Last year I got some fun back and forth and controversy in the comments regarding what was “indie” and what was not. This year I’d like to add an important disclaimer… if music is in this “best indie” list it’s because it feels indie to me. There is no organization dedicated to defining and standardizing what is indie and what is not. “Signed” artists who got their start through grassroots efforts do not become less “indie” to me just because they have an opportunity to make more money by earning a larger audience of listeners. So please, listen to the music and if you find half the beauty in it that I have then my purpose has been served. But lets not quibble over what meets some elitist’s ideal of what is and is not indie enough to make a “best of indie” list.

This year I didn’t find it as simple a task at finding new music that simply blew my mind. Plenty of good albums and artists that I’ll share in later posts, but I think I’m limiting the “best of 2009″ list to just 10. So without further adieu, and in no particular order, the only 10 songs from 2010 that absolutely blew my mind:

• Not a Robot, But a Ghost Andrew Bird from Noble Beast
• My Girls Animal Collective from   Merriweather Post Pavilion
• Melody Kate Earl from   Introducing Kate Earl – EP
• In For the Kill La Roux   from In For the Kill
• What a Way The Mint Chicks from   Screens
• Albatross, Albatross, Albatross Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band  from  Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
• Lemmings Anthem the Oohlas   from Chinchilla
• Moth’s Wings Passion Pit  from  Manners
• Happy Up Here Röyksopp   from Junior
• Castle Uuvvwwz from   Uuvvwwz

When a band can sound this good with one mic and no overdubbing it’s probably safe to say they’d be good live. I love the the playful harmonies in this song and the raw, un-tampered with sound of Aberfeldy and their minimalist recording style.

Tab:

Guitar 1, Intro

 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
(12)(10)-|-------------12--10-----(10)-(8)-|-------------10--8--(8)----------|
---------|---------------------------------|------------------------(10)(8)--|
---------|-12------------------------------|-10------------------------------|
---------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|-8----------------------(12)(10)-|
-------------10--8---------------|-------------10--8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

| 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
|-------------12--10-----(10)-(8)-|-------------10--8--(8)----------|
|---------------------------------|------------------------(10)(8)--|
|-12------------------------------|-10------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|-8-------------------------------|
-------------10--8-------10------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Intro

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8---------------8---------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8-------------------------------|

The first guitar part during the verses is just a variant on the intro. I think I’ve given you enough to figure that out.

Guitar 2, Main Verse Rhythm Figure:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------12--12----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-10--------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|-------------------------10------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10------------------|
---------------------------------|-----------------8---------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8-------------------------------|

Guitar 1, Chorus:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|-7-------------------------------|
---------10----------------------|---------8-----------------------|
-----------------10--------------|-----------------9---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10----------------------|-8-------------------------------|
-----------------10--------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|-----------------10--------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Chorus:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------10--10----------10------|
-10--------------10--------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|-8---------------8---------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------10--10------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-----------------10------7-------|
---------------------------------|-8-------------------------------|-8

I admit that I was completely ignorant to the fact that A-Ha was still recording music (I haven’t kept up on my Norwegian synth-pop like I should have). I haven’t heard anything from them since Take on Me. But when I heard I Wish I Cared I was floored by it’s expressiveness. A complete diversion from their original glory tunes. It is wonderful that they are still innovating and still creating wonderful work.

Since this song does not feature guitars I’ll simply post the chords.

