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Song: I Alone
Performed by: LIVE
Album: Throwing Copper
Tabbed by: Sebastian Rönnlund (sebbe@submode.com)
Modified by: Nathan Burns (jediknightcloud@hotmail.com)
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The guy who orginaly tabbed this really messed it up,
I'm pretty sure this is the right way to play it.
F C B Bmaj7
It's easier not to be wise
Measure these things by your brains
I sank into Eden with you
Alone in the church by and by
I'll read to you love save your eyes
You'll need them your boat is at sea
Your anchor is up, you've been swept away
And the greatest of teachers won't hesitate
A#/Bb
To leave you there by yourself chained to fate
D# A# F#
I alone love you
I alone tempt you
I alone love you
G#
Fear is not the end of this
I alone...
It's easier not to be great
And measure these things by your eyes
We long to be here by his resolve
Alone in the church by and by
To cradle the baby in space
A#/Bb
To leave you...
I alone... (3x)
[G#]
F C B Bmaj7
Oh now we took it back too far
Only love can save us now
All these riddles that you burn
All come running back to you
All these rhythms that you hide
Only love can save us now
All these riddles that you burn
yeah yeah yeah
I alone... (4x)
D# A# F#
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
The Four String Lead Player |
#1 by The Four String Mother Fucker at Feb 7, 1974 at 10:20 PM EST |
| i cant believe there are no comments bout this song!! has to be one of the best songs ever written by live | |
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No Picture
Matt Lead Player |
#2 by Matt Spencer at Apr 18, 1984 at 8:16 AM EST |
| i want to hear the k's choice cover!!!! i cant get hold of it!! | |
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No Picture
josh Rhythm Player |
#3 by josh groocock at Jun 13, 1985 at 1:58 PM EST |
| definantly live's best song, and "the greatest of teachers wont hesitate... chained to fate, is one of the greatest lines from any song ever | |
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No Picture
M Average |
#4 by M K-O at Sep 7, 1986 at 2:02 AM EST |
| This song is great. It was on Homicide, Episode 4.02 (Fire Part II). | |
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No Picture
James Wanna Be |
#5 by James Makowiecki at Sep 11, 1987 at 10:51 AM EST |
| This song is one of the best songs off of Throwing Copper, and th song that got me hooked into Live.. | |
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No Picture
«™†Rob†™» Average |
#6 by «™†Rob†™» at Oct 10, 1988 at 8:24 PM EST |
| I definitely agree with the whole Christian angle. If we're assuming this song is about religion, the word church doesn't necessarily scream Christianity, but the word "tempt" most definitely does. Thou shalt not tempt thy lord God, or something along those lines. And yet do I detect a hint of minty freshness? From what I can tell, this song is closer to agnosticism than blind advocacy. It seems like the chorus is not the words of the singer, but rather, of the "greatest of teachers," namely, Christ. Obviously, the singer can't be the only person in the world who loves Christ. It's the other way around. Christ alone loves you. And yet, that key word comes back and puts everything in a tailspin. Christ alone tempts you; leaves you there by yourself chained to fate. When you put all this in the context of the album's cover art (what looks like a priest strolling off a cliff), the first verse starts to take shape. I'll read to you here, save your eyes, etc. : a sermon. I'm not certain if all denominations acknowledge suicide as an unforgiveable sin. The point is, a priest of all people should know that killing himself would not make God's day. But he's doing it anyway. Either he's out to piss of the almighty (not likely), or he's stopped believing altogether. The anchor (Christ) is up (Gone, dead, or even just lazy (see - it's easier not to be great, wise) you've been swept away, i.e. life sucks. The greatest of teachers has abandoned you, but I'm here to help you, to save your eyes, a small, but meaningful gesture. It all comes down to human interaction, not faith. Your life can be one interminable dialogue with God. You can go to church every day. You're still chained to fate. And if there's no God. What then? Even if there is a God, we all know he doesn't talk back. Words are meaningless. Live your life like a Christian, and you can tell God all about it when you meet him. Till then, shut up and start helping people. Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. | |
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No Picture
Dillon Rhythm Player |
#7 by Dillon H. at Mar 31, 1989 at 11:30 AM EST |
| "and the greatest of teachers won't hesitate ... chained to fate" is my favorite line too. i think this song is about God giving us knowledge. | |
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No Picture
Mistress Cheyen Rhythm Player |
#8 by Mistress Cheyenne at Feb 18, 1991 at 7:15 PM EST |
| and it's about being tested by God. | |
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No Picture
Mauro Wanna Be |
#9 by Mauro Leon at Apr 14, 1991 at 11:17 PM EST |
