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Life Is A Long Song by Jethro Tull
Life Is A Long Song
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:no capo
The chords to Life's a Long Song aren't that hard, but actually playing
the part is. As far as I can tell, the beginning chords are D-shaped
barre chords (fret numbers in parentheses):
A (VII) G (V)
When you've fallen awake and you take stock of the new day.
And you hear your voice croak as you choke on what you need to say.
Now I THINK what's happening is Ian messes around with sus chords a
lot. I haven't tried this because I can't play this nearly fast enough,
but I think it's something like:
E|-9---9--10--9--7--9--7--9--9--9-----|
B|-10---------------------------------|
G|-9----------------------------------|
D|-7----------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------|
You get the idea. I haven't actually tried this in quite a while -
I need to go home and listen to it at half-speed on my 4-track.
Anyway, has anyone fingured out as easier way to play this, or at
least easier ways to play these chords?
A (VII) Asus4 Asus2
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
7fr |_|_*_|_|_| 7fr |_|_*_|_|_| 7fr |_|_*_|_|_*
|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_*_|_* |_|_|_*_|_| |_|_|_*_|_|
|_|_|_|_*_| |_|_|_|_*_* |_|_|_|_*_|
1 2 4 3 1 2 4 4 (!) 1 2 4 1
I don't remember what the chords to the rest of the song are, but
I remember a 3rd fret C chord, a 3rd fret G chord, and maybe a 5th
fret A chord in there. They were pretty basic chords. Just play around
with em.
When you're falling awake
And you take stock of the new day
And you hear your voice croak
As you choke on what you need to say
Well, don't you fret, don't you fear
I will give you good cheer
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
If you wait then your plate I will fill
As the verses unfold
And your soul suffers the long day
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room
You struggle on your way
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry
Lick the dust from your eye
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn
As the baker street train spills your pain
All over your new dress
And the symphony sounds underground
Put you under duress
Well, don't you squeal as the heel
Grinds you under the wheels
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
But the tune ends too soon for us all
But the tune ends too soon for us all
------------------
version 2
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:no capo
[Verse 1]
A G A G E E7
When you're falling awake and you take stock of the new day
A G A G E E7
And you hear your voice crook as you choke on what you need to say
C G D Esus4 E D
Well, don't you fret, don't you fear, I will give you good cheer
[Chorus]
A G
Life's a long song
A G
Life's a long song
A G
Life's a long song
D Esus4 E D
If you wait then your plate I will fill
[Verse 2]
A G A G E E7
As the verses unfold and your soul suffers the long day
A G A G E E7
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room, you struggle on your way
C G D Esus4 E D
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry, lick the dust from your eye
[Chorus]
A G
Life's a long song
A G
Life's a long song
A G
Life's a long song
D Esus4 E D
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn
[Verse 3]
A G A G E E7
As the Baker Street train spills your pain all over your new dress
A G A G E E7
And the symphony sounds underground put you under duress
C G D Esus4 E D
Well don't you squeal as the heel grinds you under the wheels
[Chorus]
A G
Life's a long song
A G
Life's a long song
A G
Life's a long song
D E
But the tune ends too soon for us all
[Instrumental]
A G A G E E7 (x2)
C G D Esus4 E D
[Outro]
D Esus4 E D A
But the tune ends too soon for us all
When you're falling awake
And you take stock of the new day
And you hear your voice croak
As you choke on what you need to say
Well, don't you fret, don't you fear
I will give you good cheer
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
If you wait then your plate I will fill
As the verses unfold
And your soul suffers the long day
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room
You struggle on your way
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry
Lick the dust from your eye
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn
As the baker street train spills your pain
All over your new dress
And the symphony sounds underground
Put you under duress
Well, don't you squeal as the heel
Grinds you under the wheels
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
But the tune ends too soon for us all
But the tune ends too soon for us all
------------------
version 3
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:7th fret
(for fingerpicking only)
D C G 4x
D C D C A A7
When you're falling awake and you take stock of the new day,
D C D C A A7
and you hear your voice croak as you choke on what you need to say,
F C
well, don't you fret, don't you fear,
G A A7
I will give you good cheer.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C
Life's a long song.
G A
If you wait then your plate I will fill.
D C D C A A7
As the verses unfold and your soul suffers the long day,
D C D
and the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room,
C A A7
you struggle on your way.
F C
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry,
G A A7
lick the dust from your eye.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C
Life's a long song.
G A A7
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn.
D C D C A A7
As the Baker Street train spills your pain all over your new dress,
D C D C A A7
and the symphony sounds underground put you under duress,
F C G A A7
well don't you squeal as the heel grinds you under the wheel.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C
Life's a long song.
G A
But the tune ends too soon for us all.
D C D C A A7
D C D C A A7
F C G A A7
D C G
D C G
D C G
G A D C G A
But the tune ends too soon for us all.
