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Tragically Hip 38 Years Old 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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#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Band: The Tragically Hip
Song: 38 Years Old
Album: Up To Here

The rythm section goes something like this ...

V = downstroke, ^ = upstroke, h = hammer-on, p = pull-off

Am C D/B G
V ^ V V ^ ^ V V ^ V V ^ V V
----0-----0--0---0-----1--1--1p0-------------------------------
----1-----1--1---1-----1--1--1-------3---3--3---3---3--3----3--
----2-----2--2---2-----2--2--2-------0---0--0---0---0--0----0-- Repeat This!
----2-----2--2---2-----2--2--2-------2---2--2---0---0--0----0-- Through Verse
----0-----0--0---0-----0--0--0-------3---3--3---2---2--2----2--
------------------------------------------------------------3--

The Chorus Chord Progession is something like this....

[C/G] Same patern on the [D] table, same [Asus2]h[Am] clock on the wall ...etc
.. this continues until the end of the chorus

Chord Fingerings

6 5 4 3 2 1
-----------
[C/G] 3 3 2 0 1 0
[D] X X 0 2 3 2

by [Asus2]h[Am] I mean the following

Asus2
V V ^ V ^
--0----0-0-0-0-----
--0h1--1-1-1-1-----
--2----2-2-2-2-----
--2----2-2-2-2-----
--0----0-0-0-0-----
-------------------

The Bridge Chord Progression (right before 1st solo) is something like
the following....

[Am] See my sister got raped, [D] So a man got killed
[C/G]Local boy went to prison, [D] Man's Buried on a hill ... etc

... repeat once more and then play rythmn section under solo


Twelve men broke loose in '73
From millhaven maximum security
Twelve pictures lined up across the front page
seems the mounties had a summertime war to wage

the chief told the people they had nothing to fear
the last thing they'd wanna do is hang around here
they mostly came from towns with long french names
but one of the dozen was a hometown shame

chorus: same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
been one seat empty 18 years in all
freezing slow time away from the world
he's 38 years old, never kissed a girl
he's 38 years old, never kissed a girl

we were sittin' at the table, heard the telephone ring
father (pa?) said he'd tell me if he saw anything
heard the tap on the window in the middle of the night
held back the curtains for my older brother mike

see my sister got raped, so a man got killed
little boy went to prison, man's buried on the hill
folks went back to normal when they closed the case
they still stare at their shoes when they pass our place

----------solo-----------------

my mother cried 'the horror has finally ceased'
he whispered 'yeah, for the time being, at least'
an' (then?) over his shoulder, on the squad car megaphone
said 'let's go mikey, son, we're takin' you home'

chorus: same pattern on the table.....


p.s. don't forget that 'tracy chapman lilt' on the third lines of the
verses (except 'see my sister...') at twelve, mostly, heard, over.
have fun!!!
ahorvath@cmc.doe.ca
horvath@cs.concordia.ca
arpad_h@pavo.concordia.ca

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

Source: http://www.guitarmasta.net/t/tragically_hip,_the/320113.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
 
 
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ToRRi
Average
#1 by ToRRi L at Feb 20, 1974 at 1:13 PM EST
this song is very sad, i love it. The guy went to prison for killing a guy who raped his sister? i would kill anyone who raped my sister, no question i would hunt them down. But go to jail for revenge? He deserved it i say! I guess law doesnt see it the same way, they feel that people should leave punishments to the police, that is if the police are even able to catch the scum. I also hate the end where they're like "lets go michael son, we're taking you home"
 
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Bassdude
Average
#2 by Bassdude at Aug 24, 1977 at 5:32 PM EST
This is a sad song even though it's fictional. It makes one wonder whether all criminals are really that hardened. But who knows, you did the crime so you do the time. I am a huge Hip fan and I thought I was the only Hip in my city, but it turns out two guys who live above me like these guys just as much. To me, Up To Here and Road Apples are their best albums. I like their earlier rock stuff because it's well-produced and not far from their original formula. The Hip are one of the best bands in the world and they even have an entry on MTV.com and the website asks why they haven't come down here. I would have to say for many of the abovementioned reasons. I don't think they'll ever pull a U2 and make their own "Joshua Tree" because they don't want to be known as sell-out group. I can't honestly blame them, the only reason they would probably play down here is because they're Canadians down here. They should come down here because a boatload of denizens from The Peg (yes I know what The Peg is) and surrounding communities shop and go to college down here. Have they ever played in the center of North America? I don't know for sure but I can find out, but I don't foresee them ever making a big splash on the American music scene. If they did that, all hell would break loose and freeze over simultaneously. Before I end my piece, here's the uninformed reporters article from MTV.com http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1455483/20020628/tragically_hip_the.jhtml Canada does not suck and never will suck!
 
