#-----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation #
# of the song. The owner of this website has not reviewed the contents of #
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#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
This bits after the first verse
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-----------------------------------12------------------------------------------12---------------|
D---------8--11--10---10-9-10------10------------8--11-10---10-9-10-------10-----------| A--10--------------------------------------11--10-------------------------------------11-10-- |
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
2nd verse
E----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------R E S T-------------------------------------------------------11--10-----
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------12--11-----
A----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chorus
E-------------------------------------18------------------------------------------------18-----------------
B---14--15-14-15-14--------17--------17----------14-15--14--15-14------17--------17------------
G--------------------------15------------------15---------------------------15-----------------15--------
D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the solo it kinda goes like this…
Solo
E---------------------------------------------------------------18---------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------17~~~~~15-/-17------------
G-----------------------------------------------------17~~~~--------------------------15-------
D------------------14B-14-------------------------------------------------------------------17-
A--10-~~~~~~~-----------13B-14--14-14----------------------------------------------------
E --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------1415141514151415—(do that a few times)----------
G-14~~~~~~~~~~~~15-/-16-17-------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B---14~~1415-------------11--13-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-----------------12~~-12-------------------------10------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------10~~11-10-----10--11-10-10-8-/-10~~~11-10--1110---------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------131211B11B-10-
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Last Chorus
E---------------------------------18------------------------------------------18-------------------|
B--14-15-14-15-14------17-------17-------14-15-14-15-14-------17-------17--------------|
G----------------------15----------------15------------------------15----------------15----------| X2
D----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Outro
E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------5~~5------------
A--------3-4-5-4-3~~---------------------3-4-5-4-3~~---------------------------
E--3--6----------------6-3-1-3~~3-3--6----------------6-3-1~-------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------------8~~8---------
G--------5-6-7-6-5~~---------------------5-6-7-6-5~~-----------------------
D---5-8----------------8-5-3-5~~5-5--8----------------8-5-3----------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E----------8-9-10-9-8~~-----------------------8-9-10-9~~-------------15~~15-
B--8--11-----------------11-8-6-8~~8-8--11---------------11-8-6--------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E--17---------17----17-------17----------------------------------------------
B--------16-----16--------16----16-------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FADE OUT
D----------------------------------------13131313131313131313131313-
A-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please rate (and be kind cause this was done by a bassit lol)
Tabbed by alan weids (bassist)
Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
Faiz Average |
#1 by Faiz fender at Mar 6, 1970 at 2:55 PM EST |
| its about the life of immigrants comming to america | |
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No Picture
alex Lead Player |
#2 by alex beaulieu at Nov 12, 1974 at 11:42 PM EST |
| all true methinks, but also I think it refers to how you should be happy with what you've got, there're people far worse off but whatever the case bad things help you appreciate the good in life. | |
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No Picture
Kazza Average |
#3 by Kazza at Sep 14, 1977 at 2:40 PM EST |
| I always thought the ending sounded fantastic in particular in this song, listening to it then that powerful riff that comes in after the last chorus and the outro (especially as it fades out) possibly represent America's power as a united nation, and its ever expanding vast industrial/economic output. However considering the lyrics I'd say it probably represents how any nation is made of so many individuals, each with a different set of problems, dreams and happiness, that combine to create a culture and a nationality (despite different lives, creeds/colours, personalities etc.) that poses a sometimes problematic but often wonderful whole. The last bit could then represent how alone (e.g. self sufficiency) things can be done, but growth is exponential when we work together and specialise in certain ways or proffesions. | |
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No Picture
