Townes Van Zandt – Snake Song (Guitar)

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Versions (2)

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Chords

[Intro]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--3-----3---3-3---3------------------------------------------------------|
G|--2--2--2---2-2---2------------------------------------------------------|
D|--0--3--0---3-0-0-0------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------3--------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3----1--3---3-3---3-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-0h2--2--2---2-2---2-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-0----0--0---3-0-0-0---3p0---0-------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------3---------3---------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[Verse]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--3-----3---3-3---3------------------------------------------------------|
G|--2--2--2---2-2---2------------------------------------------------------|
D|--0--3--0---3-0-0-0------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------3--------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3----1--3---3-3---3-----------------------------------------------------|
G|-0h2--2--2---2-2---2-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-0----0--0---3-0-0-0-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------3-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--3-----0---0--3--3------------------------------------------------------|
G|--2--2--0---0--0--2------------------------------------------------------|
D|--0--3--0---0--x--0------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------2---2--3---------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------3---3------------------------------------------------------------|

e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-3-----3----3-3---3---------3-------------------------------------------|
G|-2--2--2----2-2---2---------2-------------------------------------------|
D|-0--3--0----3-0-0-0---------0-------------------------------------------|
A|----------------3-----3p0---0-------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------1---------------------------------------------|
************************************ | x Dead note | h Hammer-on | p Pull-off ************************************ #--------------------------------------------------------------# Submitted by Rainer Fischer #--------------------------------------------------------------#
Dm        F    Dm
You can't hold me

Dm      C     Dm
I'm too slippery

Dm       F   Dm
I do no sleepin'

Dm    C   Dm
I get lonely

Dm      F     G
you can touch me

 G      C   Dm
if you want to

Dm    F  Dm
I got poison

Dm      C     Dm
I just might bite you

Dm        F    Dm
Lie in circles

Dm      C     Dm
on the sunlight

Dm       F   Dm
shine like diamonds

Dm    C   Dm
on a dark night

Dm      F     G
ain't no mercy

G      C   Dm
in my smilin'

Dm    F  Dm
only fangs and

Dm      C     Dm
sweet beguiling

Dm        F    Dm
Future, he don't

Dm      C     Dm
try to find me

Dm       F   Dm
skin I been through

Dm    C   Dm
dies behind me

Dm      F     G
solid hollow

G      C   Dm
wrapped in hatred
not a drop of venom wasted
Dm        F    Dm
You can slip in

Dm      C     Dm
try to find me

Dm       F   Dm
hold your breath and

Dm    C   Dm
flat deny me

Dm      F     G
it makes no difference

G      C   Dm
to my thinkin'

Dm    F  Dm
I'll be here when

Dm      C     Dm
you start sinkin'
I found it convenient to play with a capo in the 5th fret so I actually play Am C Am Am G Am and so on. In the beginning of a line I strum the empty strings and then 'hammer on' the three fingers for the Am. The Fs and Cs are quickly sqeezed in between the other chords. It's hard to say how really to play it, it has to be felt (that's what I tell my band members on every occasion..). It should by avoided to play the high strings, at least not too often or too loud, especially at the Cs and Fs (This also makes it easier for the left hand). In between the verses I play a line of bass notes: D F B(hammer on->)C E D (maybe ...F D). I also would like to add the bass line introducing 'Fare thee well Miss Carousel'. Probably invented by the bass player but I like it very much.
B E / (E) F# G# / G# A G# F#/ F# G# E -> E-chord.
Maybe the last bar is just f# f# f#.
And never ask me for a correct notation of the rhythm... RF