Backwards Down the Number Line

Written by Tom Marshall/Trey Anastasio

Performed at Rothbury Festival 2008-07-06

Transcribed by Kevin Snyder (snydeke1@yahoo.com)

 

Trey Anastasio: acoustic guitar, vocals

Mike Gordon: bass, chorus vocals

 

cool vid of this performace on youtube to play along with:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2KWW4LX3bo

 

and here is a sendspace link to download an mp3 of this song:

 

http://www.sendspace.com/file/5kup55

 

these chords (starts in key of Gmaj) are played in the open first postion

and the strumming pattern is "hit the top three" then the "lower three-ish" if

your looking down at your guitar.  Listen and you'll hear a slight pause before

each chord change indicitive of hitting the bass notes then the trebles which

are strummed a couple times before the next chord change.  No need to hit

them as written, just trying to set the example strumming pattern. This applies

to the chorus as well.  Hope this helps!

 

         starts on....C

                      G

    happy happy oh my friend

e-|---------------------3--3--3--3--

B-|---------------------0--0--0--0--

G-|---------------------0--0--0--0--

D-|------------------3-----3--3--3--

A-|------------------2--------2--2--

E-|------------------3--------3--3--

                          D

    blow out candles once again

e-|----------------------------2--2--2--

B-|-------------------------3--3--3--3--

G-|----------------------2--2--2--2--2--

D-|----------------------0--0--0--0--0--

A-|----------------------0--0-----0--0--

E-|-------------------------------------

                           Am

    leave the presents all inside

e-|-----------------------------0--0--0--

B-|-----------------------------1--1--1--

G-|--------------------------2--2--2--2--

D-|-----------------------2--2--2--2--2--

A-|-----------------------0--0-----0--0--

E-|-----------------------0--------0--0--

            C

    take my hand and lets take a ride

e-|--------------0--0--0--0--

B-|--------------1--1--1--1--

G-|--------------0--0--0--0--

D-|--2---0--(2)--2--2--2--2--

A-|----------3------3--3--3--

E-|---------(0)--------0--0--

   

                              D   

    backwards down the number line

e-|--------------------------------2--2--3--2--0--2--

B-|-----------------------------3--3--3--2--3--3--3--

G-|--------------------------2--2--2--2--3--2--2--2--

D-|--------------------------0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--

A-|--------------------------------------------------

E-|--------------------------------------------------

 

                         Am

you were eight and i was nine

                          D        Am

do you know what happened there

                            C

do you know why we're still friends

                        G

laughing all these many years

                                   D

we pushed through hardships tasted tears

                      Am           C

made a promise one to keep   

                            G

i can still recite it in my sleep

                          D

everytime time a birthday comes

                            Am

call your friend and sing a song              

                      C

or wisper it into his ears

                                    G

or write it down, just don't miss a year

 

Next the chorus (key changes to Cmaj) and it is repeated 2 times then the bass solo

Note: the Fmaj is played as the first position barre chord

 

    F              C

you decide what it contains

                          G

how long it goes but this remains

         F          C

the only rule is it begins

                  G                  

happy happy oh my friend

    F              C

you decide what it contains

                          G

how long it goes but this remains

         F          C                   G

the only rule is it begins

    F      C                                              G

and all my friends come backwards down the number line x3

F      C

all my friends

 

bass solo transcribed for guitar (thru the piano...don't have a bass)

and repositioned it an octave above mike's bass due the guitar not having

the range on the deeper octave notes like a bass.  hope that makes sense.  

 

 lead into the G

          G

e-|---------

B-|---------

G-|-5-4-----

D-|-----7-5-

A-|---------

E-|---------

 

 then the solo begins...

 

    F         C          G F             C             G           F  

e-|----------------------------------------------------------------7-7--

B-|-6-6-5-6-5------------------------------5-6-5-6-5---------5-6-5------

G-|-----------7-5-5-----5--------5---5---5-----------7-5---5------------

D-|-----------------5-5------5-7---7---7-----------------7--------------

A-|------------------------9--------------------------------------------

E-|---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    C         G              F       C       G          F       

e-|-5-7-5---5------------5-5---------------------------------

B-|-------9---9-9-5----9-----9-5-------5-6-9---5-6--6-5------

G-|-----------------5------------7-5-7-------7----------7-5--

D-|----------------------------------------------------------

A-|----------------------------------------------------------

E-|----------------------------------------------------------

 

          C         G

e-|--------------------

B-|--------------------

G-|-4-4-2--------------

D-|-------5-3-2--------

A-|-------------5-3----

E-|-----------------3--

 

 

    F      C                                              G               

and all my friends come backwards down the number line x3

 

    F      C to end