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Underneath The Stars by Peter Case
Underneath The Stars
Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
Capo 4th fret
Bar lines indicate measures of 4/4 time
This song is in the key of E, however Case tunes his guitar to open C and puts a capo on
the 4th fret to bring
the tuning back to open E. He plays it this way on "Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John" as
well as in live
performances (you can see him play the 4th fret capo in many youtube videos). While this
may seem like a
redundancy, it's actually quite a nice little trick that gives the song an airy sound
and allows for Case's
particular style of picking.
The lyrics are sung very rapidly and require some practice to keep up with the guitar's
tempo. You can find
the full song lyrics below after mastering the strumming patterns for Intro, Verse and Chorus.
INTRO:
Figure 1 - play 4x
E (pluck the alternating bass note and strum the open strings downwards)
E --|----------------|
B --|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|
A --|---0-----0h2----|
E --|----------------|
1st VERSE:
Figure 2 - play 2x
It's cold tonight, lord help those, lost outside with freezing toes
E E A E
E --|----------------|----------------|----0-------0---|----------------|
B --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|---5-------5----|----0-------0---|
A --|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|----------------|---0-----0h2----|
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
In the dark with rain drenched clothes, she's all the way down...
E E F# G# A A
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
B --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|---5-------5----|---5-------5----|
A --|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|----0-------0---|----------------|----------------|
E --|----------------|----------------|---2-------4----|----------------|----------------|
CHORUS:
Figure 3
Underneath the stars, city by the sea
E E E A
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----0-------0---|
B --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|---5-------5----|
A --|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|----------------|
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
Headlights of the cars shine but no one sees
E E F# G# A
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----0-------0---|
B --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|---5-------5----|
A --|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|----0-------0---|----------------|
E --|----------------|----------------|---2-------4----|----------------|
(same chords as line 1)
It's another world just five feet away
E E E A
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----0-------0---|
B --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|---5-------5----|
A --|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|----------------|
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
(same chords as line 2, except the final measure resolves in E)
Look into her eyes god bless is all she'll say
E E F# G# E
E --|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
G --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
D --|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|----0-------0---|
A --|---0-----0h2----|---0-----0h2----|----0-------0---|---0-----0h2----|
E --|----------------|----------------|---2-------4----|----------------|
FULL LYRICS
VERSE 1
It's cold outside, Lord help those
Lost tonight with the freezing toes
In the dark with the rain drenched clothes
She's all the way down
The sky has cleared, stars are bright
Temperature's gonna fall tonight
In the park looking for a light
She's in a hospital gown
CHORUS
Underneath the stars, city by the sea
Headlights of the cars shine but no one sees
It's another world, just five feet away
Look into her eyes, God bless is all she'll say
VERSE 2
Some drink wine, some are smokin' crack
This lady all alone wants none of that
In the park with a cart and sack
Afraid she's gonna drown
A choice she made not long ago
Has led to this, how could you know?
The door slammed shut, her children go
To whatever life they've found
CHORUS
Underneath the stars, what's it going to be?
In the house of mars, stranded by degrees
Hunger in the night, answered with a prayer
See the passing cars, there's nobody there
VERSE 3
Now the clergy have their doubts
Are they helping lazy layabouts?
Late at night the drunken louts
Terrify the town
The cops are young, well, they're just kids
They don't know about the skids
They just do what the gentry bids
From the other end of town
CHORUS
Underneath the stars, who will crack the seal?
Waitin' here to die, numbers on a wheel
Figures in the dark, crouch against the wall
Out here in the park there's no one to call
VERSE 4
Asleep in the park rain or shine
A thousand crows on the telephone line
Ask her how and she'll say fine
She's all the way down
Dew drops shot like cannonballs
Crash on paper prison walls
Her heart stops beating and her breathing stalls
She's dyin' all alone
CHORUS
Underneath the stars, city by the sea
Headlights of the cars shine but no one sees
In another world, just five feet away
Look into her eyes, God bless is all she'd say
VERSE 5
So now you ask what can I do?
See and know, they're just like you
You could wind up in the blue
Beneath a pauper's crown
Don't be afraid, you'll be surprised
If when you look into their eyes
You find a soulful feeling rise
You're all the way down
CHORUS
Underneath the stars, city by the sea
Headlights of the cars shine but no one sees
In another world, just five feet away
Look into her eyes, God bless is all she'd say
(end with ringing open E)
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