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For Real - Okkervil River
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Tabbed by: Humma
Email: fieldhumma@gmail.com
This tab covers practically every instrument in the song excluding drums.
I've made it as accurate as I could. Actually, it's nearly perfect.
This is my first tab.
Tuning: Standard
Note: The lyrics I place throughout the song are just references
and do not reflect the rhythm of the tabs.
(Intro)
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------0---7---------7-7-0---2-----2-----2-0-------------------|
D|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
A|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
E|-------------------------------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|x2
(Verse 1)
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------0---7---------7-7-0---2-----------2-0-----------7-7-7-4--|
D|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---5-5-5-5-x-x-x-x--|
A|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--|
E|-------------------------------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--|
"some nights I thirst for real blood..."
(Verse 2)
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------0---7---------7-0---2-----2-----2-0--------------------|
D|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0---7-7-7-7-7-7-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-4--|
A|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5--|
E|-----------------------------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3--|
"and in the flash of steel from real guns..."
(Chorus)
e|-----------------------3-------3p0-------2------------------------------|
B|-----2-----------------3-------3---------3---------------------2-3-2-0--|
G|-----2---------0-------0-------0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----------2-2-2-2--|
D|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-------0-------0-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--|
A|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0----|
E|-------------------3-3-3-3-3-3------------------------------------------|
"I really miss..."
e|-----0-----------------3-------3p0-------2-----------------------------|
B|-----0-----------------3-------3---------3---------------------2-3-3-3-|
G|-----0-----------------0-------0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----------2-2-2-2-|
D|-----2-------2-0-------0-------0-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
A|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-------------------------0-0-0-0-0-------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-------3-3-3-3-3-3-----------------------------------------|
"I missed the bus..."
Note: The guitar that plays the verse and chorus is acoustic
but there is an electric guitar with distortion playing along
at every full chord of the chorus.
(Verse 3)
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------0---7-----------7-0---2-----------2-0-------------------|
D|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
A|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
E|-------------------------------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
(Verse 4)
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------0---7-----------7-0---2-----------2-0-------------------|
D|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-0---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---5-5-5-5-5-5-5-4-|
A|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|
E|-------------------------------------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|
(Chorus 2)
e|-----------------------3-------3p0-------2-----------------------------|
B|-----2-----------------3-------3---------3---------------------2-3-2-0-|
G|-----2---------0-------0-------0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----------2-2-2-2-|
D|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-------0-------0-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
A|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0---|
E|-------------------3-3-3-3-3-3-----------------------------------------|
"those blue bridge lights..."
e|-----0-----------------3-------3p0-------2-----------------------------|
B|-----0-----------------3-------3---------3---------------------2-3-2-0-|
G|-----0-----------------0-------0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----------2-2-2-2-|
D|-----2-------2-0-------0-------0-----0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|
A|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0---2-2-2-2-2-2-------------------------0-0-0-0-0-------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-------3-3-3-3-3-3-----------------------------------------|
"if you really want to see..."
Note: All interlude parts are played simultaneously,
except the lead guitar entrances after the other two
parts have played twice.
(1st Guitar Interlude)
e|---------------------------------------------------------|
B|--7-------------7--------------------------------7-------|
G|-----7-9-7--0------7-9-7--6--9--6-7-6-4-0--7--0-----7----|
D|---------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------|x4
(2nd Guitar Interlude)
e|----7--------5------5--------5--3----|
B|--7--------3------5------0-3---------|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|x6
Note: 2nd guitar interlude continues playing in the verse.
(Lead Guitar Interlude)
e|--7-5--3--2/5--5--5-5-5-5-2/5--5--5-5-5-5-2/5--5--3--2--0----|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|x2
Note: There is no guitar on the 5th and 6th verses other than the
interlude one. The bass and drums take over instead. The bass has
been playing since the begining of the interlude. I've tabbed it for you.