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goofy
Rhythm Player
#3 by goofy at Mar 6, 1978 at 3:05 PM EST
I for one am an American and friggin LOVE the Tragically Hip. Gord is the most intelligent and talented songwriter in this day and age...if not in any day and age. I have been a fan since I heard "New Orleans Is Sinking" on CFNY. I think that "Day For Night" has to be the quintessential album - well balanced, thought provoking, and lyrically rich. Of course, I AM from a border town (Niagara Falls, NY) so maybe the Canadian-ness has leaked over the border...
 
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klown
Rhythm Player
#4 by klown at Feb 19, 1979 at 6:57 PM EST
The first line is fact, Milhaven Maximum security penitentary is about 100 yards away from me., in Millhaven, Ontario. There are probably about 400 people who live in millhaven, and 2,000 who live in Bath where I live, which is right beside it. Anyways, it is one of the worst prisons in Canada, and there was a famous young inmate there who was on his way out of prison when a riot broke out and a guard was killed, somehow he got laid with the murder charged and spent the next 30 years or so locked up for something he didn't do. I can't remember the name off hand of the guy but he eventually got out. Anyway the hip are from nearby Kingston so there wrote about this story. Thats what the song is about.
 
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mat
Wanna Be
#5 by mat bar at Sep 11, 1980 at 11:17 PM EST
i am american, and their music was introduced to me by a canadian. since then, i have become an avid fan, and their lyrics are so intelligent and awesome. i love how they write. their sound is freakin' great, and definitely irreplacable. their song concepts are so bizarre and well thought up. i love them!
 
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RoBsN
Average
#6 by RoBsN Stalder at Sep 27, 1981 at 2:25 PM EST
haha ohh millhaven. the hip are amazing. gord is crazy hilarious. rob was in jesus christ superstar you should go see it. everyone is amazing i love them all. i love the hip.
 
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brad
Average
#7 by brad everett at Aug 3, 1982 at 12:03 PM EST
i, too, love the tragically hip. this song (as well as, you know, every other song by tth) is simply amazing.
 
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Colin
Wanna Be
#8 by Colin Gauld at Aug 30, 1982 at 7:29 PM EST
Icant get enough of the hip. although the earlier albums are my favorits i still love the fact that they write about all sorts of stuff. BTW im happy to see that its not just Canadians that love the hip!
 
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Tim
Rhythm Player
#9 by Tim Hanson at May 13, 1984 at 6:16 AM EST
america isn't ready for the tragically hip. gordie and co. make music that is far too intelligent and good for the simple minded, pop-grubbing jackasses that pollute the u.s. the hip rocks.
 
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David
Average
#10 by David Eldridge at Feb 11, 1988 at 6:22 PM EST
i could never make out what gord was screaming at the end but when i finally did i got a new meaning to the song. i now think its about a pimp trying to recruit a new girl, but she’s having her doubts. the song is a conversation between the two. Anyway this is my analysis //he said I'm fabulously rich //C'mon just let's go ->The pimps saying this, he’s like common baby I have money for you, plus I got this john ready to go //She kinda bit her lip //Geez, I don't know ->She’s not sure if she wants to or not //But I can guarantee //There'll be no knock on the door //I'm total pro that's what I'm here for ->He’s trying to reassure her that everything will be ok, he’ll be right behind the door //I come from downtown //Born ready for you //Armed with will and determination //and grace, too -> She’s still debating whether or not she’ll go through with it, but she feels that she’s better than this //The secret rules of engagement //Are hard to endorse //When the appearance of conflict //Meets the appearance of force -> This is Gords interpretation of the situation. He’s basically saying that it’s hard to endorse prostitution because conflicts are settled by force, the pimp gets what he wants //But I can guarantee //There'll be no knock on the door //I'm total pro //that's what I'm here for -> The pimps still trying to convince her //I come from downtown //Born ready for you //Armed with skill and it's frustration //And Grace, Too ->She’s still debating with herself, but this line hints that she might have did this before //Him here now no //Him here now no ->This is her final say. Gord screams this in such a desperate way at the very end of the song. She does not want to do this
 
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Tony
Average
#11 by Tony Riemer at Jul 1, 1988 at 11:16 AM EST
Hey man, american right here, and I think the Hip kick ass. So does one of my friends who knows them. No one else really knows about the Hip.
 
