"God's Great Mistake" by Big Country
From the Album "Why The Long Face"
Tab by Colin Dawson - colin_g_dawson@hotmail.com - November 2004
Updated May 2005
Updated May 2006
Comments and corrections welcome!
h = hammer
p = pull
s = slide
sd = slide down
r = let ring (sustain)
bu = bend up by about half a semitone
Intro;
The Em continues as a drone all the way through the introduction,
but I've added the other chords in brackets for reference, even
though they're not played. When you reach the C at the end of the intro,
hold the C chord / the E note and allow to feedback. Bass comes in and
there's then a special effect guitar sound leading into solo 1. This sound
is obtained by sliding the edge of the plectrum down the E string from the
bridge towards the nut.
Em (G) (Bm) (D)
E|--------------|12---14-14h15-14h15p14p12--|----12------------|
B|---------12h15|-------------------------15|12------15---12h15|
G|--------------|---------------------------|------------------|
D|--------------|---------------------------|------------------|
A|--------------|---------------------------|------------------|
E|--------------|---------------------------|------------------|
Em (G) (Bm)
E|12---14-14h15-14h15p14p12--|--------------|
B|-------------------------15|12-------12h15|
G|---------------------------|--------------|
D|---------------------------|--------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------|
E|---------------------------|--------------|
Em (G) (Bm) (D) (Am) (Dsus2) C
E|12---14-14h15-14h15p14p12--|-----12------|------------------------------|
B|-------------------------15|12-------15--|-------12-13-12h13p12---------|
G|---------------------------|-------------|12-14-----------------14-12---|
D|---------------------------|-------------|----------------------------14|
A|---------------------------|-------------|------------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-------------|------------------------------|
1st solo;
Em
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Am
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
D
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Em
E|15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12------------------|
B|-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-15p12-------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------14p12--|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------14|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
Verse 1;
E Esus/E E Esus/E
E|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|1--------2p1-1rrrr----1--------2p1-1rrrr|
D|2--------2rr-2h3p2----2--------2rr-2h3p2|
A|2--------2rr-2rrrr----2--------2rr-2rrrr|
E|----------------------------------------|
Not enough answers to too many questions
E Esus/E E Esus/E
E|--------------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------------|
G|----1--------2p1-1rrrr----1--------2p1-1rrrr|
D|----2--------2rr-2h3p2----2--------2rr-2h3p2|
A|----2--------2rr-2rrrr----2--------2rr-2rrrr|
E|--------------------------------------------|
But guns are the last things we need
C
E|--------------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------------|
G|------0--0rr-0rrrr--------0--0rr-0rrrr|
D|------2--0h2-2h3p2--------2--0h2-2h3p2|
A|------3--3rr-3rrrr--------3--3rr-3rrrr|
E|--------------------------------------|
So we better watch the news
E Esus/E E Esus/E
E|-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------|
G|-------1--------2p1-1rrrr----1--------2p1-1rrrr|
D|-------2--------2rr-2h3p2----2--------2rr-2h3p2|
A|-------2--------2rr-2rrrr----2--------2rr-2rrrr|
E|-----------------------------------------------|
For we all have minds to feed
Verse 2 (same guitar as verse 1)
For the latest in monsters, a word from our sponsors
I write to the weather map guy
Who doesn稚 have much hair
But he痴 got a matching tie
G F# F
Put the cat out and take off the phone
E Esus/E E Esus/E
E|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|1--------2p1-1rrrr----1--------2p1-1rrrr|
D|2--------2rr-2h3p2----2--------2rr-2h3p2|
A|2--------2rr-2rrrr----2--------2rr-2rrrr|
E|----------------------------------------|
Em
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Am
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
D
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Em
E|15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----17p15------------------12-|
B|-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----17p15-17p15-12h15----|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|
Verse 3 (same guitar as verse 1)
There痴 a police car parked outside a schoolyard
Take home the law in a tin
Are they keeping bad guys out
Are they keeping bad guys in
G F# F
Put the cat out and take off the phone
E Esus/E E Esus/E
E|----------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------|
G|1--------2p1-1rrrr----1--------2p1-1rrrr|
D|2--------2rr-2h3p2----2--------2rr-2h3p2|
A|2--------2rr-2rrrr----2--------2rr-2rrrr|
E|----------------------------------------|
Em
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--|12h14--12h14p12---12--|
B|12h15-----------------15|---------------15-----|
G|------------------------|----------------------|
D|------------------------|----------------------|
A|------------------------|----------------------|
E|------------------------|----------------------|
Am
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--|(15)b14--12h14p12-------|
B|12h15-----------------15|-----------------15-12--|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------|------------------------|
