The trickiest part of this song is tuning. I believe this song (and other songs on the
are played in Open D tuning. This is tabbed from a live version.
Tuning: Open D (D A D F# A D)
Verse
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--3----3----3-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2----2----2--------(repeat x 3)-----------------------------------------|
A|---0----0----0-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---x----x----x-------------------------------------------------------------|
Sold my cold...
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--3----3----3-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2----2----2--------(repeat x 3)-----------------------------------------|
A|---0----0----0-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
knot, a heavy...
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--3----3----3----------------------------2----2----2----------------------|
D|---2----2----2--------(repeat x 3)--------2----2----2---(repeat x 3)-------|
A|---0----0----0----------------------------0----0----0----------------------|
D|---2----2----2----------------------------2----2----2----------------------|
stone...
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--3----3----3-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2----2----2--------(repeat x 3)-----------------------------------------|
A|---0----0----0-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---x----x----x-------------------------------------------------------------|
Sold my red horse...
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--3----3----3-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2----2----2--------(repeat x 3)-----------------------------------------|
A|---0----0----0-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
for a venture...
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/b/bon-iver/179048.html ]
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--3----3----3----------------------------2----2----2----------------------|
D|---2----2----2--------(repeat x 3)--------2----2----2---(repeat x 3)-------|
A|---0----0----0----------------------------0----0----0----------------------|
D|---2----2----2----------------------------2----2----2----------------------|
home. To vanish... ...on the bow. Settling...
Chorus
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--7----7----7--------------------------8-----8-----8----------------------|
D|---7----7----7--------(repeat x 3)------7-----7-----7-----(repeat x 3)-----|
A|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
D|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
...slow. Fit it all... Fit it in the doldrums...
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--7----7----7-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---6----6----6--------(repeat x 7)-----------------------------------------|
A|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---4----4----4-------------------------------------------------------------|
Or so the story goes...
d|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--7----7----7--------------------------8-----8-----8----------------------|
D|---7----7----7--------(repeat x 3)------7-----7-----7-----(repeat x 3)-----|
A|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
D|---0----0----0--------------------------0-----0-----0----------------------|
Color the era... ...Film it its historic-
d|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F#|--7----7----7---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---6----6----6--------(repeat x 3)--------2-----------0----------------------|
A|---4----4----4----------------------------2-(pause)---0--(repeat x 7)--------|
D|---4----4----4----------------------------2-----------0----------------------|
-al... Ah...
The second half of the song has the same structure.
Lyrics:
Verse 1
Sold my cold knot
A heavy stone
Sold my red horse for a venture home
To vanish on the bow
Settling slow
Chorus 1
Fit it all, fit it in the doldrums
Or so the story goes
Color the era
Film it its historical
Verse 2
My mile could not
Pump the plumb
In my arbor 'til my ardor trumped
every inner inertia
lump sum
Chorus 2
All at once
Rushing from the sump-pump
Or so the story goes
Balance we won't know
We will see when it gets warm
Feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
