NOTE:
This is a somewhat strange song to make a chord tab of
in a way mainly because the song is played in different
keys. On the ALBUM version it is played in one key which
I tabbed first with and without capo. However, when played
LIVE they capo at the 5th fret mainly but in some live
versions they capo at the 7th fret. I have the live version
tabbed below the album version also with and without capo.
==========================================================
SONG: LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
ARTIST: THE WATERBOYS
TAB BY: DON CZARSKI
EMAIL: [email protected]
LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
THE WATERBOYS
INTRO:
Cm Bb Cm Bb Cm Bb Cm Bb
VERSE:
Cm Eb
I was longing to be wooed
Ab Cm
I was ready to be humbled
Ab Cm
by the words that you had written
Bb Ab
by the syllables you mumbled
Cm Eb
yeah, I was ready in my heart
Ab Cm
to have my heart invaded
Ab Cm
by the fervour of your passion
Bb Ab
yes, I came to be persuaded
VERSE:
Cm Eb
But when I heard your ragged voice
Ab Cm
something switched in my perception
Ab Cm
and I knew I was the victim
Bb Ab
of a beautiful deception
Cm Eb
all my once exact beliefs
Ab Cm
like tangled threads unravelled
Ab Cm
I walked out, stunned and liberated
Bb Ab
and so began my travels
CHORUS:
Ab Eb
Keep the river on your right
Bb Cm
and the highway at your shoulder
Ab Eb Bb
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Ab Cm
Keep your eye on the road
Bb Cm
remember what you told her
Ab Fm Cm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Cm Eb
You better get yourself a coat
Ab Cm
said the handsome taxi driver
Ab Cm
and he sighed like seven bridges
Bb Ab
like a natural-born survivor
Cm Eb
as we drove into the night
Ab Cm
I could feel the forest jangling
Ab Cm
all the choices laid before me
Bb Ab Eb
and their consequences dangling
VERSE:
Cm Eb
We came upon a stricken ship
Ab Cm
that must have once been splendid
Ab Cm
the captain as he died said
Bb Ab
“Boys, our revels now are ended”
Cm Eb
I heard a wild holy band
Ab Cm
playing jazz that was outrageous,
Ab Cm
that recalled the days of rapture
Bb Ab
when our love was still young and contagious
CHORUS:
Ab Eb
Keep the river on your right
Bb Cm
and the highway at your shoulder
Ab Eb Bb
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Ab Cm
Keep your eye on the road
Bb Cm
remember what you told her
Ab Fm Cm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Cm Eb
In a dim-lit motel room
Ab Cm
two sad lovers were discoursing
Ab Cm
on the dignity of exile
Bb Ab
and the merits of divorcing
Cm Eb
she said “all certainty is gone”
Ab Cm
but he leapt up, still denying,
Ab Cm
cried “I won’t believe the flame I lit
Bb Ab
is dead or even dying”
VERSE:
Ab Cm Eb
She left him drooling in the dust
Ab Cm
and with rucksack packed begun her
Ab Cm
bitter journey to the border
Bb Ab
which is where I wooed and won her
Cm Eb
she was Aphrodite, Helen, Thetis,
Ab Cm
Eve among the satyrs
Ab Cm
She was Venus in a v-neck sweater
Bb Ab
she was all that ever mattered
CHORUS:
Ab Eb
Keep the river on your right
Bb Cm
and the highway at your shoulder
Ab Eb Bb
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Ab Cm
Keep your eye on the road
Bb Cm
remember what you told her
Ab Fm Cm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Cm Eb
Like Dean Moriarty’s ghost
Ab Cm
I came in quest of secret knowledge
Ab Cm
in the winter of my journey
Bb Ab
to a crumbling Druid college
Cm Eb
there I read the books of lore
Ab Cm
and contemplated in seclusion
Ab Cm
but I took my leave embittered,
Bb Ab
still in love with my illusions
VERSE:
Ab Cm Eb
In the drizzling Irish rain
Ab Cm
as a tender dawn was breaking
Ab Cm
in a doorway I stood spellbound by
Bb Ab
the ancient music they were making
Cm Eb
I took my breakfast with the Gods
Ab Cm
on a blushing summer morning
Ab Cm
till a wind blew them all away
Bb Ab
I had misread every warning
