Paul Simon – Getting Ready For Christmas Day (Guitar Tab)
Versions
(2)
Guitar Tab
Guitar
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Speed:
1.0x
Chords
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Associated Performer: Rev J. M. Gates with Congregation
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Written by Paul Simon
Released in 2010.
Then on: "So Beautiful Or So What" (2011)
Tabbed by: maguri
Tuning: Standard
Listen to this tab: https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/shot/maguri/838790616
A funny little tune: lots of speech samples running in the background, the
sparse playback (strummed acoustic guitar plus drum loop) slightly
phased/auto-volumed but Simon's voice mixed up front and floating pleasantly
above all the rumble. The lyrics are full of humour and wordplay. A very
enjoyable Christmas surprise.
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The riff is played from beginning to end (might as well be a loop, too).
Riff (all through the song) A G A G D A D A G A A G A G D A D/A 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| G|2-0-2-0-3-2---7-|--5---3---5---2-|--0-2-0-2-2----/|7---------------| G|2-0-2-0-2-2---7-|--6---4---6---2-|--0-2-0-2-2----/|7---------------| D|2-0-2-0-4-2---7-|--7---5---7---2-|--0-2-0-2-2----/|7---------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| A G A G D A D A G A A D A 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + e|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| B|2-0-2-0-3-2---7-|--5---3---5---2-|--2---3---3---2-|----------------| G|2-0-2-0-2-2---7-|--6---4---6---2-|--2---2---2---2-|----------------| D|2-0-2-0-4-2---7-|--7---5---7---2-|--2---4---4---2-|----------------| A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------| Outro turnaround A D A e|----------------|----------------| B|2-2---3-3-------|2---------------| G|2-2---2-2-------|2---------------| D|2-2---4-4-------|2---------------| A|----------------|----------------| E|----------------|----------------|
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[Riff]
(2x)
[Verse 1]
A
From early in November
A
To the last week of December
A D
I got money matters weighing me down
A
Oh, the music may be merry
A
But it's only temporary
A D A
I'm no Santa Claus who's coming to town
[Verse 2]
A
In the days I work my day job
A
In the nights I work my night
D
But it all comes down to working man's pay
A
Gettin' ready, yeah, I'm getting' ready
D A
Ready for Christmas day
[Riff]
(2x)
Reverend Gates:
Getting ready for Christmas Day.
And let me tell you, namely, the undertaker, he’s getting ready for your body
Not only that, the jailer he’s getting ready for you.
Christmas Day. Hmm? And not only the jailer, but the lawyer, the police force
Now getting ready for Christmas Day, and I want you to bear it in mind.
[Verse 3]
A
I got a nephew in Iraq
A
It's his third time back
A D
But it's ending up the way it began
A
With the luck of a beginner
A
He'll be eating turkey dinner
A D A
On some mountain top in Pakistan
[Chorus]
A D
Gettin' ready, oh, we're getting' ready
A
For the power and the glory
A A D A
And the story of the Christmas day
[Riff]
Reverend Gates:
Getting ready, for Christmas Day. Done made it up in your mind
that I’m going, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago. I’m going, on a trip
Getting ready, for Christmas Day.
But when Christmas come, nobody knows where you’ll be.
You might ask me. I may be layin’ in some lonesome grave
Getting ready, for Christmas Day.
[Riff]
(+ Solo)
[Chorus]
A D
Gettin' ready, oh, we're getting' ready
A
For the power and the glory
A D A
And the story of the Christmas day
[Riff]
(Yes, we're getting ready, ready)
Reverend Gates:
Getting ready, ready for your prayers, “I’m going and see my relatives in a distant land.”
Getting ready, getting ready for Christmas Day.
[Verse 4]
A
If I could tell my mum and dad
A
That the things we never had
D
Didn't matter, we were always O.K.
D
Getting' ready, oh, ready
A D A
Ready for Christmas day
[Chorus]
A D
Ready, gettin' ready
A
For the power and the glory
D A
And the story of the Christmas day
[Coda]
| A D | A | A D | A
(Outro turnaround)