xA Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left by Andrew Bird
Transcribed by: Chuck or Charmister Email: chhuckim@gmail for Q&A
(LONG transcription; There are song comments "between the lines" and you can
copy+paste and cut out the comments in Word if wanted: Credit to Charmister)
Tuning: Standard E
[Intro]
(Either strum once lightly for melancholy effect or rhythmically)
Dm
Over prescribed
G
Under the mister
C C/B (01022X) Play as walk down from open chord ‘C’
We had survived to
A7
Turn on the history channel
Dm G
And ask our esteemed panel
C
Why are we alive
C/B A7
And here's how they replied
Dm G
You're what happens when two substances collide
Dm G Am
And by all accounts you really should've died
Am E (Pluck Root note and then rest of chord in 4/4)
E (Then play ‘E’ chord loud into interlude…)
[Interlude] (RIFF 1):
Am C/G Gm F E
(Interlude chords played behind RIFF 1)
Am C/G Gm
e|----------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------|
G]-----99--------[x2]-----99-55----[x2]----77-------[x2]----|
D]--77----1010-77------55-------55------55----88-55---------|
A|----------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------|
F E
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G]-----99--------------1010-99-----------| {last measure
D]--77----1010-77---77---------99--------| one time}
A|---------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|
(All notes should be relatively staccato)
[[Play this Interlude into Verse as many times as you want… Or if you are
as does Andrew in his live version, then play until comfortable. w/ looping, have riff continue
Verses and Chorus.]]
[Verse 1]
Am C/G
Stretched out on the tarmac
Gm F E
Six miles south of North Platte
Am C/G
He can't stand to look back
Gm F E
At sixteen tons of HazMat
[Pre-Chorus]
Am
And it's what goes
B E
Undelivered
A D Gm Gm/F E
Undelivered
[Chorus]
Am C/G Gm
And it's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
F
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
E
Of the what? Of the head to the left
Am C/G Gm
Exercise yourself 'till you're bereft
F
'Cause it's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
E
Of the...of the...to the...
[Verse 2]
(same as verse 1)
Am C/G ..etc.
Splayed out on a bathmat
Six miles north of South Platte
And he just wants his life back
What's in that paper knapsack
[Pre-Chorus]
Am
And it's what goes
B E
Undelivered
A D Gm Gm/F E
Undelivered
[Chorus]
Am C/G Gm
It's a nervous tic motion of the head to the left
F E
A nervous tic motion of the head
[Outro]
Dm
Over imbibed
G
Under the mister
C C/B
Barely alive we
A7 Dm
Cover the blisters in flannel
G
Though the words we speak are banal
C
Not one of them's a lie
C/B A7
Not one of them's a lie
Dm
You're what happens when
G
Two substances collide
Dm
And by all accounts
Am
You really should've died
(Song order may vary -Follow recording or cover in your own way.
This song is one of my most favorites of Andrew Bird’s. I watch his live
on “looping” and was inspired to buy a 'Loop' pedal myself.
Live Version that I am transcribing nearly to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRk2iHkOcNE
I had to comprise (between live and album versions), for to mimic Andrew is to only try
because of his talking-singing-voice and incredible whistling and violin playing).
God Bless, and joyful music-ing!