(Fingerpicking or pick)
A G D 4x *
A G A G E E7
When you're falling awake and you take stock of the new day,
A G A G E E7
and you hear your voice croak as you choke on what you need to say,
C G
well, don't you fret, don't you fear,
D E E7
I will give you good cheer.
A G D
Life's a long song.
A G D
Life's a long song.
A G
Life's a long song.
D E E7
If you wait then your plate I will fill.
A G A G E E7
As the verses unfold and your soul suffers the long day,
A G A
and the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room,
G E E7
you struggle on your way.
C G
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry,
D E E7
lick the dust from your eye.
A G D
Life's a long song.
A G D
Life's a long song.
A G
Life's a long song.
D E E7
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn.
A G A G E E7
As the Baker Street train spills your pain all over your new dress,
A G A G E E7
and the symphony sounds underground but you wanted due rest
C G D E E7
well don't you squeal as the heel grinds you under the wheels.
A G D
Life's a long song.
A G D
Life's a long song.
A G
Life's a long song.
D E
But the tune ends too soon for us all.
A G A G E E7
A G A G E E7
C G D E E7
A G D
A G D
A G D
D E A G D E
But the tune ends too soon for us all.
* Alternate:
Capo II
A = G
G = F
E = D
E7 = D7
C = Bb
D = C
------------------
version 4
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:5th fret
D C D
When you're falling awake and you take
C A Asus4 A D
stock of the new day,
C D
and you hear your voice croak as you choke
C A Asus4 A
on what you need to say.
F C
well, don't you fret, don't you fear,
G A Asus4 A
I will give you good cheer.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C
Life's a long song.
G A Asus4 A D
If you wait then your plate I will fill.
C D
As the verses unfold and your soul
C A Asus4 A D
suffers the long day.
C D
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room,
C A Asus4 A
you struggle on your way.
F C
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry,
G A Asus4 A
lick the dust from your eye.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C
Life's a long song.
G A Asus4 A D
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn.
C D
As the Baker Street train spills your pain
C A Asus4 A D
all over your new dress.
C D
And the symphony sounds underground
C A Asus4 A D
put you under duress,
F C
well don't you squeal as the heel
G A Asus4 A
grinds you under the wheel.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C G
Life's a long song.
D C
Life's a long song.
G A Asus4 A
But the tune ends too soon for us all.
D C D C A Asus4 A
D C D C A Asus4 A
F C G A Asus4 A
D C G
D C G
D C G
G A Asus4 A Asus2 D
But the tune ends too soon for us all.
When you're falling awake
And you take stock of the new day
And you hear your voice croak
As you choke on what you need to say
Well, don't you fret, don't you fear
I will give you good cheer
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
If you wait then your plate I will fill
As the verses unfold
And your soul suffers the long day
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room
You struggle on your way
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry
Lick the dust from your eye
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn
As the baker street train spills your pain
All over your new dress
And the symphony sounds underground
Put you under duress
Well, don't you squeal as the heel
Grinds you under the wheels
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
But the tune ends too soon for us all
But the tune ends too soon for us all
------------------
version 5
Capo:7th fret
Standard tuning, capo at 7th fret. All fret numbers are relativ to capo.
(upstroke here to get more sound out of 2.string than 3.)
(or ignore the (2) and play downstroke)
^ v ^ v v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v
e|-------2-------|-------0---0-|-----0-0-0-0-|-----0-0-0-0-|
B|---------0h3p0-|-----1-1---1-|-----1-1-1-1-|-----1-1-1-1-|
G|-----2--(2)----|---0---0--(0)|-----0-0-0-0-|-0-4-4-4-4-4-|
D|---0-----------|-0-----------|-0-2---------|-------------|
A|-0-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|---------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
^ v ^ v ^ ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v
e|-------2-------|-----0-0---0-|-----0-0-0-0-|-----0-0-0-0-|
B|-----3---0h3p0-|---1---1---1-|-----1-1-1-1-|-----1-1-1-1-|
G|---2-----------|-0-----0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|-0-4-4-4-4-4-|
D|-0-------------|-------------|-0-2---------|-------------|
A|---------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|---------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
(An alternative here is to play -4- on 3.string.)
