Johnny Cash - Bird On A Wire
Standard tuning
Tab - Lokki - TheSmokinGum
www.facebook.com/thesmokingum
Hey guys, doing a record of this song and thought I'd share with you how we played it.
It is very very close to the record version that Johnny Cash did on the album CASH.
Props to Mr. Rittard for his tab which was very close, but I do believe this is closer.
Share your thoughts and comment for any suggestions!
I have done my best to get the chords in time with the words, you need to listen to the
song to get the strumming, to sound like the record, use your thumb and strum the bass
note first.
OK - Some NOTES!
The song uses F Bb C G7 and F7 leading into the chorus. We found it better to use open
chords where possible
F C Bb G7 F7
e|-1--0--1---1--1-|
B|-1--1--3---3--1-|
G|-2--0--3---0--2-|
D|-3--2--3---0--1-|
A|-3--3--1---2--3-|
E|-1--3------3--1-|
The strumming looks something like this., I use only my thumb (d= down, u = up):
F C F Bb
d d u d d d u d d d u d d d u d d d u d d d u d d d u d d d u d
e|---1-1-1---1-1-1----0-0-0---0-0-0---1-1-1---1-1-1---1-1-1---1-1-1--|
B|---1-1-1---1-1-1----1-1-1---1-1-1---1-1-1---1-1-1---3-3-3---3-3-3--|
G|---2-2-2---2-2-2----0-0-0---0-0-0---2-2-1---2-2-2---3-3-3---3-3-3--|
D|---3-3-3---3-3-3----2-2-2---2-2-2---3-3-2---3-3-3---3-3-3---3-3-3--|
A|---3-3-3-3-3-3-3--3---------3-3-3---3-3-3-3-3-3-3-1-------1--------|
E|-1------------------------3-------1--------------------------------|
Use this type of strumming to pick out the bass notes through the song ;).
Also in the intro it mostly hangs on the F, but there is a quick change to a C which you
can pick up, then back to F and into the verse.
Intro:
F, C, F
F C F Bb
Like a bird, on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir.
F C F C
I have tried in my ways to be free.
F C F Bb
Like a fish, on a hook, like a knight in some old fashioned book.
F C F F7
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
Bb F
And if I, if I have been unkind.
G7 C
I just hope you, will let it go by.
Bb F
And if I, if I have been untrue.
G7 C
I just hope you know, it was never to you.
F C F Bb
Like a baby, stillborn, like a beast with his horn.
F C F C
I have torn everyone who reached out to me.
F C F Bb
But I swear, by this song ,and by all that I have done wrong.
F C F F7
I'll make it all up to thee.
Bb F
I saw a young man, leaning on his wooden crutch.
G7 C
He called out to me, don't ask for so much.
Bb F
And a young woman, leaning in her darkened door.
G7 C
She cried out to me, hey why not ask for more.
F C F Bb
Like a bird, on a wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir.
F C Bb F
I have tried in my ways to be free.
( Enjoy! feel free to comment ;) )
