Capo 5th fret
[Intro]
Am Dm Em Am
Dm Am
[Verse 1]
Am
"I'm called a spade
Dm
My mind has done been made"
Am E7
That's what the man, he said
Am
Then he threw his money down
Dm
And they passed the cards around
Am E Am
This weren't no children's game
[Verse 2]
Am
He said his name
Dm
Was just a passin' thing
Am E7
While I looked at him confused
Am
But I soon knew what he meant
Dm
With his revolver spent
Am E Am
On everything but me
[Verse 3]
Am
Just then he laughed
Dm
And handed me a bag
Am E7
Said, "Could you fill it for me please?"
Am
Then we rode all night long
Dm
Through the dark into the dawn
Am E Am
Before we finally took our rest
[Interlude]
Am
[Verse 4]
Am
Said he'd come in
Dm
From Galveston
Am E7
That troubled city by the gulf
Am
He said, "I knew your sister well
Dm
So when I saw you I could tell
Am E Am
By that ribbon on your sleeve"
[Verse 5]
Am
"I'm sorry to say
Dm
Your sister's passed away
Am E7
I seen it with my own two eyes
Am
And those same evil men
Dm
Who killed my closest kin
Am E Am
They were sittin' there by you"
[Verse 6]
Am
"Listen to me
Dm
Life is misery
Am E7
Trouble's always on the way
Am
And if I were you
Dm
I know what I'd do
Am E Am
Because they're sure to fall the spade"
[Outro]
Am
X
How to play "Spade" by Charley Crockett on guitar
Capo Placement
- Place the capo on the 5th fret.
[Intro] Chords
- Am Dm Em Am Dm Am
- Strumming: Employ a slow, reflective strumming pattern focusing on
downstrokes to emphasize the melancholic mood of the song.
[Verse 1] to [Verse 6] Chords
- Progression: Am Dm Am E7 Am Dm Am E Am
- Strumming Pattern: Use a mix of down and upstrokes to maintain a steady
rhythmic flow. Accentuate the first beat of each measure to highlight
the dramatic lyrics.
- Common Mistakes: Ensure clarity when switching from Am to E7, as the
movement requires precise finger positioning to maintain tonal clarity.
[Interlude] Chords
- Chords: Am
- Technique: Let the Am chord ring out to create a moment of pause and
reflection within the narrative of the song.
[Outro] Chords
- Chords: Am
- Maintain the somber mood by slowly strumming the Am chord, allowing
each strum to resonate as the song comes to a close.
General Tips:
- Tuning: Standard tuning with a capo on the 5th fret.
- Tone: A clean acoustic tone is best for this song to capture its
folk essence.
- Practice: Focus on the emotional delivery of your playing. Pay
special attention to the dynamics of your strumming to reflect
the song's narrative.
Lyrics Theme Summary:
"Spade" delves into themes of fate, loss, and the inevitable hardships
of life, told through a narrative involving gambling, personal ties,
and the harsh realities of a traveler's life. The song's haunting lyrics
and somber melody evoke a deep sense of storytelling rooted in folk traditions.
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