D
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--|12h14p12----12h14p12---12--|
B|12h15-----------------15|--------15----------15-----|
G|------------------------|---------------------------|
D|------------------------|---------------------------|
A|------------------------|---------------------------|
E|------------------------|---------------------------|
Em
E|--------12----------------------------------|---------------------|
B|------12--15p12-----------------------------|---------------------|
G|14b16----------14p12-14p12-15p12-14p12------|--14rr---12rrrr------|
D|--------------------------------------14p12-|14rrrr-----12rr--14sd|
A|--------------------------------------------|-----------------14sd|
E|--------------------------------------------|---------------------|
(played with lots of delay)
Em
E|----------------------------------------------------|
B|---12rrrrrrr--12rrrrrrr-----12rrrrrrr--------12rrrrr|
G|---14b16rrrr--14b16rrrr-----14b16rrrr--------14b16rr|
D|----------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------|
I believe that democracy is meant to keep us free
Am
E|--12rrrrrrrrr-12rrr-12rrrrrrrr-12rrrrr-15p12h15p12h15p12h15p12h15p12h15p12h15p12-|
B|--15b17rrrrrr-15b17-15b17rrrrr-15b17bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb15-|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
I believe that Jesus Christ is who he痴 meant to be
D
E|--15rrrrrrrrrrrrrr-15rrrrrrrr-15rrrrrrrrrrr--15rrrrrrrrrrr-|
B|--18b20rrrrrrrrrrr-18b20rrrrr-18b20rrrrrrrr--18b20rrrrrrrr-|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
I believe a living Elvis will soon appear on my T. V.
Em
E|19rrrrr-19rrrrr-19rrrrr-19rrrrsd|
B|22b24rr-22b24rr-22b24rr-22b24rsd|
G|--------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|
G F# F E
E|--------------------15---14------14-13----13-12--|
B|12--------------15-----------15--------13--------|
G|12-----------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
Put the cat out and take off the phone
G F# F E
E|--------------------15---14------14-13----13-12-|
B|12--------------15-----------15--------13-------|
G|12----------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------|
Leave a light on for the last one home
Rhythm guitar break (no bass or drums);
Em / G / Bm / D / Em / G / Bm
Em G Bm D
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--------14-12h14p12---12---|
B|12h15-----------------15-12h15-----------15---15-|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
We池e all a part of God痴 great mistake
Em G Bm
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12------------|
B|12h15-----------------15-12----12-|
G|----------------------------12----|
D|----------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|
The problem in the plan
Em G Bm D
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--------14-12h14p12---12---|
B|12h15-----------------15-12h15-----------15---15-|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
We池e all a part of God痴 great mistake
Am Dsus2 C
E|---12------------------------|
B|-15--15p12-15p12-------------|
G|-----------------14p12-14b16-|
D|-----------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|
We get home if we can
Em G Bm D
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--------14-12h14p12---12---|
B|12h15-----------------15-12h15-----------15---15-|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
We池e all a part of God痴 great mistake
Em G Bm
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12------------|
B|12h15-----------------15-12----12-|
G|----------------------------12----|
D|----------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|
The problem in the plan
Em G Bm D
E|-----12-12-14-12h14p12--------14-12h14p12---12---|
B|12h15-----------------15-12h15-----------15---15-|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|
We池e all a part of God痴 great mistake
Am Dsus2 C
E|----12---12-14-15-14-12h14p12------|
B|-15--------------------------15-12-|
G|-----------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|
We get home if we can
4th solo
Em
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Am
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
D
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Em
E|----------12---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------12--15p14p12-15p14p12--13p12---------------------------------|
G|12h13h14---------------------14-----14p12--------12-12h14p12---------|
D|-----------------------------------------12h13h14-----------12-12h14-|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
1st solo
Em
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Am
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
D
E|-----12-12-|---------------------------|
B|12h15------|12-15-12h15p12-------------|
G|-----------|--------------14-12bu------|
D|-----------|----------------------14-14|
A|-----------|---------------------------|
E|-----------|---------------------------|
Em
E|15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12------------------|
B|-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-----15p12-15p12-------|
G|--------------------------------------------------------14p12--|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------14|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
Chords:
CHORD | E A D G B E
Am | 0 0 2 2 1 0
Am | 5 7 7 5 5 5
Bm | 2 2 4 4 3 2
C | 3 3 2 0 1 0
C | 3 3 5 5 5 3
D | 5 5 7 7 7 5
Dsus2 | 5 5 7 7 5 5
E | 0 2 2 1 0 0
Esus | 0 2 2 2 0 0
F | 1 3 3 2 1 1
F# | 2 4 4 3 2 2
G | 3 5 5 4 3 3
