These chords are based specifically on the live version he performs on the KUTX Austin channel with
Rayland Baxter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9BpWuyb1X4
It is tuned down half a step and strummed (the strumming pattern is simple and can be picked up
from the video.
The trickiest part is during the C of the chorus where he adds a few quick strums but playing along
you should
easily pick it up.
Other versions he plays are not tuned down and just in standard. I haven't quite worked out the
specific picking pattern or the initial chord positions he uses so I've stuck to this one but for
the most part they are the same so this is a good, simple jumping off point for all versions.
The chords for the verse are (relative to the capo): Am (barre - 5th fret) -
G (barre - third fret) G (open) - Am (open).
So he plays only two chords but descends the neck using barres and then open chords.
Fingering is thus:
[Verse]
Am 577555
G 355433
G 320033
Am x02210
[Bridge]
D xx0232
Dsus4 xx0233
Em 022000
C/B 332010
[Pre Chorus]
Bm x24432
Bm/Gb 224432
Bbm x13321
Am x02210
C6(9)/Gb 2x0210
[Chorus]
G 320033
Em7 022030
C/B 332010
Shakey Graves - Climb on the Cross
[Verse 1]
Am G G Am
Well tell the televangelist she's out of a job
Am G G Am
Cause I look good on a cross and I can sure sing along
Am G G Am
Overrated, under-educated, simple and dry
Am G G Am
Who knew a man's fate was such a hard thing to find
[Bridge]
D Dsus4 Em7 C/B
But now I'm spending all my money on a badge and a gun
D Dsus4 Em7 C/B
Cause shooting strangers in the back seems like a lot more fun
D Dsus4 Em7 C/B
I'll just walk around pretending I'm the only one
[Pre-Chorus]
Bm Bm/Gb
Never listened to my teacher
Bm Bm/Gb Bbm Am
Trusted every word my preacher would say
Bm Bm/Gb Bm Bm/Gb Bbm Am C6(9)/Gb
Always thought the crosshair was simply the sun on my face
[Chorus]
G Em C/B C/B
But if nothing dies tomorrow why remember yesterday
G Em C/B C/B
When an hour or more of sleep might do you good
G Em C/B C/B
It's the wish I can't remember yeah it's the thing you'll never say
G Em C/B C/B
Oh, and I'd do it all again oh if I could
[Verse 2]
Am G G Am
So fight your family and friends and let them know you're the best
Am G G Am
Yeah tattoo "radical" right across your chest
Am G G Am
No need for love, you were born to impress
[Pre Chorus]
Bm Bm/Gb Bm Bm/Gb Bbm Am
Well, everybody always told me if I made a funny face it would stay
Bm Bm/Gb Bm Bm/Gb Bbm Am C6(9)/Gb
So you better get hip, come and take a liking to me looking this way
[Chorus and outro]
G Em
Yeah, cause it's been years without a memory
C/B C/B
Just ears, a nose, a face
G Em C/B C/B
Yeah, just to find out fucking up was in your blood
G Em
It's the wish I can't remember
C/B C/B
It's the thing you'll never say
G Em C/B C/B
And you'd do it all again, oh, if you could
G Em C/B C/B
Yeah, you'd do it all again, oh, if you could
G Em
Seems a year until tomorrow
C/B C/B
Or a week from yesterday
G Em C/B C/B
Counting never did me any good
G Em C/B C/B
It’s the wish I can’t remember, the thing you’ll never say
G Em C/B C/B
I’d do it all again,oh, if I could.
--------------------------------------------------------
* C6(9)/Gb. I've seen this chord called other things but chord book calls it C6(9)/Gb.
It's fingering is: 2x0210.
Basically after playing Am, move the middle finger on to the second fret of the bottom E,
making sure to mute
the A string.
** In other versions he seems to play C/B instead of Am at the end of Verse 2 leading
into the next pre-chorus
*** I'm not sure if, on this version, he plays the Em on the bridge (he may go straight to C)
but the other versions have either an Em or an Em7 and I think it is best left in
when playing this one.
