|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
D
e|-9-10-12-10p9--7-9p7\5------7-------7-------------------------|
B|-------------------------10--------------------------10-12-10-|
G|------------------------------bbrr10--br9-7---7-7-/11---------|
D|-------------------------------------------9p7----------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------|
A7 D
e|-----------------------------|
B|-----10-------------------10-|
G|-9/11--11\9p7----7-7--9/11---|
D|-------------9p7-------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|
VERSE 2:
D
I don't mind honky tonkin' round if that will bring you fun
D7
But somehow I can't understand how one and one makes one
G D
I like to cuddle near you and listen to you lie
A7 D
But get that marryin' out of your head I'll be a bachelor till I die
(Fiddle Solo)
VERSE 3:
D
Now if you want a help mate you're just wasting lots of time
D7
Cause I'm afraid of church bells how they scare me when they chime
G D
I've seen those married people just up and say goodbye
A7 D
So keep that marryin' out of your head I'll be a bachelor till I die
(Steel Solo, ends with opening riff)
VERSE 4:
D
This freedom's mighty precious in this land of liberty
D7
I've seen what matrimony done to better men than me
G D
I don't mind keepin' comp'ny with the apple of my eye
A7 D
But keep that marryin' out of your head I'll be a bachelor till I die
*This Williams Sr. (waaayy better than jr.) tune worked out by the long-gone
daddy, Starcat. [email protected]