Chords:

Verse:
E - A - D - E

Pre-Chorus:
A - E/G# - D - E - F#m - A - E

Chorus:
D - A - E

Lyrics:
To hold me closer or set me free
To trust completely or let it be
You don’t know my destiny
You can’t see what I can see

Hey – I wish I cared
Hey – I wish I cared

To love me truely or let me go
In between I don’t want to know
This is how it has to be
No more us and no more we

Hey – I wish I cared
Hey – I wish I cared

Once again, on the station
See your face in a crowd
Comes again the sensation
You can’t hear yourself think
With their voices inside your head

Hey – I wish I cared
Hey – I wish I cared
I wish I cared
Yes I really do
I wish I cared
(Hey) I wish I cared
Yes I really do
I wish I cared
(Hey) I wish I cared
I wish I cared

> Skip straight to the tab

This song has always had me confused. Being that Anberlin is a Christian alternative band, it took me by surprise to hear this extremely sad and, at times, cynical song seemingly questioning God. But it hearing it leaves me completely captivated every time. There is obviously a huge amount of emotion and back story behind this song so I endeavored to find out what the writer had to say about it. This is what I found:

Stephen: “Fin” (pronounced like the fin on a shark’s back) means ending in French. I felt like this was a conclusion (or just a start) to my epic tug-of-war with God. I have a lot of questions, a lot that I may never really understand or have the capacity to comprehend in this lifetime. “Fin” is a series of four stories, that all tie together in the line ‘patron saint of lost causes.’ The first story is a personal memoir about my life as a child and the pull on my soul even then. I deliberated even at eight years old, that it would be better that God and the devil would just both leave me alone. The second story is about a couple from my early teen years’ church who cried for a miracle. It was a promised miracle, and it never came about. That leaves an impression. The third is about a mentor that used the guise of ‘missions work’ to leave his family in shambles and eventually decay. That plays with your salvation, when one experiences it. [The fourth story is about] Billy, a traveling ‘ healer’ who crippled my life and growth right in front of me. All these things and many, many others made me lose my salvation. But later in life I realized I needed to stop looking at Christians to see Christ. I wrestled with God, and he won.

Tablature

The tab that follows only represents the first part of the song (up until about 3:30).

Guitar 1 Main Rhythm Figure:

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|-6--------6--6--6--6--------6--6--6--|
-11-------11-11-11-11-------11-11-11-|-7--------7--7--7--7--------7--7--7--|
-11-------11-11-11-11-------11-11-11-|-7--------7--7--7--7--------7--7--7--|
-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|-5--------5--5--5--5--------5--5--5--|

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-1--------1--1--1--1--------1--1--1--|-8--------8--8--8--8--------8--8--8--|
-2--------2--2--2--2--------2--2--2--|-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|
-2--------2--2--2--2--------2--2--2--|-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-7--------7--7--7--7--------7--7--7--|

Guitar 1, Bridge (at the “That you are the patron saint..” part).

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-------------------------------0-----|-------------0-----------------0-----|
-------------------------5-----------|-------4-----------------4-----------|
-6-----------------6-----------------|-6-----------------6-----------------|
-7-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-7-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-5-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Main Rhythm Figure:

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-4--------6--------7--------2--------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-5-----------------------------------|

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-4------------------------------5\4--|-2-----------------------------------|

Lyrics:
Feels like you’re miles from here
In other towns with lesser names
Where the unholy ghost doesn’t tell
Mary or William exactly what they want to hear

You remember the house on Ridge Road
Told you and the devil to both just leave me alone
If this is salvation, I can show you the trembling
You’ll just have to trust me, I’m scared

I am the patron saint of lost causes
Aren’t we all to you just near lost causes?
Aren’t we all to you, just lost?

Tommy, you left behind something
That’ll mean everything right before you die
What if you gained the whole world?
You’ve already lost four little souls from your life

Widows and orphans aren’t hard to find
They’re home missing daddy, who’s saving the abandoned tonight.
Wish your drinking would hurry and kill you
Sympathy’s better than having to tell you the truth

That you are the patron saint of lost causes
All you are to them is now a lost cause
All you are to them is now, causes.

Billy, don’t you understand?
Timothy stood as long as he could
And now, you made his faith disappear
More like a magician and less like a man of the cloth.

We’re not questioning God
Just those He chose to carry on His cross
We’re no better, you’ll see
Just all of us, the lost causes

Aren’t we all to you just lost causes?
Are we all to you lost, lost causes?
So all we are to you is all we are, is all we are
All we are is all we are.