black Rhythm Player |
#4 by black rose at May 24, 1979 at 2:52 PM EST |
| The line where is goes "...he plays a little quit..." Maybe that means he is the one that gave up while the others worked hard. | |
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No Picture
Carly Average |
#5 by Carly at Jan 4, 1982 at 10:54 AM EST |
| Bullshit, this song is about how everyone thinks America is this great place and the fact is that America is just as fucked up as the next country. | |
|
No Picture
¿Josh Rhythm Player |
#6 by ¿Josh Kirkpatrick? at Oct 11, 1988 at 10:07 AM EST |
| not just imigrants, iceman. It's about the way americans have always had to live too, because the last verse says that Bob has always lived in America, he was born into american life. People should never ignore the homeless, and especially not try to pick fights with them/kill them. It's just so stupid. The last verse reminds me of Another day in paradise by Phil Collins. I love this song, great music and great meaning. | |
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No Picture
Adam Average |
#7 by Adam Favro at Mar 6, 1991 at 6:17 PM EST |
| I know I'm a little late on the post here, but it was because of this post I decided to sign up... I have read other's interpretations of what the song means to them, and while I agree with some, some others I don't. If you read the first two stories of the song, it seems that the song talks about immigrants coming into the country (albeit legally) and taking jobs from American Veterans who are unemployed. The unemployed veteran is too proud to let go of his dignity while the Laotian refugee wastes his money on whores, talking about how great life is in America. You should also note how the first two stories end with, "For the boy we have American Life." I don't know if I know exactly what that means, but it seems to me that the "boy" being referred to is our boys in uniform...The same "boy" that is talked about in the last story. The boy who was "born into American Life," and is homeless and unemployed. The post that said he thought it was Les' way of saying we should take care of our own is probably closer to the truth than anyone. Les is pretty critical of our government, and does not like troops being killed for no good reason (listen to Too Many Puppies), so I think he actually wants to bring attention to the fact that American Veterans are left destitute after their service to our country. Just my thoughts. | |
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No Picture
TAMARA Musical Genius |
#8 by TAMARA at Apr 21, 1997 at 3:16 AM EST |
| The Distorted had the whole song practically all right. The first stanza is just setting up the whole seen of America of people coming over that were so proud and happy and just wanting what everyone says is the American Dream. It isn't really too dark but it sets up his subsequent images of what American life truly is. Les then goes on in the second stanza trying to make a strong point of what American life ends up becoming. It might be said that he is drawing a similarity between the Laotian refugee and the boy because he ends both lines with boy, but that is not as impactful of him saying that the refugee is living on MINIMUM WAGE inhaling fumes that are obviously destroying him. Of course the people here are trying to criticize the immigrants but he is not doing that at all. The refugee goes than and buys hookers probably because that is the only sort of comfort but I think that might be looking to much into it. The fact is that he goes and gets hookers and than goes home writing the letters of the greatness of America which is just a lie. The last line is what makes sure the person knows that it is not complimenting American life. The veteran is living in a cardboard box all alone collecting cans. He is the typically bum and what a life for a VETERAN. This happens all the time and yet we ignore the poor and homeless because they didn't try hard enough. Yet that man still is a man because he still holds on to his diginity in the only way he can by saying that he is an American. How sad...... Les is a genius but a little sneaky with the lyrics. | |
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No Picture
kenzie Professional Badass |
#9 by kenzie at Mar 17, 2003 at 7:53 AM EST |
| Whilst Les isn't perfect, I don't think he'd have a moral metaphor about 'immigrants taking jobs from veterans'; it's just not true and its bad morality - it's as if Too Many Puppies is a pro-war song! Surely it's the opposite - you can't blame people for such things which aren't true, regardless of who you are things aren't perfect but they could be worse, you always have something to be happy for (hope, possessions, dignity). The differing lyrics you mention just is stressing the point that though you may think you have nothing, you do, and you should be happy for it. It's how democratic society works; some are better off but that just gives the worst-off something to aspire towards. I can see how the above person has read into the lyrics, but the 'boys in uniform' thing is a weak link, and its bad morality anyway. The albums partly about Primus getting a record contract; so this song relates to that in how though they aren't the most popular of bands, they're happy for what they HAVE got. | |
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