Paul Simon – He Was My Brother (Guitar Tab)
Capo 1
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Speed:
1.0x
He Was My Brother - The Paul Simon Songbook
Key: Eb (D relative to capo
This is a tab of the version from "The Paul Simon Songbook", NOT the version
from "Wednesday Morning 3AM." There are minor lyrical differences, and he
fingerpicks more on this version. Once you get down the fingerpicking of the
this version, it is very easy to strum with the appropriate chord variations
like the latter version anyway.
Each verse has more or less the same chord structure, with minor picking
pattern variations. While I tried to copy him as closely as I could here,
it's not necessary to get each minor change down, as long as you maintain
the melody and rhythm (he plays his songs differently live practically every
time, so I take that as a cue to do the same).
Last note: when you see the top 3 strings being played simultaneously, that's
supposed to be a strum. Paul by no means limits himself to just those strings
in the chord, that's just how I chose to indicate a strum in this tab. If you
listen to the recording, you'll hear him change the volume and intensity
throughout the song, adding more strings here and there.
[Intro]
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----0-----------|-3---3-3---0h2---|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----1-----1-----|-1---1-1---0h3---|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----0-----------|-0---0-0---0h2---|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-------------2---|-2---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----3-----------|-3----------3----|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-2---2--------2--|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------2-------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
[Verse 1]
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----------|-0h2-------2-----|-0---------0-----|-0---------0-----|
B|-----3-----3-----|-------3---------|-------1---------|-------1---------|
G|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
He was my
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0h2---0h2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------3-----|-3---------2-----|-3---------3-----|-------0---0-----|
G|-----2-------2---|-------4---------|-------4---------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----0-------0---|
A|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
bro- -ther five years
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-3---------------|-----0-----0-0---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----0-----0-0---|
B|-----------0-----|-----2-----3-3---|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----2-----3-3---|
G|-------0---------|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|
D|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
older than I
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----2-----------|-0h2-------2-----|-0---------0-----|
B|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----3-----3-----|-------3---------|-------1---------|
G|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
He
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0---------0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-------1---------|-----------3-----|-3---------2-----|-3---------3-----|
G|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-------4---------|-------4---------|
D|-----2-------2---|-0-------0-------|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|
A|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
was my bro- -ther
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----------------|-3---------------|-----0-----0-0---|-0---------------|
B|-------0---0-----|-----------0-----|-----2-----3-3---|-2---------------|
G|-----------------|-------0---------|-----2-----2-2---|-2---------------|
D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
twenty three years old the day he
REPEAT INTRO
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----0-----------|-3---3-3---0h2---|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----1-----1-----|-1---1-1---0h3---|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----0-----------|-0---0-0---0h2---|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-------------2---|-2---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
died
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----3-----------|-3----------3----|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-2---2--------2--|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------2-------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
[Verse 2]
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----------|-0h2-------2-----|-0---------0-----|-0---------0-----|
B|-----3-----3-----|-------3---------|-------1---------|-------1---------|
G|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
free- -dom
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0h2---0h2-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------3-----|-3---------2-----|-3---------3-----|-------0---0-----|
G|-----2-------2---|-------4---------|-------4---------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----0-------0---|
A|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
ri- -der they cursed my
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-3---------------|-----0-----0-0---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----0-----0-0---|
B|-----------0-----|-----2-----3-3---|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----2-----3-3---|
G|-------0---------|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|
D|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
brother to his face
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----------------|
B|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----3-----------|-----------3-----|-----------------|
G|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-----------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-----------0---|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|
Go home
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----------------|-----2-----------|-----------------|-----2-2---2-2---|
B|-----------------|-----------3-----|-3---------2-----|-3---3-3---3-3---|
G|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-------4---------|-4---4-4---4-4---|
D|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-----4-------4---|-----------------|
A|-3-------0---3---|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-2---------------|
E|-----3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
out si- -der
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-----0-0---|-0---------------|
B|-------0---0-----|-------0---0-----|-----2-----3-3---|-2---------------|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-----2-2---|-2---------------|
D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
Missi- -ippi's gonna be your buryin'
REPEAT INTRO
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----0-----------|-3---3-3---0h2---|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----1-----1-----|-1---1-1---0h3---|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----0-----------|-0---0-0---0h2---|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-------------2---|-2---------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
place
