I Danced

Song

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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #

#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #

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Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 22:22:46 -0500

From: Bryson Meunier <meunier.1@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu>

Subject: TAB:"I Danced" by "Violent Femmes"

I have understood the chord progression of this song for quite some

time but I didn't feel that I had enough material to post. Then over the

winter break I figured out something that sounds like Brian Ritchie's

wonderfully elastic guitar solo. In other words, I'm posting most of the

guitar parts of this song. If you have a part that I've neglected to post,

or if you have comments, questions or corrections, e-mail me at

meunier.1@osu.edu

"I Danced"(Gordon Gano/Max Dunn)

Performed by the violent femmes on "Rock!!!"(1994)

Music by Gordon Gano

Lyrics from the poem "I DANCED BEFORE I HAD TWO FEET" by Max Dunn

Guitar solo by Brian Ritchie

Transcribed by Bryson Meunier

intro-

B5 D5 A

   E------------------------------------------------------|
   B-------------------------2---xxxx--xxxx--xx-----------|
   G--4--4--x--x--x---7--7---2---xxxx--xxxx--xx4--4--4--4-|
   D--4--4--x--x--x---7--7---2---xxxx--xxxx--xx4--4--4--4-|
   A--2--2--x--x--x---5--5-------xxxx--xxxx--xx2--2--2--2-|
   E------------------------------------------------------|

Repeat that riff once more before the lyrics come in. Then, for the

verse, repeat the riff without making the percussive sounds. At least I

think that's the only distinction between the introduction and the verse but

the bass is so prominent that it's hard to tell. If you know of another

distinction, e-mail me at the aforementioned address and let me in on it.

Here's my best attempt at the guitar solo:

   E--------------------------------|---7-----------------|
   B------------3--2---2brbrbrbr--0-|---7---4---------6\7-|
   G---4--4--4----------------------|---7---4------7------|
   D--------------------------------|-----------7---------|
   A--------------------------------|---------------------|
   E--------------------------------|---------------------|
   E---------------|--------------------------------------|
   B---7--7--8--7--|---15brp14--14h15brp14--14h15brp14----|
   G---------------|--------------------------------------|
   D---------------|--------------------------------------|
   A---------------|--------------------------------------|
   E---------------|--------------------------------------|
   E------------------------------------------------------|
   B---14h15brp14--14h15brp14-------7---------------------|
   G-----------------------------9--7---2-----------------|
   D-----------------------------9--7---2-----------------|
   A-----------------------------7------0-----------------|
   E------------------------------------------------------|
   E------------------------------------------------------|
   B--7h8--7\5--7p5---------------------------------------|
   G-----------------7p5----5h7---5\3---5p3---------------|
   D------------------------------------------5-----------|
   A------------------------------------------------------|
   E------------------------------------------------------|
   E------------------------------------------------------|
   B------------------------------------------------------|
   G----3\5---5\7---7\9---9\12----14----------------------|
   D------------------------------------------------------|
   A------------------------------------------------------|
   E------------------------------------------------------|

Repeat the main riff until the end of the song.

Lyrics:

I Danced before I had two feet

I Sang before I had a tongue

I laughed before I had two eyes

and loved before my heart was young

I swam before I had two hands

and held the distance in my toes

before I heard the stars or knew

the wild compulsion of the rose

I bore the fruits of many lives

before I came into this day

I knew before my grave was made

the worms eat only death away (2x)

I danced before I had two feet (4x)

symbols used in transcription-

x = make percussive sound with fretting hand

b = bend

r = release

\ = slide

h = hammer-on

p = pull-off