INDIGO GIRLS - "123" Tablature
Official INDIGO GIRLS Tablature & Sheet Music »
1 2 3
written by Amy Ray and Ellen James Society
originally performed by Indigo Girls
track #5 on "nomads indians saints"
transcribed by Drew Boles (BolesGJD@aol.com)
This song is rather easy, with some practice. I have
included all of the parts that Amy and Emily play (I don't,
however, have the transcribed part for Cooper Seay's
electric guitar). Amy plays primarily chords, and Emily
plays all of the lead stuff.
There are a few parts in here that I have *made up* to go
along with the lead guitar (in parts where the lead seems
rather inactive). These spots are marked below, so you can
play them, or leave them out.
Tuning: regular (low to high) E A D G B E
I have included all of the lyrics, followed by Emily's lead
part with small lyric markers (so you know where you are in
the song). Amy's rhythym part should be found in the chord
version of this song, preceeding this file.
Lyrics:
From the bowery to the brimstone
I tried to find your heart
The drugs of initiation
The bottom of the barrel that drops
I understand your causes
I sympathize the motivation
But all the details of this war are just
Self infatuation, and it's
CHORUS:
1 2 3, nothin's for free
4 5 6, pick up the stick and go home
You'd better own up to me, yeah
(END CHORUS)
*the next verse follows the same chord progression as above*
Manic blood runs thick
Are you looking for a clean escape?
What's left when the locks have all been broken
Young children of authority?
Now how long can you be agile
Dancin' 'tween the altar and the mercy seat?
Now here's a chance to make a choice,
Are you aware of the fire beneath your feet?
(CHORUS)
Yeah, yeah, go home
(Emily's solo)
The basement lies between us
Our fear comes through the door.
Oh, there's nothing left between us,
And the fear becomes a roar.
Once that wheel is in motion
Don't loose what you have found.
I'm talkin' 'bout that burning wheel of tongues
Everything that makes me go round and around.
We're all born in the devil's scorn
They want to see you die.
I'm askin' you, are you true
If everything they say is a lie, a lie?
(CHORUS)
(Amy and Emily ad lib until the end)
Tab notation:
h: hammer on NOTE: I use straight lines across staves
p: pull off to indicate the beginning and
b: bend string up ending of each riff
r: release bend
/: slide up
\: slide down
~: vibrato
<>: harmonic
Emily's lead part
(intro riff)
E Dsus2 E Dsus2 bend 1/4 up
E-----------------------------------------------------------B-----------------------------------------------------------G-----------------------------------------------------------D----------------------------4--------4-----4---------------A-------------------------------2--3-----3-----0------------E-------------------0--12\0-----------------------3b--------
E Dsus2 E Dsus2 bend 1/4
--------------------2-----0--------------------------------------------------3--------------------------------------------------------0--------0-----------------------------------------4--------------------------4--------4-----4--------------------2--3-----------------------2--3-----3-----0-----------0--------------------------0-----------------------3b-----
(verse riff 1)
E Dsus2 E Dsus2
--------------------2-----0-|------------------------------------------------3----------|---------------------------------------------0--------0----|------------------------------------4----------------------|-----4--------4-----2------------------2--3----------------|--------2--3-----3-----0---------0-------------------------|--0-----------------------3b---
From the bowery...
(simile chord progression)
(repeat riff 1 one time)
--------------------2-----0-|------------------------------------------------3----------|---------------------------------------------0--------0----|------------------------------------4----------------------|---------------------------------------2--3----------------|--------------------------------0--------------------------|-------------------------------
...your heart.
(verse riff 2)
E Dsus2 E
|-----------------------------------------------------------
|------------8--10--10b11r10--8--10--8-----8-----8-----8----
|---------9-----------------------------9-----9-----9-----9-|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
I understand...
(repeat riff 2 two times)
(*pre-chorus: this part thru end of chorus is made up)
(chorus riff 1)
Dsus2 E Dsus2
---------------------12-|-12--12--12--12-----11----10-10h12----8h10--10---10h12-----|-12--12--12--12--12----12----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------
...self infatuation. 1 2 3...
(repeat chorus riff 1 one time)
E Dsus2
(bend 1/4 gradually, then release gradually)
-12--12-12-12-12--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--------------10b-10-10-10-10r-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10\8--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...go home.
E Dsus2
-------------------------------------------------12\---------8--8h10--8-----8h10--8-----8h10--10--10--10/12--12\---------------------9-----------9----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...own up to me.
(verse 2 and 3)
E Dsus2 E Dsus2 1/4 bend
-0-----0-----0-----------------------------------------------0-----3-----0-----------------------------------------------1-----2-----1-----------------------------------------------2-----0-----2--0--2p0--0------------------------------------2-----------2-------------2p0--0--2p0--0--3p0--0--2---------0-----------0----------------------------------------3b----
Manic blood...
