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BAND: Matthew Good Band
SONG: The Rat Who Would Be King
TABBED BY: Sancco (sancco@hotmail.com)
Hey, just figured this out, the chord progression, so I thought
that i would share it with the rest of you. Enjoy.
VERSE RIFF:
-----------
G5 F Asus
e|---------1------0-------------|
B|--3------1------0-------------|
G|--0------2------2-------------|
D|--0------3------2-------------|
A|--x------3------0-------------|
E|--3------1--------------------|
CHORUS RIFF:
-----------
C Am G Am
e|--0------0------3------0------|
B|--1------1------3------1------|
G|--0------2------0------2------|
D|--2------2------0------2------|
A|--3------0------x------0------|
E|----------------3-------------|
CHORUS END/OUTRO RIFF:
----------------------
A G F
e|------------------------------|
B|------------------------------|
G|--2---------------------------|
D|--2------5------3-------------|
A|--0------5------3-------------|
E|---------3------1-------------|
(Note: I use power chords here but you can use full chords)
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Transcribed By SANCCO (sancco@hotmail.com)
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Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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Venti Average |
#1 by Venti at Jan 20, 1973 at 1:09 PM EST |
| i second that. this song is one heck of a song haha. "once you're in, your pretty much fucked" yep, thats the stuff matt. "you know that love's not enough" not in this world haha. | |
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ben Average |
#2 by ben doherty at Sep 1, 1976 at 5:32 AM EST |
| The symbolism used here is amazing. The picture Matt paints of a Rat, normally viewed as a dirty, worthless creature, elevated to a King by virtue of luck is powerful, and adds to the sense of loss in the song. It is clear from the line, 'and you know that love's not enough" that the Rat has lost, or is going to lose his love, and there is very little chance of him ever regaining it. The most difficult part of the song for me to understand was the imagery of typhoid and ashes, and how these two disasters were imagined by the Rat and faced alone, without outside help. Perhaps Matt is trying to convey the Rat looking ahead, envisioning his future and only seeing death and sorrow. Or perhaps the Rat has megalomaniac tendencies, and he is imagining situations where in the face of these disasters he alone can help his love, which would bring them closer? The analogy of love to a grenade with names scratched on the side is probably the most accurate description of love I have ever encountered. The idea of love being a battle is well depicted here, but the symbolism of a grenade takes it even further. Love, like a grenade, can be thrown away, and it will blow up in your face over one seemingly small event, in this case a pin being pulled. | |
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Chris Rhythm Player |
#3 by Chris Pray at Dec 15, 1984 at 7:34 AM EST |
| I don't give a fuck what the lyrics of this song mean, It might just be the saddest song I've ever fucking heard. It's amazing. | |
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Kazza Average |
#4 by Kazza at Nov 22, 1987 at 12:26 PM EST |
| I also saw the Walker Theatre show (screw you, Burton Cummings... it'll always be the Walker) in Winnipeg. I've seen every Matt Good show in Winnipeg since Beautiful Midnight was released. By far one of his finest. It's too bad we never got to hear an Audio of Being tour before the band broke up though... woulda been kickass. | |
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Ŧøn¥ Average |
#5 by Ŧøn¥ PiNeDa at Dec 11, 1988 at 12:32 PM EST |
| I just saw Matthew Good live at a show, and he played this song, and it was so awesome. IT's one of my favorite songs, and hearing it played live is even more beautiful. | |
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Rebecca Average |
#6 by Rebecca Lira at Jul 16, 1989 at 8:31 PM EST |
| "And I've a grenade With our names scratched on the side But that's love." this is a great song | |
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batman Average |
#7 by batman chum at Jul 2, 1990 at 6:02 PM EST |
| This song is posted twice. | |
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Thomas Average |
#8 by Thomas Reuter at Dec 23, 1990 at 11:34 PM EST |
| I think when he mentions ashes, and tyhpoid, then us alone. He is saying that through no matter what sort of disaster happens, he figured they would still be together. Love is a delicate thing. | |
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Sarah McKagan Musical Genius |
#9 by Sarah McKagan (AKA - Lady Rock 'n' Roll) at Feb 22, 1993 at 4:29 PM EST |
| A great song to relate to. Especially the lines "And i've a grenade with out names scratched on the side but that's just love and you know love's not enough" its really sad and brutally true. If anyone's been in that situation where it feels like a battle, but there's still love.. you know it's not enough. Also, the lyric "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile" Sounds like "even I can get lucky once and awhile" i like the humility. In the end its just dark love baby | |
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Mike Average |
#10 by Mike at Oct 16, 1995 at 10:21 AM EST |
| The symbolism used here is amazing. The picture Matt paints of a Rat, normally viewed as a dirty, worthless creature, elevated to a King by virtue of luck is powerful, and adds to the sense of loss in the song. It is clear from the line, 'and you know that love's not enough" that the Rat has lost, or is going to lose his love, and there is very little chance of him ever regaining it. The most difficult part of the song for me to understand was the imagery of typhoid and ashes, and how these two disasters were imagined by the Rat and faced alone, without outside help. Perhaps Matt is trying to convey the Rat looking ahead, envisioning his future and only seeing death and sorrow. Or perhaps the Rat has megalomaniac tendencies, and he is imagining situations where in the face of these disasters he alone can help his love, which would bring them closer? The analogy of love to a grenade with names scratched on the side is probably the most accurate description of love I have ever encountered. The idea of love being a battle is well depicted here, but the symbolism of a grenade takes it even further. Love, like a grenade, can be thrown away, and it will blow up in your face over one seemingly small event, in this case a pin being pulled. | |
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The Masta The Muther F*ing Masta! |
#11 by The Masta at Feb 25, 1998 at 11:34 AM EST |
| this song gave me shivers when i saw him at the walker theatre in winnipeg! | |
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Jordan Average |
#12 by Jordan S. at Jan 13, 2000 at 4:04 AM EST |
| NOBODY has commented on this?! this song is fucking amazing. | |
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rockman Average |
#13 by rockman the sequel at Aug 19, 2005 at 4:46 AM EST |
| NOBODY has commented on this?! this song is fucking amazing. | |
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Murders in the Average |
#14 by Murders in the Rue Morgue at Apr 21, 2006 at 5:30 PM EST |
| I love this song, i think its one of matt goods most poetic and powerful songs! "I imagined ashes and us alone Always us alone" That line gets to me everytime! | |
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