Your Old Coat Tab
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008A couple people have recently asked for a tab for our song “Your Old Coat” off our first record, “Angles and Altitudes”. I’m sorry for the week-or-so wait, but tabs are apparently stupid time-consuming. I have a new-found respect for all those kids that labor away at tabbing out their favorite songs.
This is a song that Ross wrote… he came in with the basic chord structure on piano and commented it wasn’t working the way he wanted. After some discussion, I tried moving the tune to acoustic guitar and added the root chord with changing bass note progression… which is a technique we use on several songs (listen and see where you can pick it out… I’ll give you a place to start… “Remote Control”).
The key to this song is to not be too precise with the picking. If you hit muted strings in the chords that add chunkiness… that’s right in line. Also, pay careful attention to the strumming on the chorus… in each line there are spots where I chunk all six strings muted. It lets the vocals come to the front and adds some nice percussive fullness. I’ve indicated these parts on the tab with x’s.
At the very bottom, you’ll find the complete lyrics with chord chart. Watch the pickup lyrics on each line and enjoy playing!
A A/B A/F# A/E Dsus2b4 E F#m Dsus2
E| 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
B| 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 3
G| 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2
D| 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 0
A| 0 2 - - - 2 4 -
E| - - 2 0 - 0 2 -
Intro/Verse:
It's winter now and I'm wearing your old coat, As I
A A/B A/F# A/E
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B|---------------2---------2-------2--------2------2--------2--------2--------2----
G|-------------------2----------------2---------------2-----------------2----------
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A|--------0--0----------0----2--2--------2-----------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------2--2-------2-----0--0-------0--------
stumble down the street to another show
A A/B Dsus2b4
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B|---------------2---------2-------2--------2------2--------2--------2--------2----
G|-------------------2----------------2---------------2-----------------2----------
D|--------------------------------------------0--0-------0-----0--0--------0-------
A|--------0--0----------0----2--2--------2-----------------------------------------
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prechorus:
Such big plans we had, Such big plans we had
E F# Dsus2 E F# Dsus2
E|--0----------2--------0-----0---------2--------0---------------------------------
B|--0----------2--------3-----0---------2--------3---------------------------------
G|--1----------2--------2-----1---------2--------2---------------------------------
D|--2----------4--------0-----2---------4--------0---------------------------------
A|--2----------4--------------2---------4------------------------------------------
E|--0----------2--------------0---------2------------------------------------------
Chorus: (Strumming)
This is all that I have left, Your old clothes and your old desk
A A/B A/E (chunky strings) A/E
E|--0---------0---------------0------x-------------------0-------------------------
B|--2---------2---------------2------x-------------------2-------------------------
G|--2---------2---------------2------x-------------------2-------------------------
D|--2---------0---------------0------x-------------------0-------------------------
A|--0---------2----------------------x---------------------------------------------
E|----------------------------2------X-------------------2-------------------------
The books and records that you left behind with me.
A A/B Dsus2b4 (chunky strings)
E|--0--------------0----------------0--------------------x-------------------------
B|--2--------------2----------------2--------------------x-------------------------
G|--2--------------2----------------2--------------------x-------------------------
D|--2--------------0----------------0--------------------x-------------------------
A|--0--------------2-------------------------------------x-------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------X-------------------------
Verse:
A A/B A/F# A/E
It's winter now and I'm wearing your old coat
A A/B Dsus2b4
As I stumble down the street to another show
A A/B A/F# A/E
The thoughts I have are now my thoughts alone
A A/B Dsus2b4
But when the band packs up tonight I'll just walk home.
A A/B A/F# A/E
There will be people there, that I'll recognize
A A/B Dsus2b4
There will be no flash of recognition in their eyes.
A A/B A/F# A/E
And though you know I hate to see you leave.
A A/B Dsus2b4
Sometimes that's just the way it has to be.
Pre-Chorus:
E F# Dsus2 E F# Dsus2
Such big plans we had, Such big plans we had
Chorus:
A A/B A/F# X A/F#
This is all that I have left, Your old clothes and your old desk
A A/B Dsus2b4 X
Some books and records that you left behind with me
A A/B A/F# X A/F#
So I'll read your books and wear you clothes, and though the air is getting cold
A A/B Dsus2b4
I feel just fine in your old coat.
Verse:
A A/B A/F# A/E
It's summer now and they won't let you leave
A A/B Dsus2b4
And they're cutting up your letters before you can even read
A A/B A/F# A/E
I keep thinking of that phone call and of the cracking in your voice
A A/B Dsus2b4
When you gave the kind of news that just destroys
A A/B A/F# A/E
This house if far too cold to be a home
A A/B Dsus2b4
And there's a certain kind of silence that these walls have never known
A A/B A/F# A/E
It's been months now since we've had a chance to speak
A A/B Dsus2b4
Sometimes that's just the way things have to be
Prechorus:
E F# Dsus2 E F# Dsus2
Such big plans we had, such big plans we had
Chorus:
A A/B A/F# X A/F#
This is all that I have left, a box of letters that you sent
A A/B Dsus2b4 x
A written record of the places you have been
A A/B A/F# X A/F#
And explanations I don't need, despite the way that it might seem
A A/B Dsus2b4
I won't ever let you leave.
Bridge:
E F# Dsus2 E F# Dsus2
Fell asleep to the train tracks clacking and the sound of our parents laughing
E F# Dsus2
I woke up on the floor an only child, If only for a
E F# Dsus2 E F# Dsus2
While I slept you both were dying, now I sit and rub my eyes and
E F# Dsus2
Wonder where I am and where you've gone.
Verse:
A A/B A/F# A/E
When winter comes again you're coming home,
A A/B Dsus2
and when you get back we're going to a show.