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Phillip
Wanna Be
#12 by Phillip Doucette at May 16, 1991 at 5:25 AM EST
*LMAO* I won't comment on that....just nod my head in agreement..heh The Hip are gods
 
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MetJustice
Wanna Be
#13 by MetJustice at Jun 5, 1991 at 10:27 AM EST
in a live Recording I once heard Gord Downie introduce this song by saying "This is a song about me locking my younger brother in a barn and then lighting it on fire" Gotta love his humor
 
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Mr. Always Mezm
Average
#14 by Mr. Always Mezmerized (o)(o) at Sep 18, 1992 at 3:13 PM EST
On a radio show that aired in the Toronto area in 1989 Gord Downie said that only the first line is based on fact. The rest is just him imagining what it would be like if a family member went to the big house and broke out and came home for dinner and then maybe out to a movie later ((http://www.highwaygirl.com/hipfaq.html))
 
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Dudey
Average
#15 by Dudey at Feb 18, 1993 at 12:18 AM EST
wow this song has some of the best lyrics ive ever heard, i hate how the hip get no respect here in the states, but then again it only makes me appreciate them more. luckily im from buffalo so they stop here on every tour
 
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slapslappopslap
Badass
#16 by slapslappopslap at Feb 23, 1995 at 8:50 AM EST
A good intro I like of his to Wheat Kings is "It's a good thing we don't have capital punishment in a very rough angry sound, it's hilarious" another one for Nautical Disaster he was like, "No Canadian band is complete without a song of a Nautical Disaster, this is a song about a nautical disaster, and it's called Nautical Disaster"
 
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Ben
Rhythm Player
#17 by Ben at Jun 10, 1995 at 11:37 AM EST
Um... I guess we have learned that they need sex ed. class in Australia... but the hip are a great band, but I find I can never listen to their new stuff. It always takes until the song is no longer on the charts (and the radio is being saturated with it) for me to enjoy it.
 
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edwin
Wanna Be
#18 by edwin henrriquez at Oct 25, 1995 at 10:24 PM EST
A good intro I like of his to Wheat Kings is "It's a good thing we don't have capital punishment in a very rough angry sound, it's hilarious" another one for Nautical Disaster he was like, "No Canadian band is complete without a song of a Nautical Disaster, this is a song about a nautical disaster, and it's called Nautical Disaster"
 
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Your account ha
Average
#19 by Your account has been hacked into by Bkid23 Stupid.... at Oct 9, 1997 at 2:10 PM EST
this is one of my fave Hip songs! Pity I've never seen them do it live. (But then again, you can't be at every show, eh?)
 
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Shreder Dude
Wanna Be
#20 by Shreder Dude at May 4, 1998 at 6:27 PM EST
Your kind of right, the USA isnt ready for the Hip...but it's also something else....The Hip are a VERY Canadian band...alot of their lyrics have stuff about Canada interwoven into them, so the USA just has'nt picked them up...which makes them even better in my opinion...they are truly canada's band
 
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brad
Rhythm Player
#21 by brad music at Jul 28, 2001 at 12:33 AM EST
POOO that wasnt for this song POO
 
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spencer
Wanna Be
#22 by spencer mccarthy at Oct 20, 2003 at 6:29 PM EST
Anyways, it is one of the worst prisons in Canada, and there was a famous young inmate there who was on his way out of prison when a riot broke out and a guard was killed, somehow he got laid with the murder charged and spent the next 30 years or so locked up for something he didn't do. I though this was Wheat Kings. "No one is interested in something you didn't do"
 
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Tony
Wanna Be
#23 by Tony Danza at Nov 29, 2006 at 2:08 PM EST
I once heard GORD introduce this song in the following Manner (parapharsing) "This is a totally fictional story about a totally fictional town, but the people there think it's true, so it's true"
 
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John
Wanna Be
#24 by John Merritt at Dec 7, 2006 at 3:40 AM EST
Anyways, it is one of the worst prisons in Canada, and there was a famous young inmate there who was on his way out of prison when a riot broke out and a guard was killed, somehow he got laid with the murder charged and spent the next 30 years or so locked up for something he didn't do. I though this was Wheat Kings. "No one is interested in something you didn't do"
 
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Troy
Wanna Be
#25 by Troy Erskine at Sep 9, 2007 at 9:35 PM EST
Got my tickets to see them on July 12th for the second time. -Very- excited! They are the Canadian gods of music! Esp. Gordie....love him.