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Home S Simon And Garfunkel I Am A Rock Guitar Tab

#-----------------------------------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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Simon and Garfunkel - I am a Rock

Standard tuning

Dm7: xx0211
Em7: 022030


Intro:

e |---------0h1--0--0h1--0--0h1-0--------0h1--0--0h1--0--0h1-0--------|
B |---------1----1--1----1--1---1--------1----1--1----1--1---1--------|
G |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A |-3--3-3------------------------3--3-3-----------------------3--3-3-|
E |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

e |------------------0h1--0--0h1--0--0h1--0---------------------------|
B |------------------1----1--1----1--1----1---------------------------|
G |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A |----------3--3-3---------------------------3--3-3----3-------------|
E |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A winter's day In a

e |--1--------1--------1----------------0h1--0--0h1--0--0h1--0--------|
B |--1--------1--------1----------------1----1--1----1--1----1--------|
G |--2--------2--------2----------------------------------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A |-------3---------3-----3-3------3-3--------------------------3--3-3|
E |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Deep and dark December

Mute strings, play one quarter note strum of Dm, then begin singing right when you go
into strumming. Chords are directly above corresponding syllables. Each chord changes
after two beats.

Dm G7 F C (strum one measure)
I am aloo-o-o-one

Dm7 Em7
Gazing from my window,

Dm7 Em7
To the streets below,

Dm F G
On the freshly fallen, silent shroud of snow.

Chorus:

F C
I am a rock,

F G7
I am an iiiiiis-

Bridge 1:

C F C G F G C
e |---0-----0--1--0------------------------------0-------------------|
B |---1-x4--1--1--1---}repeat all once---2--1--2--1-------------------|
G |------------------/-------------------0--2--0----------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
-land.

To make it really sound like the real thing, strum the first eighth note beat of 'C'
instead of plucking it (but go straight into the next eighth note beat). Use the one
strum beat as one of the four repeated 'C' beats.

If you want to keep going with the rhythm guitar part, instead of plucking, just follow
the chord progression for the chorus and strum it the same as I tabbed it. It doesn't
sound as good that way, but you can if you want to.

For the rest of the verses, don't pluck the strings, follow the chord progression like
so:

Verse 2:

C (strum two measures)
I built walls

F C (strum two measures)
A fortress deep and mighty

Dm G7 F C (strum one measure)
That none may penetrate.

Dm7 Em7
I have no need of friendship,

Dm7 Em7
Friendship causes pain.

Dm F G
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.

Chorus:

Bridge 1:

Verse 3:

Don't talk of love;
But I've heard the word before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber
Of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.

Chorus:

Bridge 1:

Verse 4:

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room,
Safe within my womb.
I touch no on and no one touches me.

Chorus:

Bridge 2:

C F C
e |---0-----0--1--0-0---|
B |---1-x4--1--1--1-1---|
G |---0-----0--2--0-0---|
D |---------------------|
A |---------------------|
E |---------------------|

Outro:

Dm7 G7 C
And a rock feels no pain (strum two beats on C)

Dm7 G7 C
And an island never cries

e |---------0h1--0--0h1--0--0h1-0--------0h1--0--0h1--0--0h1--0-------|
B |---------1----1--1----1--1---1--------1----1--1----1--1----1-------|
G |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A |----3-3------------------------3--3-3------------------------3--3-3|
E |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

(keep slowing down until end)

I'm sure this is 100% correct, I hope my notes helped.
Enjoy,
Todd

Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net

Source: GuitarMasta.net
http://www.guitarmasta.net/s/simon_and_garfunkel/.html


Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
 
 
No Picture

Ryan
Rhythm Player
#1 by Ryan Ruegemer at Oct 23, 1973 at 1:48 PM EST
This song gets to me. i love it.
 
No Picture

Dudey
Average
#2 by Dudey at Aug 15, 1974 at 12:35 AM EST
The song is about his desire to avoid pain and brokenheartedness. He doesn't want to be hurt again, so he refuses to make friends, to fall in love, he'll be a hermit. It may sound determined, but by the end of the song it's obvious it's all a lie he tells himself to get through the days. He's alone and it hurts him, but he'll tell himself he likes it that way, hoping it won't hurt so badly. The last two lines explain it; he's not a rock, he's been hurt and has cried, but will pretend not to. The "island never cries" line is possibly the most meaningful part. As he says this, he may as well be crying.
 