[Choir:]
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
(Lost causes, we are is all we are)
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
(To you, lost causes)
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
He just saved

I have to say that the Strokes are great. I just think Albert Hammond Jr’s stuff is better. Everyone Gets a Star, is fast becoming one of my favorite songs, and, at least in my mind, is better than anything the Strokes have done. I’m glad Hammond has began experimenting with solo work and look forward to more from him.

Tab

Guitar 1, Main Verse Rhythm Figure:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
--------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|   2x
---------4---------------4-------|---------------------------------|
-5---5-------5-5(5)5-5-------5---|---------5---------------5-------|
---------------------------------|-7---7-------7-7(7)7-7-------7---| 

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|   2x
---------4---------------4-------|---------------------------------|
-5---5-------5-5(5)5-5-------5---|---------4---------------4-------|
---------------------------------|-5---5-------5-5(5)5-5-------5---|

Guitar 2, Verse Rhythm Figure 1:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
3---3---3---3---3---5---5---5---|2---2---2---2---2---0---0---0---|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|   2X
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Verse Rhythm Figure 2:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
2-2-0-0-----0-0-2-2-0-0-----0-0-|--------------------------------|
--------3-3-------------3-3-----|2-2-0-0-----0-0-2-2-0-0-----0-0-|
--------------------------------|--------2-2-------------2-2-----|   2x
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

Guitar 1, Chorus Rhythm Figure:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
7-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
7-------------------------------|6-----------4-------------------|  2x
7-------------------------------|7-----------5-------------------|
5-------------------------------|7-----------5-------------------|
--------------------------------|5-----------3-------------------|

Guitar 2, Chorus Rhythm Figure:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
3-3-3-3-3---5-5---5-5---5-5-5---|2-2-2-2-2---0-0---0-0---0-0-0---|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
3-3-3-3-3---5-5---5-5---5-5-5---|2-2-2-2-2---0-------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

Lyrics

Won’t you go back to where you go?
I want you to, forever no
These guys have all got problems
These guys have all got their problems

Today, you’ve come now go away
I know it gets so confusing
Sometimes it all seems to drag me down
And when I’m getting closer
So close, everything just falls apart

When will you stop and see me through
There’s something else I’d rather do
Although you’re getting angry
I know everyone gets a star

Today, you’ve come now go away
I know it gets so confusing
Sometimes it all seems to drag me down
And when I’m getting closer
So close, everything just falls apart

Download “Look What You’ve Done” and other Jet songs from iTunes.

Intro:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---|
-5---5---5---5---|-5---5---5---5---|
---5---5---5---5-|---5---5---5---5-|
-----------------|-----------------|
-3---------------|-3---------------|
-----------------|-----------------|

Verse:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-5---5---5---5---|-3---3---3---3---|-5---5---5---5---|-1---1---1---1---|
---5---5---5---5-|-4---4---4---4---|-5---5---5---5---|-2---2---2---2---|
-----------------|---5---5---5---5-|---7---7---5---5-|---3---3---3-----|
-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-3---------------|-5-------3-------|-1-------------3-|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|-----------------|-----5---5---5---|
-5---5---5---5---|-3---3---3---3---|-5---5---5---5---|-7---7---7---7---|
---5---5---5---5-|-4---4---4---4---|-5---5---5---5---|---7--7---7---7--|
-----------------|---5---5---5---5-|---7---7---5---5-|-----------------|
-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-5---------------|
-----------------|-3---------------|-5-------3-------|-----------------|

