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Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum
Spirit In The Sky
when playing the 2 on the G-string, lift your finger off after so it makes muted sound
after kind of.
e|-------|
B|-------|
G|-2-----|
D|-------|
A|---0---|
E|-------|
then:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|--2-2-2-2------------------2-2-2-2---------------| (x4)
D|--------------------------------------------2----|
A|------------0h5--0h3--0~-------------0h3--5---0~-|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
the fill used by the second guitar alternates throughout the song. The "beep beeps" are
by switching between a muted pickup and a full volume pickup,
or by bridge/neck switching, a la Voodoo Child (slight Return)
e|--8-----| e|--15---|
B|--10b---| B|--17b--|
G|--------| G|-------|
D|--------| or D|-------|
A|--------| A|-------|
E|--------| E|-------|
**these are harmonic bends. bend the B string until it harmonizes with the e string
Chorus is a simple riff, a down up down up up rythym:
A D A E A
e|-0----2----0---------0----|
B|-2----3----2---------2----|
G|-2----2----2----1----2----| (x2)
D|-2----0----2----2----2----|
A|-0---------0----2----0----|
E|----------------0---------|
verse again:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|--2-2-2-2------------------2-2-2-2---------------| (x2)
D|--------------------------------------------2----|
A|------------0h5--0h3--0~-------------0h3--5---0~-|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
Chorus again, same rythym:
A D A E A
e|-0----2----0---------0----|
B|-2----3----2---------2----|
G|-2----2----2----1----2----| (x2)
D|-2----0----2----2----2----|
A|-0---------0----2----0----|
E|----------------0---------|
verse again:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|--2-2-2-2------------------2-2-2-2---------------| (x2)
D|--------------------------------------------2----|
A|------------0h5--0h3--0~-------------0h3--5---0~-|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
bridge/ 1st solo:
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------1-0-1-0~---------------------------------|
G|--0h2-0h2---0h2-0-0---0h2-0h2--2----------------0h2-0h2---0h2-0-0----------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--0h2-0h2-2--5-4-5-7b------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
verse again:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|--2-2-2-2------------------2-2-2-2---------------| (x2)
D|--------------------------------------------2----|
A|------------0h5--0h3--0~-------------0h3--5---0~-|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
final chorus:
A D A E A
e|-0----2----0---------0----|
B|-2----3----2---------2----|
G|-2----2----2----1----2----| (x2)
D|-2----0----2----2----2----|
A|-0---------0----2----0----|
E|----------------0---------|
play and the E and A once more.
verse again:
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|--2-2-2-2------------------2-2-2-2---------------| (x2)
D|--------------------------------------------2----|
A|------------0h5--0h3--0~-------------0h3--5---0~-|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
Outro/2nd Solo:
e|------------------------------|
B|--8----8----8----8----8~------|
G|--10b--10b--10b--10b--10b~----|(x4)
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|
**once again, these are harmonic bends!
v(1/4b) v(1/2b)
e|--------------------------------8------------8-10-8----8b---------8b-------|
B|------10-10-10~--10-10-8~--8-10---10-10~--10--------10----10-10~-----------|
G|--10b----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|------15-------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--15b----15r-13------------13~--15b-15-15r-13-15-13h15-13~--13h15-13~------|
G|----------------12~--12h14-------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-------------------------17------------------------------------------------|
B|--13h15-13-----13b---17b----17r-15-----------------------------------------|
G|-----------14~---------------------14--------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
finish with beep beeps
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
| v Downstroke
| ^ Upstroke
| b Bend (1/4b means quarter bend, 1/2b means half bend)
| r Release
---------------
version 2
=slide up to
r=release
e----------------------------------------------------------------|
B----------------------------------------------------------------|
G----------------------------------------------------------------|
D-----------------------7---5-5-------------------------5---7-7--|
A-5/-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r--5-0-3-3---5/-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r--3-0-5-5--|
E-3/-5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-0----------3/-5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-0---------|
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
---------------
version 3
Tuning : Standard
*note : For maximum results shorten the pick as close to your thumb and finger as
so that both the pick AND the skin of your fingers strike the string. The results will be
early ZZ Top type sound simular to 'Waitin' For The Bus' (through an over-driven tube amp
and possibly a fuzz-tone)
intro: (Signature riff A)
E|--------| |--------------------------------------------------|
B|--------| |--------------------------------------------------|
G|---2----| |---2-2-2-2----------------2-2-2-2-----------------|