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----3-----------|-3----------3----|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-2---2--------2--|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------2-------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
[Verse 3]
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---2---2-----|-0-----0---------|-0-----0---------|
B|-----3-----------|-----------------|-----------1-----|-----------1-----|
G|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
He was singin'
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----3-----3-----|-3---------2-----|-3---------3-----|-------0---0-----|
G|-----2-------2---|-------4---------|-------4---------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----0-------0---|
A|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
on his knees an angry
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-3---------------|-----0-----0-0---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----0-----0-0---|
B|-----------0-----|-----2-----3-3---|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----2-----3-3---|
G|-------0---------|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|
D|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
mob trailed a- -long
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----------0-----|
B|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----3-----------|-----------3-----|-------1---------|
G|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
They
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----3-3---0-0---|-----0h2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|
B|-----1-1---1-1---|-----3-----3-3---|-3---3-3---3-3---|-----3-----3-3---|
G|-----0-0---0-0---|-----2-----2-2---|-4---4-4---4-4---|-4---4-----4-4---|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|-4---------------|-4---------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-2---------------|-2---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
shot my brother dead
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-3---3-3---3-3---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|
B|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-3---3-3---3-3---|-3---3-3---3-3---|
G|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-4---4-4---4-4---|-4---4-4---4-4---|
D|-0---------------|-2---------------|-4---------------|-4---------------|
A|-2---------------|-0---------------|-2---------------|-2---------------|
E|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
because he hated what was wrong
REPEAT SECOND HALF OF INTRO
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|-----2-----0-----|-0h2---0h2-------|
B|-----3-----------|-3---------3-----|-----3-----------|-3----------3----|
G|-----2-------2---|-2---2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-2---2--------2--|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-0-------2-------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
[Verse 4]
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----------|-2---------2-----|-------0---------|-------0---------|
B|-----------3-----|-------3---------|-----------1-----|-----------1-----|
G|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
He was my
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-------2---------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----------3-----|-3---------2-----|-3-----3---3-----|-----------0-----|
G|-----2-------2---|-------4---------|-----------------|-------0---------|
D|-0-------0-------|-----4-------4---|-----4-------4---|-----0-------0---|
A|-----------------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2-------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|
bro- -ther tears can't
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----------------|-----0-----0-0---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----0-----0-0---|
B|-----------0-----|-----2-----3-3---|-2---2-3---2-2---|-----2-----3-3---|
G|-------0---------|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|
D|-----0-------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
bring him back to me
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0---0-0---0-0---|-3---2-2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----0-0---0-0---|
B|-2---2-3---2-2---|-2---3-3---3-3---|-3---3-3---3-3---|-----1-1---1-1---|
G|-2---2-2---2-2---|-3---2-2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----0-0---0-0---|
D|-----------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
He he was
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|
B|-1---1-1---1-1---|-3---3-3---3-3---|-3---3-3---3-3---|-----3-----3-3---|
G|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-4---4-4---4-4---|-----4-----4-4---|
D|-2---------------|-0---------------|-4---------------|-----------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-2---------------|-2---------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
my bro- -ther and he
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-3---3-3---3-3---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|
B|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-3---3-3---3-3---|-3---3-3---3-3---|
G|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-4---4-4---4-4---|
D|-0---------------|-2---------------|-0---------------|-4---------------|
A|-2---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-2---------------|
E|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
died so his brother could be free oh God he
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-3---3-3---3-3---|-0---0-0---0-0---|-----2-----2-2---|-0h2-0h2---2-2---|
B|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----3-----3-3---|-3---3-----3-3---|
G|-0---0-0---0-0---|-2---2-2---2-2---|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-----2-2---|
D|-0---------------|-2---------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|
A|-2---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
died so his brother could be free
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----0-----0-0---|-3---3-3---0h2---|-----2-----2-2---|-0h2-0h2---2-2---|
B|-----1-----1-1---|-1---1-1---0h3---|-----3-----3-3---|-3---3-----3-3---|
G|-----0-----0-0---|-0---0-0---0h2---|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-----2-2---|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|
A|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
. , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . , . ,
e|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-----------|-----------------|-----------------|
B|-----3-----3-3---|-3---3-----------|-----------------|-----------------|
G|-----2-----2-2---|-2---2-----------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-0---------------|-0---0-----------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|LEGEND
***********************************
| h Hammer-on
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Lyrics
[Verse 1]
He was my brother
Five years older than I
He was my brother
Twenty-three years old the day he died
[Verse 2]
Freedom writer
They cursed my brother to his face
"Go home, outsider
Mississippi's gonna be your buryin' place"
[Verse 3]
He was singin' on his knees
An angry mob trailed along
They shot my brother dead
Because he hated what was wrong
[Verse 4]
He was my brother
Tears can't bring him back to me
He, he was my brother
And he died so his brothers could be free oh God
He died so his brothers could be free