Chorus:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-0---0---0---0---|
-1---1---1---1---|-3---3---3---3---|-5---5---5---5---|-1---1---1---1---|
-2---2---2---2---|-4---4---4---4---|---5---5---4---4-|---2---2---0---0-|
---3---3---3---3-|---5---5---5---5-|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-3-------2-------|-0---------------|
-1---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|---------3-------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.
-----------------|-----------------|-3---3---3---3---|-0---0---0---0---|-2-
-1---1---1---1---|-3---3---3---3---|-5---5---5---5---|-1---1---1---1---|-3-
-2---2---2---2---|-4---4---4---4---|---5---5---4---4-|---2---2---0---0-|---
---3---3---3---3-|---5---5---5---5-|-----------------|-----------------|-0-
-----------------|-----------------|-3-------2-------|-0---------------|---
-1---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|---------3-------|---

Bridge:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-4---4---4---4---|-6---6---6---6---|-1---1---1---1---|-1---1---1---1---|
-5---5---5---5---|-7---7---7---7---|-2---2---2---2---|-2---2---2---2---|
-6---6---6---6---|-8---8---8---8---|-3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---|
-6---6---6---6---|-8---8---8---8---|-3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---|
-4---4---4---4---|-6---6---6---6---|-1---1---1---1---|-1---1---1---1---|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|
-4---4---4---4---|-6---6---6---6---|
-5---5---5---5---|-7---7---7---7---|
-6---6---6---6---|-8---8---8---8---|
-6---6---6---6---|-8---8---8---8---|
-4---4---4---4---|-6---6---6---6---|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-4---4---4---4---|-6---6---6---6---|-1---1---1---1---|-1---1---1---1---|
-5---5---5---5---|-7---7---7---7---|-2---2---2---2---|-2---2---2---2---|
-6---6---6---6---|-8---8---8---8---|-3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---|
-6---6---6---6---|-8---8---8---8---|-3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---|
-4---4---4---4---|-6---6---6---6---|-1---1---1---1---|-1---1---1---1---|

Take my photo off the wall
If it just won’t sing for you
‘Cause all that’s left has gone away
And there’s nothing there for you to prove

Oh, look what you’ve done
You’ve made a fool of everyone
Oh well, it seems likes such fun
Until you lose what you had won

Give me back my point of view
‘Cause I just can’t think for you
I can hardly hear you say
What should I do, well you choose

Oh, look what you’ve done
You’ve made a fool of everyone
Oh well, it seems likes such fun
Until you lose what you had won

Oh, look what you’ve done
You’ve made a fool of everyone
A fool of everyone
A fool of everyone

Take my photo off the wall
If it just won’t sing for you
‘Cause all that’s left has gone away
And there’s nothing there for you to do

Oh, look what you’ve done
You’ve made a fool of everyone
Oh well, it seems likes such fun
Until you lose what you had won

Oh, look what you’ve done
You’ve made a fool of everyone
A fool of everyone
A fool of everyone

Download “Heartbeats” and other Jose Gonzalez songs at iTunes.

Read my review of this and other Jose Gonzalez songs.

Tune guitar to D – A – D – Gb – B – E

Fig 1

 .1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
---------------3-|-------3---------|---------------3-|-------3---------|
---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|
-----4/5-----5---|-4/5---------0---|-----4/5-----5---|-4/5---------0---|
-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|

Fig 2

 .1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
---0---0---0---0-|-------0---------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----4-------4---|-----4-----0-----|---0---0---0---0-|-------0---0-----|
-2---------------|-0/2-------------|-----5-------5---|-4/5-5-------0---|
-----------------|-------------4---|-5---------------|-----------------|

Play Fig 1 and Fig 2 twice for the intro.

Play Fig 1, Fig 2, and then Fig 1 again for first 12 bars and
then Fig 3 for final five bars of the first verse.

Fig 3:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
---0---0---0---0-|-------0---------|-----------------|
-----4-------4---|-----4-----0-----|---0---0---0---0-|
-2---------------|-0/2-------------|-----5-------5---|
-----------------|-------------4---|-5---------------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|
-------0---0-----|-------0---0-----|
-4/5-5-------5---|-4/5-5-------0---|
-----------------|-----------------|

For first chorus play Fig 1, Fig 2, and then Fig 1 again for first twelve bars and
then Fig 4 for last six bars.

