Backwards Down The Number Line (UPDATED)

[Walker done done]

EDIT: I've updated the brdige even further.  I believe the first section of the bridge (before the singing starts) is Em & C, and then once the vocals kick in it's Bm & C, then the D & G at the end.  Let me know what you think.

Code Select Expand

Backwards Down the Number Line
Tom Marshall/Trey Anastasio (Verse is in G, Chorus is in C)

C                 G
Happy happy oh my friend
                D
Blow out candles once again
                  Am
Leave the presents all inside
SN: (E)   (D)  C                     G
    Take  my  hand and let's take a ride    
                  D           Dsus   D  
Backwards down the number line
                        Em
You were eight and I was nine
                         D        SN: (A) (B) (C)
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
              Em          SN: (E)  (D)  (C)
Made a promise one to keep    
C                          G
    I can still recite it in my sleep
            D                Dsus   D  
Every time a birthday comes
                           Em
Call your friend and sing a song              
               C
Or whisper it into his ears
                                   G
Or write it down, just don't miss a year

Chorus: (repeat each a few times)
     F               C                                  G
You decide what it contains, how long it goes but this remains
        F            C                       G
The only rule is it begins, happy happy oh my friend

   F      C                               G
And all my friends come backwards down the number line (repeat)


Bridge:

Em  C

Em  C

Bm                        C
And when I see you coming down the line with eyes wide open
Bm                                C
Somewhere in between the past and future, where you drift in time
C                       D        G
You can see a different point of view

Repeat Chorus

Jam

Repeat Chorus


[surefootedllama]

those Am's should be Em's. 

thanks for posting!

[Walker done done]

those Am's should be Em's. 

thanks for posting!

No prob.  But I believe those Am's should be Am's.  It's a walk-down to the C from the E in the Am.  Listen to the difference between the chord struck on "leave the presents ALL inside" and then the chord struck on "you were eight and I was NINE".....you're telling me they're the same chord?  Doesn't sound it to me.

[surefootedllama]

Well, you can play an Am there if you'd like, but it's not right.  Not trying to be rude or argumentative.  That walkup you have from A to C is right, however. 

[Walker done done]

Well, you can play an Am there if you'd like, but it's not right.  Not trying to be rude or argumentative.  That walkup you have from A to C is right, however. 

No worries brother, but unless it's Trey telling me that, I respectfully disagree.  Those 2 lines/chords I mentioned above do not sound like the same chord though...I wondered if Mike is hitting an E both times, and maybe Trey is hitting an Am then Em?  Don't have access to the song right now but just a thought.  Did you give it a listen again?  Take any of the SBD's from this tour and give'er a listen and lemme know if you still feel that way.

To everyone else: I'd love to get some other opinions too, guys....speak up!  I've been wrong before (and I'll be wrong again) but it'd be nice to get more opinions on the matter.

[surefootedllama]

Yeah, I listened to it over and over after you replied just to make sure I wasn't hearing it wrong.  It does sound like two different chords, but it's the same chord play at different fret areas.  I tried playing the Am there and it doesn't sound right. 

[bdubs]

I don't hear a single a min.  That is wrong my friend.  This is Trey.

[Walker done done]

I don't hear a single a min.  That is wrong my friend.  This is Trey.

That might be THE lousiest 1st post ever on this board.  Thank you for setting the standard my friend, and welcome.  Hope your future posts are more productive. 

I will say that if you don't hear any minors in this song, your ear(s) are broken and need some alignment.  Put in Joe's Garage, eat some acid, rinse and repeat.

[Poster]

I don't hear a single a min.  That is wrong my friend.  This is Trey.

lol. your funny man.

[Walker done done]

Well.......I'm always willing to admit when I'm wrong, and in this case, I am/was wrong about the Am.  It is, unequivicolly, an Em, and there are no Am's in BDTNL.  Straight from the horses mouth (well, the Cactus's anyways).  I chatted him up for a few minutes after last nights show here in Portland (great fucking show, btw...busted out Meat!) and he confirmed that it is an Em.  He also confirmed that they're not doing Joe's Garage in Indio, which I didn't honestly think they'd do (I was more hoping).  And....I asked him about Suskind Hotel, and why it's not being played more often, either with his band or Phish, and he said Phish has tossed around incorporating into their setlists and have practiced it a few times.  Hooray!  Would love to see them bust that out in Indio!

[sour d]

I think you put a bug in his ear about the suskind. I think he opened with it the next night. I talked with him after the show in portland and then at the bar for awhile but I don't think i had any intelligent questions like you walker. Good job. I was psyched to meet scott.

[Walker done done]

I think you put a bug in his ear about the suskind. I think he opened with it the next night. I talked with him after the show in portland and then at the bar for awhile but I don't think i had any intelligent questions like you walker. Good job. I was psyched to meet scott.

I was bummed not to hear Suskind in Portland as he played it the night before and the night after.  Oh well.  Had a great time anyways.  But I do love that song and hope it gets more playtime.

[picture_of_nectar]

Hey guys,
If you check out the Joy DVD in the Box set it has a close up of almost all of BD#L

Pretty sure "you were 8 and I was nine" verse goes to Em, not Am. and the walkup is totally E D C.

That DVD is really good for checking out what Trey is actually playing on a lot of the Joy album tunes.

[Poster]

^ rip and share plz

[Walker done done]

Hey guys,
If you check out the Joy DVD in the Box set it has a close up of almost all of BD#L

Pretty sure "you were 8 and I was nine" verse goes to Em, not Am. and the walkup is totally E D C.

I'm pretty sure it's an Em too - Mike told me himself.  I'm going with that as my final answer.  And E D C would be a walk-down, which without a guitar in hand I can't verfiy its accuracy but I'm not inclined to disagree with you on merit alone.