| The greatest song ever by the most greatest band ever (actually this song is second to Iris by Goo Goo Dolls on my greatest songs of the century list) What this song means to me is this we all need someone to be there for us all the time thats the only way to make it through this life Ed is tryin to be that one for us by directing us down that path of LOVE its easier to just pass through life without having to analyze every single thing that passes through yuor mind (brains , eyes) it would be so much easier if we just learned that the only thing that matters in life is peace happiness and love still if someone could tell me those line by line interpretations that would be great peace out | |
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No Picture
Ace Average |
#10 by Ace Of Spades at Jan 24, 1994 at 8:31 AM EST |
| yes live aint satanist but they r cool their lyrics are bad @Ss this is one of my fav songs.counts as EMO to pearl jam goo goo dolls creed greenday they all rule and more. but this song is koo | |
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No Picture
Rosa Wanna Be |
#11 by Rosa Beauchamp at Mar 4, 1996 at 2:59 AM EST |
| No, I get the Christianity thing, especially from the use of words like "Eden" and "church". And I'd say it takes a darker view, as LIVE is a non-Christian band, on the main. And yes - this was the first LIVE song I ever sat up and took note of, and what led to my now full-blown love of the band. Ed is a /fantastic/ writer! | |
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No Picture
sebastian Professional |
#12 by sebastian at Oct 30, 1999 at 2:56 PM EST |
| This is one of the best songs I've ever heard, but I loved it even more when I heard the cover of Anouk ft. K's choice!!! It can't get much better than this!!! | |
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No Picture
The Penguins Tr Professional Badass |
#13 by The Penguins Tried To Kill Me The Other Day at Mar 29, 2000 at 7:40 PM EST |
| I'm thinking its about someone who has gone through something rough and only the live of the singer can help them. | |
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No Picture
Mauricio Average |
#14 by Mauricio Avendańo at May 17, 2000 at 2:00 AM EST |
| this song is about the devil tempting eve in the garden of eden. the song is from the devil's point of view. the devil is telling them "i alone love you" and the "greatest of teachers (God) want hesitate to leave you". the devil, of course is lying. after adam and eve gave into temptation, "only love can save them now". futher proof is the video. the video depicts a snake (satan) in a tree. court adjourned | |
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No Picture
austin Rhythm Player |
#15 by austin ballard at Jan 30, 2007 at 6:47 AM EST |
| this song is easily one of my favorites. it has such an uncanny urgency in the chorus and bridge. this song was the reason i began listening to Live. the lyrics are absolutely mind-blowing.i'm gonna try my best to put them together into a semi-logical whole. the first two lines ("it's easier not to be wise/ and measure these things by your brains"), i think ed is trying to say that things aren't always what they seem. i know thats a huge cliche, but it also shows the ignorance of arrogance, such that we see things, and think we understand them by our own reason, and not necessarily theirs. notice how ed says "i sank into eden with you/ alone in the church by and by." its interesting that he is with someone, but is also alone at the same time. then, he says "i'll read to you here, save your eyes/ you'll need them, your boat is at sea." i think ed is going for a view of true nature here. he's saying that you need focus and awareness to attain it (your true nature). and it's so overwhelming that "you've been swept away" as soon as "your anchor is up". the lead-in to the chorus is odd, such that i don't think "the greatest of teachers" would choose for someone to be "chained to fate". the conclusion that was arrived at was that this comment is sarcastic, and that the "greatest of teachers" is a priest, and by his christian beliefs he would prefer to "leave you there, by yourself, chained to fate." the chorus is dynamic, and it is assumed that the "you" ed refers to changes midway through. by saying "i alone love you", he is referring to the universal 'you', or everyone/everything. then by loving this whole, he "tempt[s]" out the other "you" (the separate, egotistical 'you'). the last line is a retort to the lead-in. "fear is not the end of this" is ed's answer to being "chained to fate". in this sense, the "teachers" are scared, and therefore prefer to stay "there...chained to fate", instead of putting their boats to sea. ed thinks there's more to it ("not the end of this"). the second verse reiterates that point, when ed says "we long to be here by his resolve." this is just like being "chained to fate." we stay huddled and content in the security of "his resolve," whether or not it is true. the baby needs to be cradled (held close) to keep it safe. the bridge is a beautiful play of love versus intellect. ed says, naturally, that it is "only love" which can "save us now." | |
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