Fig 4:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
---0---0---0---0-|-------0---------|-----------------|
-----4-------4---|-----4-----0-----|---0---0---0---0-|
-2---------------|-0/2-------------|-----5-------5---|
-----------------|-------------4---|-5---------------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-------0---0-----|-------0---0-----|-------0---0-----|
-4/5-5-------5---|-4/5-5-------5---|-4/5-5-------0---|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

Play Fig 1, Fig 2, and then Fig 1 again for first 12 bars and
then Fig 3 for final five bars of the second verse.

For second chorus play Fig 1, Fig 2, and then Fig 1 again for first twelve bars and
then Fig 4 for last six bars.

Play Fig 5 for bridge.

Fig 5:

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|
---0---0-----0---|---0---0-----0---|---0---0-----0---|---0---0-----0---|
-----7---------7-|-----7---------7-|-----7---------7-|-----7---------7-|
-7---------------|-7---------------|-7---------------|-7---------------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|
---0---0-----0---|---0---0-----0---|---0---0-----0---|---0---0-----0---|
-----5---------5-|-----5---------5-|-----5---------5-|-----5---------5-|
-5---------------|-5---------------|-5---------------|-5---------------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-------0---0---0-|-------0---0---0-|-------0---0---0-|-------0---0-----|
-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----4-----------|
-0/2-------------|-0/2-------------|-0/2-------------|-0/2-----------0-|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

One night to be confused
one night to speed up truth
we had a promise made
four hands and then away

both under influense
we had devine scent
to know what to say
mind is a razorblade

to call for hands of above
to lean on
wouldn’t be good enough
for me, no

one night of magic rush
the start a simple touch
one night to push and scream
and then releaf

ten days of perfect tunes
the colors red and blue
we had a promise made
we were in love

to call for hands of above
to lean on
wouldn’t be good enough
for me, no

to call for hands of above
to lean on
wouldn’t be good enough

and you, you knew the hands of the devil
and you, kept us awake with wolf teeths
sharing different heartbeats
in one night

to call for hands of above
to lean on
wouldn’t be good enough
for me, no

to call for hands of above
to lean on
wouldn’t be good enough
for me, no

Take a look at my girlfriend
She’s the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend
I never seem to get a lot

Take a jumbo across the water
Like to see America
See the girls in California
I’m hoping it’s going to come true
But there’s not a lot I can do

Could we have kippers for breakfast
Mummy dear, Mummy dear
They got to have ‘em in Texas
‘Cause everyone’s a millionaire

I’m a winner, I’m a sinner
Do you want my autograph
I’m a loser, what a joker
I’m playing my jokes upon you
While there’s nothing better to do, hey

Ba ba da dum, ba ba, da-d’ do da do da do
Ba ba da dum, ba ba, da-d’ do da do da do
La la la, la la la, la la la la

Don’t you look at my girlfriend, girlfriend
‘Cause she’s the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend, girlfriend
I never seem to get a lot – What’s she got? Not a lot

Take a jumbo across the water
Like to see America
See the girls in California
I’m hoping it’s going to come true
But there’s not a lot I can do, hey

Ba ba da dum, ba ba, da-d’ do da do da do
Ba ba da dum, ba ba, da-d’ do da do da do
Hey u-um, hey u-um, hey u-um, hey u-um
Hey u-um, hey u-um, hey u-um, hey u-um

Download “By and By” and other Brett Dennen songs at iTunes.

Read my review of this and other Brett Dennen songs.

Intro (no real tempo yet):

----------------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------------------------1-----------|
----------------------------1-----------------------------|
---4--------------------------------2---------------------|
--------0-------------2-----------------------------------|

--------------------------------------|
--------------------------------------|
--------------------------------2-----|
--------------1-------------4---------|
---4------------------2---------------|
--------0-----------------------------|

Fig 1: play once as intro and then once for beginning of first vers.