Once that wheel...
E Dsus2 E Dsus2
-------0-----0--------------2-----0--------------------------------3-----0-----------3-----------------------------------------2-----1--------0--------0-----------------------------------0-----2-----0-----------------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------0-----------0----------------------------------------------
Here, Emily plays chords along with Amy. Then, it's on to
the chorus a second time (which then leads into the solo.)
(Solo)
C Em
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4h5--4----------------5h7--5---5h7---------------------7-----------7--5h7--5--0----------7------7\----------7--10-----------------------------------------------/7--10------------
Em
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7h9p7-------------------------------------------------8--9---------9--8--7----------------7--7h9--7---------7---------------------------10--7--10--7-------------7--10------------------------------------------------------------------
C Em
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-----------9------------------------------7h9--7--7--8--9-----7--8--9-----7--8--9--7h9--7h9--7h8--7-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--7h9--9------------------------------------7--8--9--7--9-------------7--9-----10--7--10---------7--10------------------------------------------------7--10-------------------------------------------
Em
------------------0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0------------------------------------------------------------------7-7h9-9-----7-7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9-----------------7-9------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(bridge)
C Em
---0-----0-----0-----0-------0--------------2----0---------------8-----8-----8-----8-----0-----------3----------3/5------9-----9-----9-----9-----9\--0--------0-------0------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------0------------------------------
(bridge riff)
C Em
-------------------------------0-----------2-----0-----------3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----0--------3-----------3/5--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0---0-----0--------0------------------5-----5-----5-----5-----5-2-----------------------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------
(repeat bridge riff 1 time)
(bridge riff 2)
A B
-------------------------------------------------------------3-----3-----3---------5-------------7-------------------------0-----0-----0-----0---0---0-----9---9---9--12--11---9---------5-----5-----5/7-------7---7/9-------9----12--12--12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3rd verse is the same as the second; it feeds into the last
chorus, followed by a vocal and lead guitar ad lib; both
guitars end on an Em chord).
There you go everybody. Have fun.
transcribed by: Drew Boles (BolesGJD@aol.com)
written by Amy Ray and Ellen James Society
originally performed by Indigo Girls
track #5 on "nomads indians saints"
transcribed by Drew Boles (BolesGJD@aol.com)
This song is rather easy, with some practice. I have
included all of the parts that Amy and Emily play (I don't,
however, have the transcribed part for Cooper Seay's
electric guitar). Amy plays primarily chords, and Emily
plays all of the lead stuff.
There are a few parts in here that I have *made up* to go
along with the lead guitar (in parts where the lead seems
rather inactive). These spots are marked below, so you can
play them, or leave them out.
Tuning: regular (low to high) E A D G B E
I have included all of the lyrics, followed by Emily's lead
part with small lyric markers (so you know where you are in
the song). Amy's rhythym part should be found in the chord
version of this song, preceeding this file.
Lyrics:
From the bowery to the brimstone
I tried to find your heart
The drugs of initiation
The bottom of the barrel that drops
I understand your causes
I sympathize the motivation
But all the details of this war are just
Self infatuation, and it's
CHORUS:
1 2 3, nothin's for free
4 5 6, pick up the stick and go home
You'd better own up to me, yeah
(END CHORUS)
*the next verse follows the same chord progression as above*
Manic blood runs thick
Are you looking for a clean escape?
What's left when the locks have all been broken
Young children of authority?
Now how long can you be agile
Dancin' 'tween the altar and the mercy seat?
Now here's a chance to make a choice,
Are you aware of the fire beneath your feet?
(CHORUS)
Yeah, yeah, go home
(Emily's solo)
The basement lies between us
Our fear comes through the door.
Oh, there's nothing left between us,
And the fear becomes a roar.
Once that wheel is in motion
Don't loose what you have found.
I'm talkin' 'bout that burning wheel of tongues
Everything that makes me go round and around.
We're all born in the devil's scorn
They want to see you die.
I'm askin' you, are you true
If everything they say is a lie, a lie?
(CHORUS)
(Amy and Emily ad lib until the end)
Tab notation:
h: hammer on NOTE: I use straight lines across staves
p: pull off to indicate the beginning and
b: bend string up ending of each riff
r: release bend
/: slide up
\: slide down
~: vibrato
<>: harmonic
Emily's lead part
(intro riff)
E Dsus2 E Dsus2 bend 1/4 up
E-----------------------------------------------------------B-----------------------------------------------------------G-----------------------------------------------------------D----------------------------4--------4-----4---------------A-------------------------------2--3-----3-----0------------E-------------------0--12\0-----------------------3b--------
E Dsus2 E Dsus2 bend 1/4
--------------------2-----0--------------------------------------------------3--------------------------------------------------------0--------0-----------------------------------------4--------------------------4--------4-----4--------------------2--3-----------------------2--3-----3-----0-----------0--------------------------0-----------------------3b-----
(verse riff 1)
E Dsus2 E Dsus2
--------------------2-----0-|------------------------------------------------3----------|---------------------------------------------0--------0----|------------------------------------4----------------------|-----4--------4-----2------------------2--3----------------|--------2--3-----3-----0---------0-------------------------|--0-----------------------3b---
From the bowery...