(Bass)
e|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------7--7--7/9--7--5----|
A|-----------------5--5--5/7--7--------------------|
E|----7--7--7\5--5---------------------------------|x6 (from interlude)
(Rhythm Guitar Final Chorus)
e|-------------------3-----------------2------------------------------|
B|-2-----------------3-----------------3---------------------2-3-2-0--|
G|-2-----------------0-----------------2---------------------2-2-2-2--|
D|-2-----------------0-----------------0---------------------2-2-2-2--|
A|-0-----------------2---------------------------------------0-0-0----|
E|-------------------3------------------------------------------------|x1
"If you're really finally mine..."
e|--0-----------------3-----------------2------------------------------|
B|--0-----------------3-----------------3---------------------2-3-2-0--|
G|--0-----------------0-----------------2---------------------2-2-2-2--|
D|--2-----------------0-----------------0---------------------2-2-2-2--|
A|--2-----------------2---------------------------------------0--------|
E|--0-----------------3------------------------------------------------|x3
then
(Rhythm Guitar outro 1)
e|-----0--0----0--00------3--3----3--33-|
B|-----0--0----0--00------3--3----3--33-|
G|-0-0-0--00-0-0--00--0-0-0--00-0-0--00-|
D|-2-2-2---2-2-2--22--0-0-0---0-0-0-----|
A|-2-2-2---2-2-2------2-2-2---2-2-2-----|
E|-0-0-0---0-0-0------3-3-3---3-3-3-----|
continues... Note: This whole rhythm part is
played twice.
e|-----2--2----2--22------0--0----0--00|
B|-3-3-3--33-3-3--33--2-2-2--22-2-2--22|
G|-2-2-2--22-2-2--22--2-2-2--22-2-2--22|
D|-0-0-0---0-0-0------2-2-2---2-2-2----|
A|--------------------0-0-0---0-0-0----|
E|-------------------------------------|
"are behind...you can't hide..."
Note: The 2nd guitar of the outro is subtle but my favorite part in the song.
(2nd Guitar outro 1)
e|--------|
B|-2-3-2--| Note: This part right before the outro begins at the end
G|--------| of the chorus as the rhythm guitar plays the chords:
D|--------| A, Asus, A
A|--------|
E|--------|x1
Note: This next part begins during the word "hind," and
is played in the background until the lyrics end. Listen very closely
for the rhythm.
(2nd Guitar outro 1)
e|--------------------------------5--2---------------|
B|------------------3--0----3---3------3-2---2-3--2--|
G|--------0-------2-------2---2------------2---------|
D|--2---2----2---------------------------------------|
A|----5----------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|x2
(Lead Guitar outro 2)
e|--7-5--3--2/5--5--5-5-5-5-2/5--5--5-5-5-5-2/5--5\3--3\2--2\0-0-0--|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------|x4
Note: When the lead guitar ends, the e string is strumed open a few times.
(Rhythm Guitar outro 2)
e|--0--0--0----3--3--3----3--3--3----0----0-0-0-0----|
B|--0--0--0----3--3--3----2--2--2----2----2-3-2-0----|
G|--0--0--0----0--0--0----3--3--3----2----2-2-2-2----|
D|--2--2--2----0--0--0----0--0--0----2----2-2-2-2----|
A|--2--2--2----2--2--2---------------0----0-0-0-0----|
E|--0--0--0----3--3--3-------------------------------|x4
Note: The first part of the 2nd guitar plays in sync
with the rhythm guitar. The second part deviates from this rhythm.
Listen for it.
(2nd Guitar outro 2)
e|---------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------|
G|--7--7--7----7--7--7----7--7--7----6----6-7-6------|
D|7-7--7--7----7--7--7----7--7--7----7----7-7-7------|
A|---------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------|x2
...then
e|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--9--9-7-----9----9--9-7-------------------------------|
G|--7--7-7-----7----7--7-7--9-7--7--7-9--6----6--7--6----|
D|--7--7-7-----7----7--7-7-------7--7-7-----7------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|x2
The last bit of the song is mostly fast strumming on the rhythm guitar
while the 2nd guitar just plays variations on the notes it's been playing.
Notes: The rhythm guitar consists of an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar.
The electric guitar covers up the acoustic towards the end.
The 2nd guitar of the outro sounds like an organ synth, but it is probably
an electric guitar with its tone low, some slight distortion and is played on a small
with the volume maxed.
The basic chords for the song are:
Verse - Bmin D Aadd9 G
Chorus- A G D A
Em G D A
The interlude matches the verse and the outro matches the chorus.
Sorry that this tab was overkill and probably confusing.
Email me if you find errors or have any questions.
