David Bowie – This Is Not America (Guitar)

Capo 3 • Video Lesson
Key
-

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Chords

Song: This Is Not America (Single Version) Artist: David Bowie with Pat Metheny Group (1985) Album: The Falcon & The Snowman OST URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Not_America; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJRF8xGzvj4 (Falcon & The Snowman) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_bzqyu_4N0 (Live) Style: Jazz-inspired Rock Eulogy [Chords] EADGBe Em 022000 Bm/D XX0432 Cmaj7 X32000 Em6/C# X45450 F#m7 242222 Gmaj7 320002 Em7 022030 Am7 X02010 Bm X24432 Bm7 X24232 Em 022000 Fm XX3111 Cm/D# XX1013 Fm6/D XX0111 Gm7 353333 C#maj7 X46564 G#maj7 465544 A#m7 X13121
[INTRO](Bass Riff 1, over) x3
g||—————————————————|————-————————|——————-———-——|—————————————|

D||—————————————————|—————-———————|——————————-——|—————————————|
A||—-10——10^10——10——|—-8—-8^8-—8——|——6-–6^6–-6——|—-8—-8^8-—8——|
E||—————————————————|——————-——————|—————-———————|—————————————| [INTRO]
Em            Bm/D  Cmaj7 Bm/D
This is not America

          Em7
[Sh-la-la-la]
[VERSE 1]
                  Bm/D  Cmaj7
A little piece of you,

                    Bm/D  Cmaj7
The little peace in me.

     Em  Bm/D
Will die,

    Cmaj7            Bm/D  Em
For this is not America.
[BRIDGE 1]
              Bm/D                 Cmaj7
Blossom fails to bloom,this season.

               Bm/D      Em   Bm/D
Promise not to stare,too long.

    Em6/C#                F#m7
For this is not a miracle.
[VERSE 2]
Gmaj7       Em7
There was a time,

  Cmaj7              Am7
A storm that blew so pure.

Bm
For this could be the biggest sky,

    Bm7
And I could have,

                  Em6/C#
The faintest idea.
[CHORUS 1]
                Cmaj7   Bm7
For this is not America.

Em           Bm/D
[Sh-la-la-la]

          Em6/C#
[Sh-la-la-la]

Bm/D
[Sh-la-la-la]
:: KEY CHANGE - Step Up 1+ :: [BRIDGE 2]
Fm          Cm/D#    C#maj7
This is not America, no -

            Cm/D#
This is not -

          Fm
[Sh-la-la-la]
[VERSE 3]
Fm
Snowman melting,

Cm/D#
From the inside.

C#maj7
Falcon spirals,

Cm/D#  Fm     Cm/D#
To the ground.

C#maj7
So bloody red,

           Cm/D#
Tomorrow’s clouds.
[BRIDGE 3]
Fm                  Cm/D#  C#maj7
A little piece of you,

                    Cm/D#  Cmaj7
The little peace in me.

     Fm  Cm/D#
Will die,

    Fm6/D            Gm7
For this is not America.
[VERSE 4]
G#maj7           Fm
There was a time,

C#maj7              A#m7
A wind that blew so young.

Cm7
For this could be the biggest sky,

                                   Fm6/D
And I could have the faintest idea.
[CHORUS 2]
Fm             C#maj7  Cm7
But his is not America,

 Fm          Cm/D#
[Sh-la-la-la]

          C#maj7
[Sh-la-la-la]

Cm/D#
[Sh-la-la-la]
[CODA & BRIDGE 4] X2
Fm           Cm/D#     C#maj7
This is not America, no -

            Cm/D#
This is not,

Fm           Cm/D#     C#maj7
This is not America, no -

            Cm/D#
This is not.
[Cm/D#] (Hold & Fade) x4 [End] NOTES: 1. I commenced to undertake a TAB of the ‘Extended Version 3’ of this song but found the long rambling arrangement difficult to TAB. Moreso, when it's a terrible edit and clumsy insertion of Bowies lyrics. Hence, I have deferred and attempted to capture the essence of the original Pat Metheny Group arrangement, as depicted on the ’Single’ version. 2. Just to make it more accessible, take note of the UG ’simplify chords’ button on the left-hand side. 3. This the original version, with David Bowie and the Pat Metheney Group. 4. Bowie's later solo recordings are in Am, or CAPO 5. :-R