Tom Waits – Ponchos Lament (Guitar)

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Chords

Noticed that no-one had posted this great old Waits tune, so here ya'll go With some basic fill in bass string runs from the G chord up to the B7 and again from the G down to the E chord this sounds pretty passable If you like it rate it, * flatwound * *EDIT* Nov 2021 **If you are going to COPY & PASTE this?** Set NOTEPAD or WORD to COURIER in the FONT SETTINGS Save yourself a pile of backspacing and mindache. Here's how I play the step-ups and step downs if you fancy moving up from the chords, it looks way more complicated than it actually is. Personally, I play them with my fingers, with my thumb plucking the BASS strings and Index finger strumming the others, am just not accurate enough with a plectrum.
          G      D     G        G         B7            C
   e|-------3-3----2-2---3-3------3----------2-2---2-2----0-0------0-0-|
   B|-------0-0----3-3---0-0------0----------0-0---0-0----1-1------1-1-|
   G|-------0-0----2-2---0-0------0----------2-2---2-2----0-0------0-0-|
   D|-------0-0--0-0-0---0-0------0----------1-1---1-1----2-2------2-2-|
   A|-------2-2----------2-2------2----0-1-2-2-2-2-2-2--3-3-3--2-3-3-3-|
   E|-0-2-3-3-3--------3-3-3--2-3-3--3---------------------------------|
        T S      L     O                     I   B      W          C F
        H T      O     U                         E      E          O E

        E A      N     T                     A   D      E          F E
          I      E                           I          K
R L N S Y T
      C      D      G         E      A7            D
   e|---0------2-2----3---------0-0----0-0----0-0----2-2----|
   B|---1------3-3----0---------0-0----2-2----2-2----3-3----|
   G|---0------2-2----0---------1-1----0-0----0-0----2-2----|
   D|---2--2-0-0-0----0---------2-2----2-2----2-2--0-0-0--0-|
   A|-3-3-------------2---------2-2--0-0-0--0-0-0-----------|
   E|---------------3---3-2-1-0-----------------------------| 
S O P W T U S T N A R O P P A P I O E I T E T A N H R I K S E N G
The second time through the chords sequence ends like this:
      A7     D      G       D
   e|---0-0----2-2-----3-3----2-|
   B|---2-2----3-3-----0-0----3-|
   G|---0-0----2-2-----0-0----2-|
   D|---2-2--0-0-0-----0-0--0-0-|
   A|-0-0-0------------2-2------|
   E|---------------3--3-3------|
      W      L      H
      I      O      O
      S      R      M
H D E Sorry about having to put the lyrics in vertical, but I couldn't find any other way of showing where they are on the beat. Hope this makes sense and helps. Also, huge THANKS to everyone that has taken the time to RATE THIS TAB, y'all are the best, flatwound. PONCHO'S LAMENT [VERSE]
         G               D        G
   The stairs sound so lonely without you

B7                           C             C            D           G    E
   I ain't made my bed in a week, Coffee stains on the paper I'm writing

            A7                      D
   And I'm too choked up inside to speak

                G    D                      G         
   Well yes  I know    that our differences   pulled us apart

 B7                              C           C    D           G   E
   Never spoke a word heart to heart,   I'm glad that you're gone

          A7          D               G    D
   But I wish to the Lord you'd come home 
[CHORUS]
         G    D              G   B7                     C
Yes I'm gla--ad that you're gone,  Got the feeling so strong

      C   D           G   E        A7          D                    G   D
I'm glad that you're gone,  But I wish to the Lord that you'd come home
[VERSE]
             G            D           G
   Well my guitar still plays your favorite song

B7                                                   C
   Though the strings have been outta tune for some time

          C              D         G               E
   Every time I play a chord,   I pray out to the Lord

                A7               D                G    D
   That you'll quit your honkey-tonk and sing my song
[CHORUS]
         G    D              G   B7                     C
Yes I'm gla--ad that you're gone,  Got the feeling so strong

      C   D           G   E        A7          D                    G   D
I'm glad that you're gone,  But I wish to the Lord that you'd come home
[VERSE]
 G                        D            G
   So I'll Throw another log onto the fire, 

 B7                                 C
   And, I'll admit I'm a lousy liar

           C                   D         G                 E
   As the coals die down and flicker, I hear that guitar picker

             A7              D            G    D
   Play the song we used to sing so long ago 
[CHORUS]
         G    D                   G   B7                     C
Yes I'm gla--ad glad that you're gone,  Got the feeling so strong

      C   D           G   E         A7          D               G
I'm glad that you're gone,  But I wish to the Lord you'd come home