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Band: Elbow
Song: Red
Album: Asleep in the Back
Thom Mills dustbin_man@hotmail.com
verse 1
Em A
Come as you are sweetheart, come as you are
Em A
You know you've got nothing to prove
Em A
I'll put you to bed you can let it all go
Em A
You've been playing too rough lately
chorus
C D Em
You burn too bright
C D Em
you live too fast
C Em D C
this can't go on too long
Em C (D)
you're a tragedy starting to happen
verse 2
Em A
just as you are perfect, just as you are
Em A
I'll give you the time you deserve
Em A
don't make those promises don't tell me again
Em A Em
the dust is gonna settle you nerves
chorus
instrumental (chords for verse 1)
chorus
Em A to fade
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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skate rat steve Lead Player |
#1 by skate rat steve at Nov 30, 1971 at 8:52 PM EST |
| yeah...it sounds like the man who stole everything....mixed with obvious morrissey influences... | |
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Mike Average |
#2 by Mike Murphy at Aug 26, 1973 at 3:44 PM EST |
| one of the best songs around..great melody. kinda sounds like Doves..tragically sweet | |
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Ian Average |
#3 by Ian at Apr 8, 1979 at 11:18 AM EST |
| i'm a bipolar and whenever i listen to this song i feel like it's sang directly to me. but it's probably about a drug addict. and i think it can be dedicated... any song can... as long as it fits... | |
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daniel Wanna Be |
#4 by daniel seaward at Nov 3, 1979 at 7:19 PM EST |
| Incredible song. Just beautiful. The passion in Guy Garvey's voice is brilliant. | |
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Dillon Rhythm Player |
#5 by Dillon H. at Jul 31, 1996 at 6:59 AM EST |
| This song breaks my heart. My boyfriend once dedicated it to me.. | |
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Ĵǿ Wanna Be |
#6 by Ĵǿħŋ Ĝęřđěŋĭţš at Nov 18, 1999 at 6:32 PM EST |
| For me, this is someone seeing a friend or loved one standing on the edge of depression, and wanting to help ("I'll put you to bed you can / Let it all go" and "I'll give you the time you deserve"). Seeing them fighting the misery with everything they've got ("you've been playing too rough lately"). Burning all the energy they've got left ("you burn too bright"), about to crash ("you're a tragedy starting to happen"). Saying to the people who want to help them that they'll be okay in time ("that dust is gonna settle your nerves"). I could go on like that with every line, but these are the lines I feel strongest about. This is such a beautiful song... 1 | |
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Josh Wanna Be |
#7 by Josh Allen at Dec 19, 1999 at 8:50 AM EST |
| I don't think this is necessarily about drugs, but about a woman who tries to be accepted in others' eyes and fails. A man (the singer) finds her and tries to comfort her by saying that she's perfect the way she is ("Come as you are", "Just as you are perfect"). Perhaps by "dust" settling nerves, threats of death and suicide are implied. | |
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JAY Average |
#8 by JAY at Sep 26, 2007 at 9:40 AM EST |
| We used this once in a devised piece for theatre studies about a girl with bipolar disorder, it related to the drastic mood swings experienced by people with the disorder and I can see that this could also be related to drug users who have highs and then crash down, but I think it relates to everyone, hasn't everyone experienced a time when they've been so high on life and then everything seems to spiral out of control and then into nothing. I think I can even relate to it right now! And I think it's sweet that the song was dedicated to you, shows that he likes you as you are and maybe is concerned about you. He may not even have had the lyrics in mind, it's just a beautiful melody. LOVE IT! | |
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joel Average |
#9 by joel christman at Sep 28, 2007 at 3:26 AM EST |
| I've heard this is a song for leadsinger Guy Garveys ex-girlfriend who was a drug-addict. the song is really heartbreaking. | |
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jake Average |
#10 by jake battkoo at Sep 28, 2007 at 9:07 PM EST |
| This is an amazing song. Great lyrics and melody. I feel that it's about someone living their life too fast and dangerously. | |
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chris Average |
#11 by chris - at Sep 30, 2007 at 3:20 AM EST |
| Anyone else notice the weird thing that's said at the end? "yeah I dunno what it is, what am I supposed to do with it? it's tiny! Yeah but I can't keep time to that, if I'm thinking about that then I can't beat box" | |
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Joe Average |
#12 by Joe Miller at Oct 1, 2007 at 6:54 PM EST |
| This is about a drug-addict. "Don't tell me again that dust is gonna settle your nerves." Obviously the girl is saying that the drugs will numb her pain, and he's saying don't give me that bull. He wants her to slow down and quit harming herself before something bad happens to her. "You're a tragedy starting to happen." | |
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tim Average |
#13 by tim martin at Oct 3, 2007 at 12:56 AM EST |
| by the way, its "the man who told everything"... | |
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joe Average |
#14 by joe at Oct 4, 2007 at 6:17 AM EST |
| what kind of person would dedicate a depressing (but beautiful and artistic) song like that to you? I know i wouldn't give that to my girlfriend. If you take the lyrics seriously, it's not the kind of song you want to give to a boyfriend or girlfriend, no offense or anything... | |
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