Tom Waits – On The Nickel (Guitar Live)

Capo 4 • Video Lesson
Key
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Versions (2)

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Chords

On the Nickel (A Wino's Lullabye) Based on this live performance from 1979 Chorded by GWiZ ([email protected]) Notes: Since this is played on the Piano originally, there's a lot of fiddling with singular tones to widen the sound, generally you can feel free to experiment with 7's and sus4 and sus2s. The ending Waltzing Matilda chord progression is a little different than the chords I found anywhere, the F#7 is a Tom Waits substitution but just sounds great. [Verse]
G                      D
Sticks and stones will break my bones,

G                    D
But I always will be true,

G                  D        D/C#   Bm   
When your mama is dead and gone,

               Em               A7sus4 - A7
I'll sing this lullaby just for you,

G                    D 
So what becomes of little boys,

G                   D
Who never say their prayers,

G                            D Bm
Well they're sleepin' like a baby,

       Em7    A7   D
On the Nickel over there.
[Verse]
G                  D
And if you chew tobacco,

G                  D
And wish upon the star,

G                                D   D/C#  Bm 
Well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,

                    Em                     A7sus4  A7
Man they look like punchlines between the cars,

G                          D
And I know a place where a royal flush,

G                D 
Can never beat a pair,

G                D     Bm
And even Thomas Jefferson,

          Em      A7   D
Is on the nickel over There.
[Verse]
G                  D
So ring around the rosie,

G                     D 
You're sleepin in the rain,

G                           D  Bm
And you're always late for supper,

           Em             A7 
And man you let me down again,

G                   D 
I thought I heard a mocking bird,

G                D
Roosevelt knows where,

G                            D     Bm
They're whisteling past the grave yard

                   Em      A    D
And they're on the nickel over there.
[Verse]
G                   D
So what becomes of little boys,

G                  D
That run away from home,

G                         D     Bm
Well the world keeps gettin' bigger,

Em                     A7sus4  A7
Once you get out on your own,

G                           D
So climb up thru that buttonhole,

G                       D
And fall right up the stairs,

G                         D        Bm
I'll show you where the short dogs go,

       Em       A7sus4  A7  D
On the nickel...over there.
[Seque into riff from Waltzing Matilda (not Tom Traubert's Blues)] D F#7 Bm G D Bm Em A D F#7 Bm G D Bm A D