(simile chord progression)
(repeat riff 1 one time)
--------------------2-----0-|------------------------------------------------3----------|---------------------------------------------0--------0----|------------------------------------4----------------------|---------------------------------------2--3----------------|--------------------------------0--------------------------|-------------------------------
...your heart.
(verse riff 2)
E Dsus2 E
|-----------------------------------------------------------
|------------8--10--10b11r10--8--10--8-----8-----8-----8----
|---------9-----------------------------9-----9-----9-----9-|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
I understand...
(repeat riff 2 two times)
(*pre-chorus: this part thru end of chorus is made up)
(chorus riff 1)
Dsus2 E Dsus2
---------------------12-|-12--12--12--12-----11----10-10h12----8h10--10---10h12-----|-12--12--12--12--12----12----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------
...self infatuation. 1 2 3...
(repeat chorus riff 1 one time)
E Dsus2
(bend 1/4 gradually, then release gradually)
-12--12-12-12-12--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12--------------10b-10-10-10-10r-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10\8--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...go home.
E Dsus2
-------------------------------------------------12\---------8--8h10--8-----8h10--8-----8h10--10--10--10/12--12\---------------------9-----------9----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
...own up to me.
(verse 2 and 3)
E Dsus2 E Dsus2 1/4 bend
-0-----0-----0-----------------------------------------------0-----3-----0-----------------------------------------------1-----2-----1-----------------------------------------------2-----0-----2--0--2p0--0------------------------------------2-----------2-------------2p0--0--2p0--0--3p0--0--2---------0-----------0----------------------------------------3b----
Manic blood...
Once that wheel...
E Dsus2 E Dsus2
-------0-----0--------------2-----0--------------------------------3-----0-----------3-----------------------------------------2-----1--------0--------0-----------------------------------0-----2-----0-----------------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------0-----------0----------------------------------------------
Here, Emily plays chords along with Amy. Then, it's on to
the chorus a second time (which then leads into the solo.)
(Solo)
C Em
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4h5--4----------------5h7--5---5h7---------------------7-----------7--5h7--5--0----------7------7\----------7--10-----------------------------------------------/7--10------------
Em
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7h9p7-------------------------------------------------8--9---------9--8--7----------------7--7h9--7---------7---------------------------10--7--10--7-------------7--10------------------------------------------------------------------
C Em
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-----------9------------------------------7h9--7--7--8--9-----7--8--9-----7--8--9--7h9--7h9--7h8--7-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7--7h9--9------------------------------------7--8--9--7--9-------------7--9-----10--7--10---------7--10------------------------------------------------7--10-------------------------------------------
Em
------------------0----0----0----0----0----0----0----0------------------------------------------------------------------7-7h9-9-----7-7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9--7h9-----------------7-9------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(bridge)
C Em
---0-----0-----0-----0-------0--------------2----0---------------8-----8-----8-----8-----0-----------3----------3/5------9-----9-----9-----9-----9\--0--------0-------0------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------0------------------------------
(bridge riff)
C Em
-------------------------------0-----------2-----0-----------3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----0--------3-----------3/5--------0-----0-----0-----0-----0---0-----0--------0------------------5-----5-----5-----5-----5-2-----------------------------------------------------------2-----------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------
(repeat bridge riff 1 time)
(bridge riff 2)
A B
-------------------------------------------------------------3-----3-----3---------5-------------7-------------------------0-----0-----0-----0---0---0-----9---9---9--12--11---9---------5-----5-----5/7-------7---7/9-------9----12--12--12----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3rd verse is the same as the second; it feeds into the last
chorus, followed by a vocal and lead guitar ad lib; both
guitars end on an Em chord).
There you go everybody. Have fun.
transcribed by: Drew Boles (BolesGJD@aol.com)
This musical interpretation has been removed due to a legal threat from Moses & Singer LLP, representing the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) and The Music Publisher's Association of the United States (MPA).
Unfortunately, these threats are fueled by greed and being masked by a "copyright infringement." They claim tab sites are "hurting the songwriters," but it's a known fact that the publishing companies garner most of the revenue. Instead, they would prefer you to purchase the official INDIGO GIRLS tablature which is an option we've always given our users. And due to the highly error-prone nature of tabs on the internet, many choose to go this route. These companies also do not realize that tablature sites help to promote their artists.
For more information on this onslaught, you can read the NY Times Article. We hope one of the larger tablature sites will have the money to fight this. Until then, we urge you all to keep tabbing songs and sharing them in any way you can.
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