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Brought to you by the GuitarMasta
http://www.guitarmasta.net/o/okkervil_river/355960.html
http://www.guitarmasta.net/o/okkervil_river/.html
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
Frank Wanna Be |
#1 by Frank at Sep 27, 2007 at 8:47 PM EST |
| Hmm its got a good meaning and the music is played soo well | |
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No Picture
Josh Average |
#2 by Josh Braun at Sep 29, 2007 at 6:00 AM EST |
| this song is good but it's SO scary... especially when you read cold____war's comment! | |
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No Picture
Chad Wanna Be |
#3 by Chad Barri at Sep 30, 2007 at 11:40 AM EST |
| this song is great...its darks yet the music is upbeat and awesome...not many bands can do that and actually succeed. love it. | |
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No Picture
Niko Average |
#4 by Niko Booth at Oct 1, 2007 at 7:36 AM EST |
| this song is good but it's SO scary... especially when you read cold____war's comment! | |
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No Picture
james Rhythm Player |
#5 by james dobson at Oct 1, 2007 at 8:58 PM EST |
| My first thought listening to this song was about sado-masochism, and the man making sure the relationship is strong enough to handle such behavior. | |
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No Picture
Ace Average |
#6 by Ace Of Spades at Oct 2, 2007 at 9:25 AM EST |
| the music is so much upbeat as it is inspiring. Even though the lyrics are very dark. The music video is really wierd for this to. heres the link you need to wait awhile for it to load http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/forreal.mov | |
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No Picture
jessie Wanna Be |
#7 by jessie sinanan at Oct 2, 2007 at 8:44 PM EST |
| This seems to be sort of about a search for the truth, at least on it's most basic level. I mean, as much as I dislike like the line "Some nights the blood from real cuts feels real nice when it's really mine" it seems like he's falling back on that as something that's true. And later on after describing the drive and setting up the scene he's talking about trying whoever he's talking to to prove he or she is not lying and is further augmented by the "'Cause there's nothing quite like the blinding light that curtains cast aside" line and the "You can't hide"s which seems to be saying 'You can't hide from the truth.' Of course, I have no clue what a lot of the rest is saying, but I think I'll just regard it as fluff to make my points seem more valid. ;) | |
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No Picture
Trey Average |
#8 by Trey smith at Oct 4, 2007 at 3:06 AM EST |
| Yes, this reminds me of "Garden State" (the movie). The guy goes through life in a numb state (partially do to his anti-depressant medication), and wants to "wake up" and feel pain (although pain in this movie is emotional). I love this song, I am not scared of its darkness. Yes it is a bit unpleasant, but it is sooo raw, that it is impossible not to feel the emotion. The guitar riffs and screaming are amazing. This song sounds hugely like Goo Goo Dolls' song Iris: "Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive." | |
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No Picture
HammerOffFreak Professional |
#9 by HammerOffFreak at Oct 5, 2007 at 3:24 AM EST |
| I think it's not about just the search for truth in general, but for honesty in a relationship. It seems the girl is superficial and shallow despite his attempts to make it into a real relationship. Anyway, it seems to work with the majority of the lyrics, but I'm nowhere near 100% sure. | |
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Ben Wanna Be |
#10 by Ben Koss at Oct 5, 2007 at 5:27 PM EST |
| Amazing. | |
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No Picture
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#11 by at Oct 5, 2007 at 5:40 PM EST |
| I love the way his voice sounds, I don't think any other musician could pull it off. And these are the best guitar strums I have ever heard in my life. It's such a great song. | |
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jacob Average |
#12 by jacob ap at Oct 7, 2007 at 3:01 PM EST |
| Sorry post above I meant to put not so much upbeat as inspiring. | |
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The Random Rock Average |
#13 by The Random Rocker at Oct 7, 2007 at 3:55 PM EST |
| This song really really really reminds me of Armin Miewes, the Maneater of Rotenburg, or better yet known as that German guy who posted a bulliten on the net looking for someone to slaughter and eat, because it's been a burning desire for him, a sexual one... anyways, there's a book about him i've been reading for a school project and i just finished the part where his victim, Bernd, asked Armin if he would cut off his penis, so Armin cut Bernd's penis off and Bernd got off on it. but he had to find a knife that would cut through the tissue. Bernd went to Armin for one night before his death. Armin thought eating him would bring him closer to him. He was truly happy when he found Bernd because he knew that Bernd was real about it and understood what Armin was feeling. Just read the book and then listen to this song, you'll see. | |
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No Picture
