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powder blue
E--6----10----3----3--
B--8----11----3----3--
G--8----12----3----3--
D--8----13----5----5--
A--6----------5----5—a few times
E--6----------3----3--
Chorus
Bb (xx8766) Bb/A (xx7766) Bb/Ab (xx6766)
G (xx5433) Bb (xx8766) Bb/A (xx7766)
Solo
E--------3------------------]---------------------------13---
B-----------4---------------]-4----6-------8--------10--11---
G-----4------------X3-------]----0----7/8-----9/10------10---
D--5------------5-----------]---------------------------12---
A-----------------------10--]---------------------------10---
E---------------------------]---------------------------10---
E--13---10---------------------------------------------------
B------------11------------4-------6-----------8----------10-
G-----------------10--0------------------7/8-------8/10------
D-------------------------------8----------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------
E---13---13---10---------------------------------------------
B---11--------------------------------11---------------------
G---10-------------10-------10-------------10----------------
D---12-------------------------------------------------------
A---10------------------10-------10---------------10---------
E---10-------------------------------------------------------
E--10---------10----------------------3---------------10-----
B--11-------------11------------------4------6--------11-----
G--12------------------10-------10----0---0------7/8--12-----
D--13----12----------------12---12--------------------13-----
A--------10--------------------------------------------------
E--------10--------------------------------------------------
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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Speed Demon Professional |
#1 by Speed Demon at Jun 9, 1972 at 5:43 PM EST |
| I heard this song on the AE SOS CD.. Wow, blew my mind.. And the way it ties in with the other song about the girl dying.. Just wow, their music does something to my soul.. | |
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shane Wanna Be |
#2 by shane kendry at Jul 25, 1974 at 3:19 AM EST |
| another epic song about heroin | |
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TOm Wanna Be |
#3 by TOm HIrsch at Nov 25, 1974 at 11:50 PM EST |
| The real reason Guy Garvey wrote the song is very beautiful, so I shall share it with everyone: "I almost feel guilty for writing this song. It’s based on a withdrawing couple I saw in a bar. She was banging a coin on the bar really loudly and he came up behind her and put his arms round her, staying her hand and she burst into tears. There was a tragic magic to the situation that would have affected anyone who witnessed it." | |
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JUSTIN Lead Player |
#4 by JUSTIN LOCKHART at Jan 15, 1975 at 1:15 AM EST |
| First off, how anyone can ask for someone to respond intelligently and then go on to spell "cynical" with an 's' is beyond me. Other than that, I think this song is about heroin. The line "China White, my bride tonight " is obviously about heroin, seeing as a name for the white form of heroin is "China White". I think the song revolves around the rush one gets when shooting up. Especially with lines talking about the shakes and going starry-eyed. Finally, how "you never get so close to death", but it "makes you so alive" talks about the danger that comes with injecting, but the euphoria you experience after use. | |
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katie Average |
#5 by katie focner at Mar 1, 1975 at 2:59 AM EST |
| Erm.. The "Harmonica" is quite clearly just a sax section.. It's got to be one of my favourite song endings though.. | |
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Kyle Average |
#6 by Kyle Bish at Feb 25, 1977 at 9:33 PM EST |
| I'm sure it was referring to two druggies he'd seen on Canal Street in Manchester. Two people so completely besotted with eachother and co-dependent on eachother that they feed eachothers addictions to the point of near-fatality. How is it possible to write such an incredibly beautiful song about being a drug addict without glamourising it?! Absolutely amazing. | |
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Ben Rhythm Player |
#7 by Ben Jammin at May 15, 1984 at 1:35 PM EST |
| Great song again, this band deserves way more credit than it gets. I heard this song was about 2 drug addicts and that fact makes their love so much more volatile and whatever. | |
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Rory Wanna Be |
#8 by Rory Burlet at Dec 9, 1985 at 6:56 AM EST |
| I agree, it's about a car crash where the girl dies, and all he wants is one more minute to be with her. Beautiful song, amazing band. | |
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2D Average |
#9 by 2D at Dec 30, 1986 at 3:40 PM EST |
| last line of "Any Day Now" sorry! | |