No Picture

Vicky
Average
#3 by Vicky Barnard at Sep 27, 1980 at 4:57 PM EST
This song is about a man trying to convince himself that he doesn't need anybody else to make himself happy, but at the end he can't live a happy life alone. Jinx, although dngshouse's theories may not be true, a songwriter certainly does think deeply about everything that gets put into his/her songs. A lot of songs have symbolism that isn't immediately obvious, and finding it isn't overanalysing. But... don't kill me, because obviously I like the overall meaning of the song, etc. but I don't think it's even close to their best. The alliteration is annoying and the whole song is kind of pretentious and adolescent (i should know, I am one!) and the way he reads some lines is just childish. Sorry, but I feel that compared to other songs of his (America, The Boxer, Bridge OTW) this pales considerably in comparison.
 
No Picture

Jordan
Wanna Be
#4 by Jordan Ivory-Marcotte at Oct 6, 1980 at 10:05 AM EST
isn't it funny how people always say 'no man is an island', but i think it is possible to be like the person in the song, but it is a very depressing place to be. the last two lines of the song are the most powerful. somethimes i like this song, sometimes i hate it, depending on whether it's been a good/bad day. lol
 
No Picture

(DDD Bass Gu
Rhythm Player
#5 by (DDD Bass Guitar/Backup Vocals) Jeff Fritts at Jan 13, 1981 at 9:10 PM EST
Wow! Who needs angry nu-metal to convey the anger and depression of being hurt, when youve got, um, Simon and Garfunkel - Fabulous song!
 
No Picture

claireus
Wanna Be
#6 by claireus s at Dec 1, 1983 at 11:35 AM EST
The main point of this song is, avoid emotional attatchments, they only lead to sadness. The lyrics "friendship causes pain" and "If I never loved I never would have cried" express that. The song is about getting hurt once and shutting out everyone else to avoid getting hurt again.
 
No Picture

Matt
Average
#7 by Matt at Jul 26, 1984 at 6:17 PM EST
I think it ends on a sad note with those last two lines. You can't get hurt without attatchments, but you can't be truley happy either.
 
No Picture

aleXeXeX
Rhythm Player
#8 by aleXeXeX at Nov 23, 1985 at 6:49 AM EST
just want to add something to some comments I read about this song: if you notice the last two lines, both music and lyrics have some irony on it. HE puts some strenght on the "and the rock feels NO PAIN!" and the guitar follows the same feeling. But right after..."and an island never cries" in a very sad, sad tone, perhaps crying? And also, the guitar loses its shine and strenght of the previous line.
 
No Picture

Josh
Rhythm Player
#9 by Josh Kirkpatrick? at Nov 25, 1985 at 11:52 AM EST
wow talk about over analyzing. dngshouse do you really believe he thought about the song that deeply? do you think he used the word womb so perfectly to match his 'temporary' metaphors? Because when you read the song, it sounds more like he just used it cause it rhymed. It sounds like hes just using various imagery to describe the will to be locked up. when you think about it... what _IS_ permanent? if a rock wall isnt permanent, nothing is. i think you're looking to closely at imagery just meant to be lyrical range, not some deep meaning. bongo is right, though, the last two meanings are the key to the song. they describe what he is (the rock, the island). anyway yea, dont overanalyze.
 
No Picture

Kyle
Average
#10 by Kyle Landers at Jun 26, 1992 at 1:18 PM EST
This seems kinda like a 'Phantom of the Opra' deal. He tries for love, gets shot down.
 
No Picture

Chris
Average
#11 by Chris H... at Mar 7, 1994 at 3:03 AM EST
This song was based off of the novel "Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger, the main character Holden to be specific. Holden is on the verge of depression in the novel. He sees the adult world as "phony" and dosn't want to grow up to be just another "phony" he isolates himself from the world.
 
No Picture

Jarrett
Lead Player
#12 by Jarrett Sandlin at Aug 24, 1994 at 11:44 PM EST
I think it means that we can't have joy and happiness without pain and sadness.
 
No Picture

brian
Average
#13 by brian haun at Dec 14, 1997 at 9:27 PM EST
This song I agree is about a relationship that really hurt someone and they take to isolation. However there are a lot of reasons to isolate like that. Say those who are mistreated at a young age and lose all trust for the human race. I know a woman that was molested at the age of 6. She kept it inside and told no one. At that point she isolated and later turned to drugs and alcohol. She never let anyone inside her head until the age of 40 and now they still don't get to far in. I remember being taught about this song in school way back. It's a great song!
 
No Picture

everett
Wanna Be
#14 by everett at Nov 6, 2004 at 5:35 AM EST
dngshouse... so true