a Average |
#14 by a a at Oct 9, 2007 at 8:53 AM EST |
| its about understanding that sometimes, It's enough to feel pain, as long as you're feeling something. | |
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No Picture
Darren Wanna Be |
#15 by Darren Pilton at Oct 9, 2007 at 10:04 PM EST |
| This song really creeps me out. The quick guitar strums remind me of someone hurting someone else. It goes along with the lyrics quite well. | |
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No Picture
Flappy Average |
#16 by Flappy Bob at Oct 10, 2007 at 12:02 PM EST |
| I love this song. They use dynamics so well. The song reminds me of a storm. It's steady, but sometimes it becomes more violent and more intense. As for the lyrics, I think it is about accepting the end of something. There is all of this suicidal imagery (the blood, the guns, the darkness, the blinds closing, driving into a lake) but he doesn't want to stop it, he just acknowledges it and encourages whomever he is speaking to to do the same. | |
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Vinnie Rhythm Player |
#17 by Vinnie Valium at Oct 11, 2007 at 4:06 AM EST |
| this is just so perfect. to me, it's about needing reassurance, like he has trouble believing anything is really real without extremely solid proof. | |
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geoff Average |
#18 by geoff at Oct 11, 2007 at 8:32 PM EST |
| this reminds me of that guy from manic street preachers who carved into his arm "4 REAL" for a magazine cover, hah... but a wake-up call to reality really feels good now and again, i have to admit... dig the wizard of oz imagery too... | |
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Anthony Average |
#19 by Anthony Pardee at Oct 14, 2007 at 5:49 AM EST |
| This song haunts my dreams. | |
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No Picture
Doolittle Lead Player |
#20 by Doolittle at Oct 15, 2007 at 12:35 AM EST |
| This seems to be sort of about a search for the truth, at least on it's most basic level. I mean, as much as I dislike like the line "Some nights the blood from real cuts feels real nice when it's really mine" it seems like he's falling back on that as something that's true. And later on after describing the drive and setting up the scene he's talking about trying whoever he's talking to to prove he or she is not lying and is further augmented by the "'Cause there's nothing quite like the blinding light that curtains cast aside" line and the "You can't hide"s which seems to be saying 'You can't hide from the truth.' Of course, I have no clue what a lot of the rest is saying, but I think I'll just regard it as fluff to make my points seem more valid. ;) | |
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No Picture
Batmanuel Badass |
#21 by Batmanuel at Oct 15, 2007 at 6:47 AM EST |
| From an internview with Will Sheff here: http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/okkervil-river-050427.shtml "I was playing with the notion of reality on that song, and really on most of this record. We've become so insulated now from real life that I think we're convinced that what we see on TV is real life. We're alienated from our basic selves. I mean violence has to be this ultra-realistic thing to be real to us. It's like it's truer in movies or video games than it is in real life. What's real experience? We're real obsessed. Are her breasts real? What's the best reality TV Show? So I just wanted to see how many times I could squeeze the word real into the song," I love the imagery in this song, it is outstanding. The saying goes that reality is perception. What it “really real”. Our reality is so clouded by the way out perceptions are so influenced by the media that we are bombarded with every day The line : 'Cause there’s nothing quite like the blinding light / That curtains cast aside’ , that moment of truth when you realise that you have been sold a lie perhaps. The Protagonist that thirsts for real blood and ‘And then the flash of steel from real guns’. These things seem easy as they are portrayed ad nauseum in our society, in movies, TV and video games …. but in reality are they? There is a real feeling the protagonist is trapped: ‘And I don't want to hear you say it shouldn’t really be this way,/ ‘Cause I like this way just fine’ Fantastical, thought provoking song. | |
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No Picture
Kubota35 Professional |
#22 by Kubota35 at Oct 15, 2007 at 7:33 AM EST |
| i sort of disagree. i feel like his lyrics are dark, but his music sort of levels it out... am i alone? | |
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No Picture
kevin Rhythm Player |
#23 by kevin jeung at Oct 17, 2007 at 10:42 AM EST |
| its not so much upbeat...but uhmm..something else..i was thinking of "Black" when i wrote the above. heh. | |
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No Picture
lewi Wanna Be |
#24 by lewi broadway at Oct 18, 2007 at 3:46 AM EST |
| About a girl who betrays him and he accepts her back but controls her and is afraid and is cutting himself to fall back on his insecurities. | |
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No Picture
Anthony Wanna Be |
#25 by Anthony Amell at Oct 18, 2007 at 7:24 PM EST |
| Man, I didn't know what to expect with this song. When the first guitar riff hit I was scared shitless. Hah. | |
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