Harmonica is Vocal Patches - - - The key to getting this song to sound just like the original is to play a standard G chord with fingers 1, 2 & 3 and then use finger 4 (index) to tap on and off fret 1 string 2 then again fret 2 string 3 (verses only, not the chorus). Listen to the song to get the feel for the strum and the tap on/off timing. It’ll come to you easily enough … enjoy!
[Verse 1]
G G I've been long, a long way from here G Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes, G C* And drank 'til I was thirsty again
G G We went searching through thrift store jungles G Found Geronimo's rifle, Marilyn's shampoo G C* And Benny Goodman's corset and fan
[Pre-Chorus]
D C D Well, o.k. I made this up… I promised you I'd never give up
[Chorus]
Am C G D If it makes you happy it can't be that ba-aa-aa-ad Am C G If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?
[Verse 2]
You get down, real low down You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train Well who hasn't been there before?
I come round, around the hard way Bring you comics in bed; scrape the mold off the bread, And serve you French toast again
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, o.k. I still get stoned… I'm not the kind of girl you'd take home
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
G G We've been far, far away from here G Put on a poncho, played for mosquitoes, G C* And everywhere in between
[Pre-Chorus]
D C D Well, o.k. we get along… so what if right now everything's wrong?
[Chorus & close]
C* - this particular C chord is played similarly to the preceding G chord with your pinky on the string 1; G note (fret 3). When changing from the preceding G chord merely drop fingers 2 and 3 one string down
Harmonica is - Vocal Patches - - - [Intro] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy [Gm] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy [Gm]
[Verse 1] [Eb] All aro [Dm] und in my h [Gm] ome town [Eb] They're trying to [Dm] track me [Gm] down [Eb] They say they want to [Dm] bring me in gui [Gm] lty For the [Eb] killing of a [Dm] depu [Gm] ty For the [Eb] life of a [Dm] depu [Gm] ty But I say?
(Play Main Riff) D 5-3------------------ A ----5-3-35---3------ E ----------------6--3
[Chorus] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I swear it was in s [Gm] elf-defense [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] and they say it is a ca [Gm] pital offense
[Verse 2] [Eb] Sheriff [Dm] John Brown a [Gm] lways hated me [Eb] For wha [Dm] t I don't k [Gm] now [Eb] Every t [Dm] ime that I p [Gm] lant a seed He [Eb] said "Kill it [Dm] before it g [Gm] rows" He [Eb] said "Kill it [Dm] before it g [Gm] rows" I say!
(Play Main Riff)
[Chorus] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I swear it was in [Gm] self-defense [Gm] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I swear it was in [Gm] self-defense [Gm]
[Verse 3] [Eb] Freedom [Dm] came my way [Gm] one day [Eb] And I st [Dm] arted out of [Gm] town yeah [Eb] All of a s [Dm] udden I see s [Gm] heriff John Brown [Eb] Aiming to s [Dm] hoot me d [Gm] own So [Eb] I sho [Dm] t, I s [Gm] hot him down I say!
(Play Main Riff)
[Chorus] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I didn't shoot the d [Gm] eputy
[Verse 4] [Eb] Reflexe [Dm] s got the b [Gm] etter of me [Eb] And wha [Dm] t is to be [Gm] must be [Eb] Every d [Dm] ay the bucket f [Gm] alls to the well [Eb] But one day the [Dm] bottom will [Gm] drop out [Eb] Yes, one d [Dm] ay the bottom will [Gm] drop out But I say
(Play Main Riff)
[Chorus] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot the [Gm] deputy, oh no [Gm] [Gm] I shot the sheriff, [Cm] but I did not shoot no d [Gm] eputy, oh no [Gm]