CHORUS:
Ab Eb
Keep the river on your right
Bb Cm
and the highway at your shoulder
Ab Eb Bb
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Ab Cm
Keep your eye on the road
Bb Cm
remember what you told her
Ab Fm Cm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Cm Eb
Under cold electric light
Ab Cm
I watch the scenes mutating
Ab Cm
like an old time frontier ballad
Bb Ab
or a carousel rotating
Cm Eb
As if in a moment from a film
Ab Cm
with astonishing precision
Ab Cm
the camera zooms in close
Bb Ab
and a figure comes into vision
VERSE:
Cm Eb
I’m in Tokyo, it’s dawn
Ab Cm
and it’s raining hallelujahs
Ab Cm
down the bright-lit neon canyons
Bb Ab
along the sidewalks of Shibuya
Cm Eb
I’m trying to take a stance
Ab Cm
and rise above my contradictions
Ab Cm
but I’m just a bunch of words in pants
Bb Ab
and most of those are fiction
CHORUS:
Ab Eb
Keep the river on your right
Bb Cm
and the highway at your shoulder
Ab Eb Bb
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Ab Cm
Keep your eye on the road
Bb Cm
remember what you told her
Ab Fm Cm
this is all in code, my dear
CHORUS:
Ab Eb
Keep the river on your right
Bb Cm
and the highway at your shoulder
Ab Eb Bb
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Ab Cm
Keep your eye on the road
Bb Cm
remember what you told her
Ab Fm Cm
this is all in code, my dear
INSTRUMENTAL/OUTRO/SOLO:
(CHORUS CHORDS - 3x's)
Ab Eb Bb Cm Ab Eb Bb Ab Cm Bb Cm Ab Fm Cm
Ab Eb Bb Cm Ab Eb Bb Ab Cm Bb Cm Ab Fm Cm
Ab Eb Bb Cm Ab Eb Bb Ab Cm Bb Cm Ab Fm Cm
===================== CAPO 1st FRET ======================
SONG: LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
ARTIST: THE WATERBOYS
TAB BY: DON CZARSKI
EMAIL: [email protected]
LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
THE WATERBOYS
CAPO: 1st FRET
INTRO:
Bm A Bm A Bm A Bm A
VERSE:
Bm D
I was longing to be wooed
G Bm
I was ready to be humbled
G Bm
by the words that you had written
A G
by the syllables you mumbled
Bm D
yeah, I was ready in my heart
G Bm
to have my heart invaded
G Bm
by the fervour of your passion
A G
yes, I came to be persuaded
VERSE:
Bm D
But when I heard your ragged voice
G Bm
something switched in my perception
G Bm
and I knew I was the victim
A G
of a beautiful deception
Bm D
all my once exact beliefs
G Bm
like tangled threads unravelled
G Bm
I walked out, stunned and liberated
A G
and so began my travels
CHORUS:
G D
Keep the river on your right
A Bm
and the highway at your shoulder
G D A
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
G Bm
Keep your eye on the road
A Bm
remember what you told her
G Em Bm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Bm D
You better get yourself a coat
G Bm
said the handsome taxi driver
G Bm
and he sighed like seven bridges
A G
like a natural-born survivor
Bm D
as we drove into the night
G Bm
I could feel the forest jangling
G Bm
all the choices laid before me
A G D
and their consequences dangling
VERSE:
Bm D
We came upon a stricken ship
G Bm
that must have once been splendid
G Bm
the captain as he died said
A G
“Boys, our revels now are ended”
Bm D
I heard a wild holy band
G Bm
playing jazz that was outrageous,
G Bm
that recalled the days of rapture
A G
when our love was still young and contagious
CHORUS:
G D
Keep the river on your right
A Bm
and the highway at your shoulder
G D A
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
G Bm
Keep your eye on the road
A Bm
remember what you told her
G Em Bm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Bm D
In a dim-lit motel room
G Bm
two sad lovers were discoursing
G Bm
on the dignity of exile
A G
and the merits of divorcing
Bm D
she said “all certainty is gone”
G Bm
but he leapt up, still denying,
G Bm
cried “I won’t believe the flame I lit
A G
is dead or even dying”
VERSE:
G Bm D
She left him drooling in the dust
G Bm
and with rucksack packed begun her
G Bm
bitter journey to the border
A G