(I'm not sure which of them Ian is playing, but)
(I prefer -0- on 2.string)
^ v ^ v ^ ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v
e|-2-----2-----|-2---2-0-----|-0-----0-0-0-|-0-----------|
B|-3---------0-|-3---3---1---|-1-----1-1-1-|-1-0(0)0-----|
G|-2-------2---|-2---2-----2-|-0-----0-0-0-|-0(0)0(0)0-2-|
D|-0-----------|-------------|-------------|-0-----------|
A|-0-----------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
^ ^ v ^ v ^ v ^ v v v ^ v ^ v ^ v ^
e|-2---2-2-2-2-|-------------|-------------|-----------0h2|
B|-3---3-3-3-3-|------(3)--0-|h1-----1-1-0-|-3---2-2-0-3--|
G|-2---2-2-2-2-|---0-2-0---0-|-------0-0-0-|-2---2-2-2-2--|
D|-0-----------|-4-----------|-------------|-----------0--|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
E|-------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
v v ^ v
e|-2-----2-----|-2-----2-2-2-|-0-----0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-----|
B|-3---------0-|-3-----3-3-3-|-1-----1-1-1-|-1-0-0-0-----|
G|-2-------2---|-2-----2-2-2-|-0-----0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-0-2-|
D|-------------|-0-----------|-2-----------|-------------|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
1 2 3 4 5 6
When you're fallen awake And you
And you hear your voice croak
e|-2---2-2-2-2-|---------0---|-------------|-----------0h2-|
B|-3---3-3-3-3-|---------0---|-----1-1---0-|-3---2-2-0-2---|
G|-2---2-2-2-2-|---0-2-0---0-|-----0-0---0-|-2---2-2-2-3---|
D|-0-----------|-4-----------|---4---------|-----------0---|
A|-------------|-------------|-3-----------|---------------|
E|-------------|-------------|-------------|---------------|
take Stock of the new day
as you choke On what you need to
[2. time, replace bar 24 with]
e|-------------|
B|-3---2-2---0-|
G|-2---2-2---0-|
D|-------------|
A|-------------|
E|-------------|
say
e|-1---1-1-1-1-|-----1-1-1-1-|-0---0-0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|
B|-1---1-1-1-1-|-----1-1-1-1-|-1---1-1-----|-----1-1-1-1-|
G|-2---2-2-2-2-|-0-2-2-2-2-2-|-0---0-0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|
D|-3---3-3-3-3-|-----3-3-3-3-|-2---2-2-0h2-|---2---------|
A|-------------|-------------|-3---3-3-----|-3-----------|
E|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
Well, don't you fret, don't you fear I will
e|-3---3-3-----|-----3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
B|-3---3-3-----|-----3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-2-2-2-0-0-0-|
G|-0---0-0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
D|-0---0-0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
A|-2---2-2-0-2-|---2-2-2-2-2-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-------------|
E|-------------|-3-----------|-------------|-------------|
give you good cheer
[Repeat 3 times]
e|-2---2-2-2-2-|-------2-2-2-|-------0-0-0-|-----0-0-0-0-|
B|-3---3-3-3-3-|-------3-3-3-|-------1-1-1-|-----1-1-1-1-|
G|-2---2-2-2-2-|-------2-2-2-|-------0-0-0-|-----0-0-0-0-|
D|-0---0-0-0-0-|-0-4---------|-0-2---------|-----2-2-2-2-|
A|-------------|-------------|-------------|-0-3---------|
E|-------------|-------------|---------------------------|
1.Life's a long song
2.Life's a long song
3.Life's a long song If you
e|-3---3-3-----|-----3-3-3-3-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
B|-3---3-3-----|-----3-3-3-3-|-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-2-2-2-0-0-0-|
G|-0---0-0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
D|-0---0-0-----|-----0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
A|-2---2-2-0-2-|---2-2-2-2-2-|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-------------|
E|-------------|-3-----------|-------------|-------------|
(wait then your plate I will fill)
[Additional verses]
As the verses unfold and your soul suffers the long day,
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room, you struggle on your way.
Well don't you sigh, don't you cry,
Lick the dust from your eye.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn.
As the Baker Street train spills your pain all over your new dress,
And the symphony sounds underground but you under du - ress.
Well don't you squeal as the heel
Grinds you under the wheels.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
Life's a long song.
But the tune ends too soon for us all
But the tune ends too soon for us all
[Ending]
e|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|---2---------|
B|-3-3-2-2-0-0-|-0-3---------|
G|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-0-2---------|
D|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-0-0---------|
A|-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-------------|
E|-------------|-------------|
[In the second verse there is another guitar playing]
e|-5---3p2p0----------------|
B|-----------3-----3p1p0----|
G|-----------------------2--|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
..suffers the long day
e|-5---3p2p0----------------|
B|-----------3-----3p1p0--1-|
G|--------------------------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
..struggle on your way
When you're falling awake
And you take stock of the new day
And you hear your voice croak
As you choke on what you need to say
Well, don't you fret, don't you fear
I will give you good cheer
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
If you wait then your plate I will fill
As the verses unfold
And your soul suffers the long day
And the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room
You struggle on your way
Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry
Lick the dust from your eye
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
We will meet in the sweet light of dawn
As the baker street train spills your pain
All over your new dress
And the symphony sounds underground
Put you under duress
Well, don't you squeal as the heel
Grinds you under the wheels
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
Life's a long song
But the tune ends too soon for us all
But the tune ends too soon for us all
--------------