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The Coat Is Always On by Cat Power
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From 1996's 'What Would the Community Think'. This is actually a really creepy song,
with multiple vocal tracks going on at once and some fairly disturbing lyrics. Chan is
singing the main verses of the song, while a male voice sings the asides, and Chan
occasionally comes in and sings these aside verses as well. I've denoted those with
parentheses. I
think the guy singing with her may be Steve Shelley, but there is nothing in the liner
notes that gives the anonymous voice credit. Anyway, the guitar part is pretty freakin' easy.
Tabbed by: Scott H.
Tuning: Standard
Chords:
B5 Em
e|------ ------|
B|------ ------|
G|------ ------|
D|--4--- --2---|
A|--4--- --2---|
E|--2--- --0---|
Repeat B5-Em progression throughout entire song.
Lyrics:
Mother, don't sit
Mother, don't stand
Mother, don't send me
Sister, come and lay your head on me
(Smoking grass, go into the movie
The ambulence is after you too
Promise we were gonna go to New York City)
I can see you haven't had any sleep in a long time
(Sorry about the fight in front of you
Anchorwoman said "motherfucker" on TV)
That baby's gonna be so easy on me
Never see his smile
Never see his face
Father said he was gonna give me something
(Smoking grass, go into the movie
The ambulence is after you too)
He gave me hate
(Promise we were going to go to New York City)
Mother, don't sit
(Sorry about the fight in front of you)
Mother don't stand
(Anchorwoman said "motherfucker" on TV)
Mother, don't send me
Brother can't even speak
(The coat is always on because it's always cold)
He's got a tongue and two legs to walk on
(You always laugh when she wants to hear it
A lot of times we would just starve)
And he can leave
(They recognize the color of the smear)
Brother is old and gray
(Maybe you'll all listen when you can read my mind)
Brother is old and gray
(I'm sorry, don't be mad)
Brother is old and gray
(You always laugh when she wants to hear it)
And he's only
(A lot of times we would just starve)
He's only seventeen
Father said he was gonna give me something
(We recognize the color of the smear)
He gave me hate
(Maybe we will listen when we're all under)
Mother, don't sit
Mother, don't stand
Mother, please don't send me
(Maybe we will all listen when we're all under)
What happened to home?
(Anchorwoman said "motherfucker on TV")
What happened to home sweet...
(Maybe I'll listen when you can read my mind
Sorry, please don't be mad)
What happened to home sweet home?