which is where I wooed and won her
Bm D
she was Aphrodite, Helen, Thetis,
G Bm
Eve among the satyrs
G Bm
She was Venus in a v-neck sweater
A G
she was all that ever mattered
CHORUS:
G D
Keep the river on your right
A Bm
and the highway at your shoulder
G D A
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
G Bm
Keep your eye on the road
A Bm
remember what you told her
G Em Bm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Bm D
Like Dean Moriarty’s ghost
G Bm
I came in quest of secret knowledge
G Bm
in the winter of my journey
A G
to a crumbling Druid college
Bm D
there I read the books of lore
G Bm
and contemplated in seclusion
G Bm
but I took my leave embittered,
A G
still in love with my illusions
VERSE:
G Bm D
In the drizzling Irish rain
G Bm
as a tender dawn was breaking
G Bm
in a doorway I stood spellbound by
A G
the ancient music they were making
Bm D
I took my breakfast with the Gods
G Bm
on a blushing summer morning
G Bm
till a wind blew them all away
A G
I had misread every warning
CHORUS:
G D
Keep the river on your right
A Bm
and the highway at your shoulder
G D A
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
G Bm
Keep your eye on the road
A Bm
remember what you told her
G Em Bm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Bm D
Under cold electric light
G Bm
I watch the scenes mutating
G Bm
like an old time frontier ballad
A G
or a carousel rotating
Bm D
As if in a moment from a film
G Bm
with astonishing precision
G Bm
the camera zooms in close
A G
and a figure comes into vision
VERSE:
Bm D
I’m in Tokyo, it’s dawn
G Bm
and it’s raining hallelujahs
G Bm
down the bright-lit neon canyons
A G
along the sidewalks of Shibuya
Bm D
I’m trying to take a stance
G Bm
and rise above my contradictions
G Bm
but I’m just a bunch of words in pants
A G
and most of those are fiction
CHORUS:
G D
Keep the river on your right
A Bm
and the highway at your shoulder
G D A
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
G Bm
Keep your eye on the road
A Bm
remember what you told her
G Em Bm
this is all in code, my dear
CHORUS:
G D
Keep the river on your right
A Bm
and the highway at your shoulder
G D A
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
G Bm
Keep your eye on the road
A Bm
remember what you told her
G Em Bm
this is all in code, my dear
INSTRUMENTAL/OUTRO/SOLO:
(CHORUS CHORDS - 3x's)
G D A Bm G D A G Bm A Bm G Em Bm
G D A Bm G D A G Bm A Bm G Em Bm
G D A Bm G D A G Bm A Bm G Em Bm
============================================================
=========== IN CONCERT THEY PLAY IN THIS KEY ===============
SONG: LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
ARTIST: THE WATERBOYS
TAB BY: DON CZARSKI
EMAIL: [email protected]
LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
THE WATERBOYS
INTRO:
Dm C Dm C Dm C Dm C
VERSE:
Dm F
I was longing to be wooed
Bb Dm
I was ready to be humbled
Bb Dm
by the words that you had written
C Bb
by the syllables you mumbled
Dm F
yeah, I was ready in my heart
Bb Dm
to have my heart invaded
Bb Dm
by the fervour of your passion
C Bb
yes, I came to be persuaded
VERSE:
Dm F
But when I heard your ragged voice
Bb Dm
something switched in my perception
Bb Dm
and I knew I was the victim
C Bb
of a beautiful deception
Dm F
all my once exact beliefs
Bb Dm
like tangled threads unravelled
Bb Dm
I walked out, stunned and liberated
C Bb
and so began my travels
CHORUS:
Bb F
Keep the river on your right
C Dm
and the highway at your shoulder
Bb F C
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Bb Dm
Keep your eye on the road
C Dm
remember what you told her
Bb Gm Dm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Dm F
You better get yourself a coat
Bb Dm
said the handsome taxi driver
Bb Dm
and he sighed like seven bridges
C Bb
like a natural-born survivor
Dm F
as we drove into the night
Bb Dm
I could feel the forest jangling
Bb Dm
all the choices laid before me
C Bb F