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Mika Average |
#10 by Mika Schultz at Mar 3, 1987 at 5:58 PM EST |
| I agree with aftonbelle. The line "I'm proud to be the one you hold/When the shakes begin" gives most of the meaning away, and the rest can be deduced. In this, Elbow is genius; it creates a wonderfully descriptive mood for its theme with subtly twisted music and singing, drawing us into the numb and perfectly isolated world of a love transformed through addiction. Don't assume a car crash because of the ending and the booklet quote. Granted, I don't know how they relate to my interpretation either, but I'm sure some thought will get us there. | |
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cody Wanna Be |
#11 by cody westermier at Jul 26, 1988 at 11:54 PM EST |
| Yeah an awsome song, but i think you're missing the meaning completely. i don't know how you car crash out of this song, but very interesting view. did he say anything about a car crash in an interview or are you playing guessing games. I think "falling asleep at the weel" is some sort of metaphorical term, not to be taken litterally. What does "your eyes are like black spiders" have to do with a car wreck?? Please tell me. I'm dying to know. I love this band, but can someone intelligently respond to me please? not to be too synical or anything. | |
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Kc Lead Player |
#12 by Kc LaTour at Dec 8, 1995 at 10:31 AM EST |
| Well, Ali, that is very interesting. I never saw it that way before. I always saw the car crash angle. But, in response to archagon , there are many reasons to believe the car crash idea. A) Turn this song all the way up at the end. What do you hear? Cars. Cars on a raining road. A lot of songs on the cd have things on the end. B) There are those loud noises near the end, I believe it is a harmonica but I'm not sure. It reminds me of car horns everytime. C) "Powder Blue" I always thought referred to the windshield. Powdered blue..glass. But I can see it in a whole new light (assuming that quote is real). And in response to DreamsofInsomnia, I wouldn't call that obvious at all. Someone dying...especially with "shakes"...it is easy to imagine them being pale and white. China (as in plates) is white. | |
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Kevin Average |
#13 by Kevin turbyfill at Jun 5, 1996 at 10:38 AM EST |
| Oh... In response to tinfolsally's remarks about the "harmonica noises." I believe the instrument is actually a "melodica." Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodica This intrument was brought to the forefront of popular music in the eighties by a Philadelphia based band known as "The Hooters." | |
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Daniel Average |
#14 by Daniel Johnson at May 31, 1998 at 2:37 PM EST |
| I definately believe the song is about two drug addicts, it is written in black and white, I believe its about a girl who has been through a lot in her past and has turned to drugs and a man who completely understands her. the references to drug addiction are: "In despair or incoherence Nothing in between" The "incoherence" experienced through drug addiction is the only way to escape the "despair" "China white" / "sallow-skinned starry-eyed" the appearance or a hard drug addict, pale and yellowish but bright eyed. "Stumble through the crowds together They're trying to ignore us" the loss of bodily control as experienced through taking drugs, and loss of inhibitions. "I'm proud to be the one you hold When the shakes begin" A drug addict experiences "The Shakes" if they are kept from their drug for a long time. "Never get so close to death, Makes you so alive" Everytime you take drugs you are risking your life, for some it is that risk which adds to the elation when they're high. | |
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Marks Average |
#15 by Marks at Mar 31, 1999 at 7:44 PM EST |
| I love this song. It's so beautiful. | |
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sketch Wanna Be |
#16 by sketch at May 6, 1999 at 12:41 AM EST |
| this song gives me chills everytime i hear it. amazing song, amazing album. | |
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Ultra Violet Average |
#17 by Ultra Violet at May 19, 1999 at 3:13 AM EST |
| Bought the disc.... It's a harmonica! Oh well.... a free lesson on obscure musical intruments anyway?!? | |
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Brandon Rhythm Player |
#18 by Brandon Winfrey at Jun 12, 2000 at 12:24 AM EST |
| "in despair or incoherence nothing inbetween" a hard drug abuser who has turned to drugs for relief, definitely about two abusers. As for the eyes on horizon bit, I think he used that as a metaphor, looking to the future but don't lose track of where u are going, especially in relation to drugs, don't lose sight of where you might end up ... hmmm does this make sense? but please don't attack me if I've spelt anything wrong | |
