Richard Thompson , covered by REM for the Richard Thompson Tribute Album.
Transcribed by Steve King
On the E-bow the Letter single (track 4)
This track struck me as a flashback of the older REM style of music.
Best played on an acoustic guitar , capo on 2nd fret , all chords listed below are with the capo. This is
version my band and I play , to match the CD perfectly , leave out the embellishments. We use them due to
a single guitar in the band.
Intro
G C/G G C/G G C/G G C/G
VERSE 1
G C G C/G G
Let me ride on the wall of death one more time
G G/F# Em D (Emb#1)
Let me ride on the wall of death one more time
C (Emb#2)
You can waste your time on the other rides
D (Emb#1)
but this is the nearest to being alive
G C D G C/G A
Let me take my chances on the Wall of Death
(REPEAT CHORDS FROM ABOVE VERSE)
You can go with the crazy people in the crooked house
You can fly away on the rocket or spin in the mouse
The tunnel of love might amuse you
And Noah's Ark might confuse you but
Let me take my chances on the Wall of Death
Am Em
On the Wall of Death
Am Em D
All the World is far from me
Am Em
On the Wall of Death
Am Em C D
It's the nearest to being free
(REPEAT CHORDS FROM VERSE 1)
Well you're going nowhere when you ride on the carousel
And maybe you're strong, but what's the good of ringing a bell
The switchback will make you crazy
Beware of the bearded lady
Oh let me take my chances on the Wall of Death
PIANO SOLO - GUITAR PLAYS BRIDGE CHORDS
Final Verse
Well you're going nowhere when you ride on the carousel
And maybe you're strong, but what's the good of ringing a bell
The switchback will make you crazy
Beware of the bearded lady
G C/G
Let me take my chances...
G C/G
Oh Let me take my chances...
G C C D G
Let me take my chances...
Chords - all assume capo on 2nd fret.
E A D G B E
G 3 2 0 0 0 3
C 0 3 2 0 1 0
D 0 0 0 2 3 2
C/G 0 3 2 0 1 3
Em 0 2 2 0 0 0
Am 0 0 2 2 1 0
G/F# 2 2 0 0 0 3
Emb#1 Emb#2
E -3-2-0-2---|--3-0-0-0-------------------|
B -3-3-3-3---|--1-1-3-1-------------------|
G -2-2-2-2---|--0-0-0-0-------------------|
D -0-0-0-0---|--2-2-2-2-------------------|
A -0-0-0-0---|--3-3-3-3-------------------|
E -0-0-0-0---|--0-0-0-0-------------------|