and their consequences dangling
VERSE:
Dm F
We came upon a stricken ship
Bb Dm
that must have once been splendid
Bb Dm
the captain as he died said
C Bb
“Boys, our revels now are ended”
Dm F
I heard a wild holy band
Bb Dm
playing jazz that was outrageous,
Bb Dm
that recalled the days of rapture
C Bb
when our love was still young and contagious
CHORUS:
Bb F
Keep the river on your right
C Dm
and the highway at your shoulder
Bb F C
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Bb Dm
Keep your eye on the road
C Dm
remember what you told her
Bb Gm Dm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Dm F
In a dim-lit motel room
Bb Dm
two sad lovers were discoursing
Bb Dm
on the dignity of exile
C Bb
and the merits of divorcing
Dm F
she said “all certainty is gone”
Bb Dm
but he leapt up, still denying,
Bb Dm
cried “I won’t believe the flame I lit
C Bb
is dead or even dying”
VERSE:
Bb Dm F
She left him drooling in the dust
Bb Dm
and with rucksack packed begun her
Bb Dm
bitter journey to the border
C Bb
which is where I wooed and won her
Dm F
she was Aphrodite, Helen, Thetis,
Bb Dm
Eve among the satyrs
Bb Dm
She was Venus in a v-neck sweater
C Bb
she was all that ever mattered
CHORUS:
Bb F
Keep the river on your right
C Dm
and the highway at your shoulder
Bb F C
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Bb Dm
Keep your eye on the road
C Dm
remember what you told her
Bb Gm Dm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Dm F
Like Dean Moriarty’s ghost
Bb Dm
I came in quest of secret knowledge
Bb Dm
in the winter of my journey
C Bb
to a crumbling Druid college
Dm F
there I read the books of lore
Bb Dm
and contemplated in seclusion
Bb Dm
but I took my leave embittered,
C Bb
still in love with my illusions
VERSE:
Bb Dm F
In the drizzling Irish rain
Bb Dm
as a tender dawn was breaking
Bb Dm
in a doorway I stood spellbound by
C Bb
the ancient music they were making
Dm F
I took my breakfast with the Gods
Bb Dm
on a blushing summer morning
Bb Dm
till a wind blew them all away
C Bb
I had misread every warning
CHORUS:
Bb F
Keep the river on your right
C Dm
and the highway at your shoulder
Bb F C
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Bb Dm
Keep your eye on the road
C Dm
remember what you told her
Bb Gm Dm
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Dm F
Under cold electric light
Bb Dm
I watch the scenes mutating
Bb Dm
like an old time frontier ballad
C Bb
or a carousel rotating
Dm F
As if in a moment from a film
Bb Dm
with astonishing precision
Bb Dm
the camera zooms in close
C Bb
and a figure comes into vision
VERSE:
Dm F
I’m in Tokyo, it’s dawn
Bb Dm
and it’s raining hallelujahs
Bb Dm
down the bright-lit neon canyons
C Bb
along the sidewalks of Shibuya
Dm F
I’m trying to take a stance
Bb Dm
and rise above my contradictions
Bb Dm
but I’m just a bunch of words in pants
C Bb
and most of those are fiction
CHORUS:
Bb F
Keep the river on your right
C Dm
and the highway at your shoulder
Bb F C
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Bb Dm
Keep your eye on the road
C Dm
remember what you told her
Bb Gm Dm
this is all in code, my dear
CHORUS:
Bb F
Keep the river on your right
C Dm
and the highway at your shoulder
Bb F C
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
Bb Dm
Keep your eye on the road
C Dm
remember what you told her
Bb Gm Dm
this is all in code, my dear
INSTRUMENTAL/OUTRO/SOLO:
(CHORUS CHORDS - 3x's)
Bb F C Dm Bb F C Bb Dm C Dm Bb Gm Dm
Bb F C Dm Bb F C Bb Dm C Dm Bb Gm Dm
Bb F C Dm Bb F C Bb Dm C Dm Bb Gm Dm
=============== IN CONCERT - CAPO: 5th FRET ================
SONG: LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
ARTIST: THE WATERBOYS
TAB BY: DON CZARSKI
EMAIL: [email protected]
LONG STRANGE GOLDEN ROAD
THE WATERBOYS
CAPO: 5th FRET
INTRO:
Am G Am G Am G Am G
Played like this:
Note: You can just use the
A & D string and not
hit the G string if
you wish.