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TED Average |
#19 by TED at Apr 2, 2003 at 7:04 PM EST |
| What a song! His voice works with the sound of the piano really well. In the song book of the album, it says "Eyes' on horizon. Don't sleep at the wheel" sitting next to the lyrics of Powder Blue. That line is the last line of Red, one of the other songs on the album. So, i guess this song is about a car crash with two people people in it, one dying and the lyricist surviving. He talks about bringing 1 minute back to spend it with the girl that died. GO BUY THE ALBUM!!!!! | |
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Justin Average |
#20 by Justin Dosser at Apr 21, 2003 at 6:23 PM EST |
| I can't identify them specifically or anything, but the 'harmonica' noises at the end always sounded more like brass instruments to me. But I see where you're coming from with the car horns thing. And of course you have the glass shattering at the end of the song to back up the car crash theory, but I really don't think that that's what it's entirely about. I think that this song is about two drug addicts, but sometimes Garvey uses the image of a car crash to illustrate the nature of their lives. From the 'china white' bit I always got the image of a china doll with perfect white skin, like the narrator of the song saw her as being as beautiful as a doll, with bead eyes 'like black spiders', and her hair and dress 'in ribbons', just like porcelain and china dolls wear. Of course, the fact that her dress is in ribbons could again back up the claim that she has been in some kind of accident and torn her dress, perhaps on the smashed glass of a car. But the whole 'bring that minute back' bit I imagined as more about people who are addicted to drugs chasing the feeling of the hit, and getting more and more addicted, because it can never feel like it felt the first time. The only bit I was ever unsure of was the reason behind Garvey putting 'powder blue' at the end of the chorus. It might be to do with the sound of the words, because the number of syllables etc. go with the pattern of the chorus and all that. So maybe 'powder blue' is just two words meant to be taken seperately- 'powder' having connotations of drugs, and 'blue' describing the sound of the song, and the emotions of the characters within it. Or maybe 'powder blue' is meant to carry on the pattern of describing the girl in question in terms of childishness and naivety- dolls, spiders, pastel colours (powder blue). He seems to worship her, almost: 'I'm proud to be the one you hold/When the shakes begin'. This would account for the overlooking of the 'sallow skin' and the 'shakes' and the focus on the more romantic aspects of the drug culture: the 'starry' eyes, the pale 'china' skin, the feeling of being alive being lingered on, and the mention of the threat of death fleeting. Basically I see this song as an empathetic view of how easy it is to be caught up in the world of drugs, and the romanticised aspects of it especially, and the way that it is comparable to a car crash. That explains the quote in the booklet, the nods to car accidents and the smash at the end of the song when something eneviably goes sour and the narrator's delusion is shattered. It's as if the two people in the song were going along fine with their lives and managing to cheat death or the police or whatever, and the dreamy, rich sound of the song represents this. But then something sudden happens, just like somethign that causes a car crash, and their world is shattered. Sorry that was so long- I just finished an English course and I can get a bit carried away analysing stuff sometimes. *ahem* | |
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calvin Wanna Be |
#21 by calvin maynard at May 9, 2003 at 11:10 AM EST |
| The song is so clearly about two drug addicted lovers that a car crash never entered my mind. "Powder Blue" could be a reference to the appearance of an addicts' skin tone or a name given to the "blend" produced by their drug dealer (just as those who deal in mushroom strains like name their final product). "You never get so close to death, Makes you so alive" is likely to do with the unknown quality and origin of "street" drugs. As the affect of the drug begins to manifest, where it will take you is unknown. If "cut" with poison, you die. If high quality, you fly. I prefer adrenaline myself ;-) IMHO | |
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shabobo Wanna Be |
#22 by shabobo at Apr 10, 2004 at 1:46 PM EST |
| I saw Elbow open for a Doves show and I had never heard of them, The had such an amazing sound. Everyone was in complete Awe of this opening band. As far as this song I feel it is the best on the album but the whole album is great. | |
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dillon Average |
#23 by dillon thurman at Aug 29, 2005 at 8:06 PM EST |
| sounds like it's about heroin to me 1 | |
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