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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the#
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Author/Artist: Ken Andrews/Failure
Title: Dirty Blue Balloons
Album: Fantastic Planet
Transcribed by: Cody Morrison
Email: codymorrison@hotmail.com
This is from Failure's 1996 release "Fantastic Planet," and sadly, their last release.
Personally, I think this is the best song on the album. This is more of a strumming song.
I didn't include how many times you strum, except in the intro...the chorus, you can
decide.
Intro/Verse (clean electric guitar):
E----------------------------------------------|
B-3--3--3--/--6--6--6--/--10--10--10--8---8--8-|
G-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0---0---0--0---0--0-|
D-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0---0---0---0--0---0--0-|
A-2--2--2--/--5--5--5--/---8---8---8--7---7--7-|
E----------------------------------------------|
Here is the progression of the chords in the intro...below is the voice chordings
in the intro...
E--- E---- E---|
B-3- G-10- B-8-|
G-0- G--0- G-0-|
D-0- D--0- D-0-|
A-2- A--8- A-7-|
E--- E---- E---|
(1)I got high... On scrapings from... ...my nails.
(2)Now I'm back down... My eyes are growing... ...dark.
(3)My burnt spoon... Has dried beneath my... ...bed.
(4)And I'm dreaming of... dirty blue balloons.
Chorus (distorted electric guitar):
First time you come to the chorus, you play the following twice. The second time you come to
the chorus, you play the following three times.
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/f/failure/38742.html ]
E-------- E--- E-----------|
B-3----3- B-3- B-3----3----|
G-0----0- Strum for a bit--> G-0- Then... G-0----0----|
D-0----0- D-0- D-0----0----|
A-2h3--3- A-3- A-3p2--2h3--|
E-------- E--- E-----------|
(1)I've waited so long without you...
(2)I've waited too long for you...
E---------------------------|
B---------------------------|
G---------------------------|
D-----5-5------7-7------9-9-|
A-0-0-3-3--0-0-5-5--0-0-7-7-|
E-0-0-3-3--0-0-5-5--0-0-7-7-|
Bridge:
Basically I'm too lazy to type this out, but here is what the bridge consists of. It's
basically the same chord progression in the intro...you play each chord lightly at first, then,
start hammering the chord harder, like it's building up steam, then slide to the next chord.
You most likely didn't understand what I said...but you'll know if you listen to the song.
Solo:
I dont' have the solo either. I've seen some solos for the song, but they don't sound totally
right. If you'd like to try the solo, go to the tabulature section at http://www.failure.org.
Outro:
Don't have it either, sorry...maybe if I update this I'll include it.
Song progression:
Intro
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Bridge
Solo
Outro
Lyrics:
I got high
On scrapings from my nails
Now I'm back down
My eyes are growing dark
My burnt spoon
Has dried beneath the bed
And I'm dreaming of
Dirty blue balloons
I've waited so long without you
I've waited too long for you
He came in
He didn't speak my language
I paid him
With everything I had
And promised next time he opened up his mouth
And then they floated out
Dirty blue balloons
Nothing helps
And no one else
Can make it feel okay
Float me through the day
Nothing helps
And no one else
Can make it feel alright
Float me through the night
I cannot let them go
Dirty blue balloons
Other:
This is a really beautiful song, despite it's topic matter. It not only sounds great
electrified, but works great on an acoustic. Have fun playing.