Am G
E -------------------------
B -------------------------
G -2--2-2--2-2--2-2-------
D --2--2-2--2-2--2-2-------
A --0--0-0--0-0--0-0-------
E -------------------0-3---
VERSE:
Am C
I was longing to be wooed
F Am
I was ready to be humbled
F Am
by the words that you had written
G F
by the syllables you mumbled
Am C
yeah, I was ready in my heart
F Am
to have my heart invaded
F Am
by the fervour of your passion
G F
yes, I came to be persuaded
VERSE:
Am C
But when I heard your ragged voice
F Am
something switched in my perception
F Am
and I knew I was the victim
G F
of a beautiful deception
Am C
all my once exact beliefs
F Am
like tangled threads unravelled
F Am
I walked out, stunned and liberated
G F
and so began my travels
CHORUS:
F C
Keep the river on your right
G Am
and the highway at your shoulder
F C G
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
F Am
Keep your eye on the road
G Am
remember what you told her
F Dm Am
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Am C
You better get yourself a coat
F Am
said the handsome taxi driver
F Am
and he sighed like seven bridges
G F
like a natural-born survivor
Am C
as we drove into the night
F Am
I could feel the forest jangling
F Am
all the choices laid before me
G F C
and their consequences dangling
VERSE:
Am C
We came upon a stricken ship
F Am
that must have once been splendid
F Am
the captain as he died said
G F
“Boys, our revels now are ended”
Am C
I heard a wild holy band
F Am
playing jazz that was outrageous,
F Am
that recalled the days of rapture
G F
when our love was still young and contagious
CHORUS:
F C
Keep the river on your right
G Am
and the highway at your shoulder
F C G
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
F Am
Keep your eye on the road
G Am
remember what you told her
F Dm Am
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Am C
In a dim-lit motel room
F Am
two sad lovers were discoursing
F Am
on the dignity of exile
G F
and the merits of divorcing
Am C
she said “all certainty is gone”
F Am
but he leapt up, still denying,
F Am
cried “I won’t believe the flame I lit
G F
is dead or even dying”
VERSE:
F Am C
She left him drooling in the dust
F Am
and with rucksack packed begun her
F Am
bitter journey to the border
G F
which is where I wooed and won her
Am C
she was Aphrodite, Helen, Thetis,
F Am
Eve among the satyrs
F Am
She was Venus in a v-neck sweater
G F
she was all that ever mattered
CHORUS:
F C
Keep the river on your right
G Am
and the highway at your shoulder
F C G
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
F Am
Keep your eye on the road
G Am
remember what you told her
F Dm Am
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Am C
Like Dean Moriarty’s ghost
F Am
I came in quest of secret knowledge
F Am
in the winter of my journey
G F
to a crumbling Druid college
Am C
there I read the books of lore
F Am
and contemplated in seclusion
F Am
but I took my leave embittered,
G F
still in love with my illusions
VERSE:
F Am C
In the drizzling Irish rain
F Am
as a tender dawn was breaking
F Am
in a doorway I stood spellbound by
G F
the ancient music they were making
Am C
I took my breakfast with the Gods
F Am
on a blushing summer morning
F Am
till a wind blew them all away
G F
I had misread every warning
CHORUS:
F C
Keep the river on your right
G Am
and the highway at your shoulder
F C G
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
F Am
Keep your eye on the road
G Am
remember what you told her
F Dm Am
this is all in code, my dear
VERSE:
Am C
Under cold electric light
F Am
I watch the scenes mutating
F Am
like an old time frontier ballad
G F
or a carousel rotating
Am C
As if in a moment from a film
F Am
with astonishing precision
F Am
the camera zooms in close
G F
and a figure comes into vision
VERSE:
Am C
I’m in Tokyo, it’s dawn
F Am
and it’s raining hallelujahs
F Am
down the bright-lit neon canyons
G F
along the sidewalks of Shibuya
Am C
I’m trying to take a stance
F Am
and rise above my contradictions
F Am
but I’m just a bunch of words in pants
G F
and most of those are fiction
CHORUS:
F C
Keep the river on your right
G Am
and the highway at your shoulder
F C G
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
F Am
Keep your eye on the road
G Am
remember what you told her
F Dm Am
this is all in code, my dear
CHORUS:
F C
Keep the river on your right
G Am
and the highway at your shoulder
F C G
and the front line in your sights, pioneer
F Am
Keep your eye on the road
G Am
remember what you told her
F Dm Am
this is all in code, my dear
INSTRUMENTAL/OUTRO/SOLO:
(CHORUS CHORDS - 3x's)
F C G Am F C G F Am G Am F Dm Am
F C G Am F C G F Am G Am F Dm Am
F C G Am F C G F Am G Am F Dm Am