D|--------| |-------------------------------------------2------|
A|----0---| |-----------0-5--2(h)3-2-0----------0-3-0-5---0----|
E|--------| |--------------------------------------------------|
Repeat signature riff A until verses enter and during breaks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solo at 2:00:
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---0(h2)0-0(h2)----0(h2)-0-0----0(h2)-0-2---4(h5)-4-5--------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
(b)bend
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---0(h2)-0(h2)---0(h2)--2-2---0(h2)-0(h2)---5-4-5--7(b9)-----|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
---------------
version 4
A C/D A D/C 3x
A
When I die and they lay me to rest,
D
gonna go to the place that's the best
A
When they lay me down to die,
E A
going up to the spirit in the sky
Going up to the spirit in the sky, (spirit in the sky)
D
that's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)
A
When I die and they lay me to rest,
E A
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
A C/D A D/C 3x
A
Prepare yourself, you know it's a must,
D
got to have a friend in Jesus
A
So you know that when you die,
E A
He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
Oh, recommend you to the spirit in the sky,
D
that's where you're gonna go when you die (when you die)
A
When you die and they lay you to rest,
E A
you're gonna go to the place that's the best
A C/D A D/C 3x
Solo
A
Never been a sinner, I've never sinned,
D
I've got a friend in Jesus
A
So you know that when I die,
E A
He's gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky
Oh, set me up with the spirit in the sky, (spirit in the sky)
D
that's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)
A
When I die and they lay me to rest,
E A
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
E A
Go to the place that's the best
A C/D A D/C 2x
---------------
version 5
(Key of A)
Intro: A, D C A, C D A, D C A, C D A, D C A, C D A,
Verse: 1
A A D
When I die and they lay me to rest, gonna go to the place that’s the best.
A E A
When they lay me down to die, going’ up to the spirit in the sky.
A
Goin up to the spirit in the sky, (spirit in the sky)
D
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die. (when I die)
A
When I die and they lay me to rest,
E A
Gonna go to the place that’s the best.
(Short Guitar lick) A, D C A, C D A, D C A, C D A
Verse: 2
A
Prepare yourself you know it’s a must,
D
Gotta have a friend in Jesus.
A
So you know that when you die
E A
He’s gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky. (spirit in the sky)
A
Gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky
D
That’s where you’re gonna go when you die. (when you die)
A
When you die and they lay you to rest,
E A
You’re gonna go to the place that’s the best.
Guitar Solo: A, D C A, C D A, D C A, C D A (x2)
Verse: 3
A
Never been a sinner I never sinned,
D
I got a friend in Jesus.
A
So you know that when I die
E A
He’s gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky.
A
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky, (spirit in the sky)
D
That’s where I’m gonna go when I die. (when I die)
A
When I die and they lay me to rest,
E A
I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best
E A
Go to the place that’s the best……
Ending guitar riff: A, D C A, C D A, D C A, C D A, (x2)
---------------
version 6
standard tuning
/ slide up
r release
opening
eI-----------------------------------------------------------------|I
BI-----------------------------------------------------------------|I
GI-----------------------------------------------------------------|I
DI----------------------7---5-5------------------------5---7-7--I--| x2
AI-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r--5-0-3-3---5/7r-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r--3-0-5-5-----|I
EI-3/5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-0----------3/5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-5r-0------------|I
verse
eI--------------------------------------------------------------------------|I
BI--------------------------------------------------------------------------|I
GI--------------------------------------------------------------------------|I
DI-------------------------------------------5/7r-7r-7r-7r-5/7r-7r-7r-7r----|I
AI-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-3/5r-5r-5r-5r-3/5r-5r-5r-5r----|I
EI-3/5r-5r-5r-5r-3/5r-5r-5r-5r-3/5r-5r-5r-5r--------------------------------|I
eI------------------------------------------|I
BI------------------------------------------|I
GI------------------------------------------|I
DI---------------7/9r-9r-9r-9r-9r-9r--------|I
AI-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-7r-7r--------|I
EI-3/5r-5r-5r-5r----------------------------|I
repeat the verse for the chorus, but at the end of the chorus, play the opening again.
basically repeat this process three times, except instead of playing the intro after the
time, just play this:
eI------------------------------|I
BI------------------------------|I
GI------------------------------|I
DI---------------7--------------|I
AI-5/7r-7r-7r-7r-7 let ring-----|I
EI-3/5r-5r-5r-5r-5--------------|I
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
Gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best
Never been a sinner I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with
The spirit in the sky
Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best
----------