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-------0---------|-------------0---|-------9---------|-------0---------|
-------0---------|---------0-------|-------------5---|-----0-------0---|
-----------------|-----------------|-----6-----------|-----------------|
-------------6---|-------6---------|-7---------------|-6---------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-------0---------|-----------------|-----------------|-------0---------|
-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-------0---|
-----------------|-------------4---|-----------------|-----------------|
-----6-----------|-2---4---6-------|-------------4---|-6---------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-2-----4/6-------|-----------------|
-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

Fig 2: Play once for second half of first verse.

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-------0---------|-----------------|-------5---------|-------0---------|
-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-------0---|
-----------------|-------------4---|-----6-------6---|-----------------|
-----6-----------|-2---4---6-------|-7---------------|-6---------------|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-------0---------|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-----------|
-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------|---0-------------|
-----------------|-------------4---|-----------------|-----------------|
-----6-----------|-2---4---6-------|-------------4---|-6-------4---2---|
-----------------|-----------------|-2-----4/6-------|-----------------|
-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

Fig 3: Play four times for first verse.

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-------0--------|------------------|-------0---------|-----4-----------|
-----2-----2----|------------------|-----0-----0-----|---0-------------|
----------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
----------------|--------------4---|-6-----------6---|-6-------4---2---|
-4-----------4--|--2---4---6-------|-----------------|-----------------|
----------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|

I’m lazy and you have all the tab now and can figure out which figures are played when by listening to the song.

listen close, as close as I am to you
like the bell of liberty, I’ll ring a sound that’s true

and days go by and seasons too
in time our love may digress with the words we can renew
I’ll tell you that I
I love you by and by
I don’t know if I’d survive
without a friend like you in my life

and I know words can be the worst to prevail
how it is I feel for you it’s hard for me to say
but if we keep it simple I think it’s better that way
tangled words tend to lead my messages astray

I’ll tell you that I
I love you by and by
I don’t know if I’d survive
without a friend like you in my life

this web we weave holds us hand in hand
and if we loosen our grips we may weaken these strands
so lets reinforce our love and let it echo through the land
and if we don’t we may find ourselves washed up with the sand

I’ll tell you that I
I love you by and by
I don’t know if I’d survive
without a friend like you in my life

Download “Mad World” and other Gary Jules songs at iTunes.

Read my review of this and other common covers.

(Piano transcribed for guitar tab)

Fig 1: Play once for intro.

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
---7-----0-------|-----------------|---7-----0-------|-----------------|
-8---7-8---7-3-2-|(2)--2-------2-8-|(8)--7-8---7-8-10|-----2-------2---|
---7-----0-------|-----2-------2---|---7-----0-------|-----2-------2---|
-9---7-9---7-4-2-|(2)--2-------2-8-|(9)--7-9---7-9-11|-----2-------2---|
-----------------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|

Fig 2: Play four times.

.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|
-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------0---|
-----2-------2---|-----0-------0---|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|
-0-------0-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|

Fig. 3: play three times for beginning of prechorus.

 .1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|
-----0-------0---|-----2-------2---|
-----0-------0---|-----2-------0---|
-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
-----------------|-0-------0-------|
-0-------0-------|-----------------|

Fig 4. Play once for end of pre chorus.

 .1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|.1.&.2.&.3.&.4.&.|
-----------------|-----------------|
-----0-------0---|-2-------(2)-----|
-----0-------0---|-2-------(2)-----|
-----2-------2---|-2-------(2)-----|
-----------------|-0---------------|
-0-------0-------|-----------------|

Play Fig 1. once for chorus.

Play Fig. 2 four times for second verse.

Play Fig. 3 three times for beginning of second pre-chorus.

Play Fig. 4 once for end of pre-chorus.

Play Fig. 1 twice for final chorus.

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going no where
Going no where

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow

And I find I kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had

I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very very

Mad world
Mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen
Sit and listen

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me
No one new me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me
Look right through me

And I find I kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had

I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very very

Mad world
Mad world
Enlarging your world
Mad world