Chords with lyrics
This is one of my favorite songs from the Live in Halifax album. The lyrics strike close to home and it has a
great throbbing, knuckle-dragging, Neanderthal kind of rhythm. This coupled with Stan Rogers's voice makes an
amazing song.
From what I can tell based on this track most of the chords out there are slightly off, but I guess that may
be just me. There are some fill lick/riff/things that I could not quite figure out, but they seem to be a
variation of the "Travis" picking pattern. From what I can figure it is something like this, (the strings change
based on the chord, but this should be the pattern):
E------------------
A----------0-------
D--0---0-----------
G------2-------2---
B------3-----3-----
e------2---------2-
That could be very wrong, if anyone has anything better let me know! I believe it is also this or something
similar that is played for most of the song. In some places it can be heard clearly-(ish) and sounds more like
this:
E------------------
A----------0-------
D--0---0-----------
G------2-----2-----
B------3-------3---
e------2---------2-
Anyway, with due apologies to my fellow Albertans and Ontarians, but no apologies to Morris Dancers, here is
my rendition of The Idiot by Stan Rogers.
Intro (
D MajorD Chord)
------------------I-------------------I
------------------I-------------------I
--0---0---0-------I--0---0---0--------I
------------2-----I----------2--------I
--------------3---I----------3--------I
----------------2-I----------2--------I
Verse
D MajorD 
A augmentedA 
B minorBm 
G+G B minorBm
I often take these night shift walks when the foreman's not around.
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA
I turn my back on the cooling stacks and make for open ground.
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
Far out beyond the tank farm fence where the gas flare makes no sound,
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA (G+G) D MajorD
I forget the stink and I always think back to that Eastern town.
Verse
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
I remember back six years ago, this Western life I chose.
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA
And every day, the news would say some factory's going to close.
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
Well, I could have stayed to take the Dole, but I'm not one of those.
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA (G+G) D MajorD
I take nothing free, and that makes me an idiot, I suppose.
Chorus
G+G D MajorD (
D/AD/A) A augmentedA
So I bid farewell to the Eastern town I never more will see;
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA
But work I must so I eat this dust and breathe refinery.
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
Oh I miss the green and the woods and streams and I don't like cowboy clothes;
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA D MajorD
But I like being free and that makes me an idiot I suppose.
Break (same as verse with a fiddle playing the melody)
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA D MajorD
Verse
D MajorD B minorBm G+G B minorBm
So come all you fine young 'fellers who've been beaten to the ground.
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA
This western life's no paradise, but it's better than lying down.
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
Oh, the streets aren't clean, and there's nothing green, and the hills are dirty brown,
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA D MajorD
But the government Dole will rot your soul back there in your home town.
Chorus
G+G D MajorD (D/AD/A) A augmentedA
So bid farewell to the Eastern town you never more will see.
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA
There's self-respect and a steady cheque in this refinery.
D MajorD A augmentedA B minorBm G+G B minorBm
You will miss the green and the woods and streams and the dust will fill your nose.
G+G D MajorD A augmentedA D MajorD
