#-----------------------------------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 #
# this file. If you feel that the content of this file may be violating #
# copyright law, you may not use the information displayed here in any way. #
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Return-Path:
Subject: CRD: velvet_underground/afterhours
To: guitar@nevada.edu
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 1994 21:58:19 -0400 (EDT)
This is a great VU song, sung by Mo Tucker and covered I understand by
REM. Play this on an acoustic and drop the tuning a half-step.
AFTERHOURS
(1,2,3)
C A7
If you close the door
Dm G
The night could last forever
C A7
Leave the sunshine out
Dm G
And say hello to never
C C7
All the people are talking and they're having such fun
F Fm
I wish this could happen to me
C A7
But if you close the door
Dm G C
I'll never have to see the day again
C A7
But if you close the door
Dm G
The night could last forever
C A7
Leave the wine glass out
Dm G
And drink a toast to never
C C7
Someday I know someone will look into my eyes
F
And say hello
Fm
You're my very special one
C A7
But if you close the door
Dm G C (Bass line to bridge: C-B-Bb)
I'll never have to see the day again
Bridge:
Am E7 Am E7
Dark party bars, shiny Cadillac cars
Am E7 Am Am-G#-G
And people on subways and trains
Dm A7 Dm A7
Looking grey in the rain as they stand disarrayed
F G
Oh but people look well in the dark
C A7
If you close the door
Dm G
The night could last forever
C A7
Leave the sunshine out
Dm G
And say hello to never
C C7
Someday I know someone will look into my eyes
F
And say hello
Fm
You're my very special one
C A7
But if you close the door
Dm G C A7
I'll never have to see the day again
Dm G C A7
I'll never have to see the day again (once more)
Dm G C
I'll never have to see the day again
Am E7
E A D G B E E A D G B E
___________ ___________
| | | O O O (5th fret) | | | O | O (7th fret)
----------- -----------
| | | | | | | | | | | |
----------- -----------
| | O | | | | | O | O |
----------- -----------
Brought to you by the GUITARMASTA - http://www.guitarmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
Ben Rhythm Player |
#1 by Ben at Jan 7, 1971 at 12:08 AM EST |
| this is the best song ever written that begins with A. it actually reminds me a lot of "no surprises" by radiohead. they're kinda both about despair and longing, but with a bit of endearing kind of purity about it. she sounds so cute and innocent, it really is a beautiful song. | |
|
No Picture
Secondhand Smok Wanna Be |
#2 by Secondhand Smoka at Nov 26, 1977 at 8:50 PM EST |
| I love this song. To me, though, it’s kind of sad. I think this song is a woman’s proposition to someone to come inside for a one night stand coupled with a suicide. She wants them to close the door and “drink a toast to never,” which basically means drink poison and “say hello to never.” Then “the night could last forever,” meaning that they would sleep together forever. When she says that she knows that one day someone will tell her “you’re my very special one,” I think she could be talking about God. I'm not sure, though. Its just a thought I had. | |
|
No Picture
Snap! Crackle! Average |
#3 by Snap! Crackle! Josh!! waldenmaier at Jul 24, 1978 at 3:06 AM EST |
| thanks for the info, lou.... i knew she was the drummer, but had no idea she had such a great vioce | |
|
No Picture
David Average |
#4 by David Gilmour at Mar 23, 1980 at 7:08 PM EST |
| Knowing you don't belong in a place, and are unable to express yourself without inhibitions ("all the people are dancing and they're having such fun/i wish it could happen to me") It's about suicide, "drink a toast to never" probably implies taking pills with a glass of wine, and "closing the door" Sorry if i've depressed anyone! | |
|
No Picture
inaki Wanna Be |
#5 by inaki laris at Jun 8, 1987 at 8:48 PM EST |
| one of my favorite songs ever! I think the song meaning is pretty self explanatory so I won't get into it cause everyone else pretty much hit it head on, but yea great song! | |
|
No Picture
Shotgun Average |
#6 by Shotgun Joe at Apr 13, 1988 at 11:41 PM EST |
| i'd have to agree with kilby, i translate it as isolation, and waiting to find that person. | |
|
No Picture
sharon Wanna Be |
#7 by sharon howell at Jul 20, 1994 at 2:52 AM EST |
| she sounds so sad, jaded even, by the situation whatever situation that may be that she just wants to fall in love with someone like she sees people arond her, maybe even a one night stand where she can just pretend its love. i've always wanted somebody as in somebody very special to me to say "Hello -- you're my very special one". | |
|
No Picture
steven Lead Player |
#8 by steven ratliff at Oct 11, 1995 at 2:55 AM EST |
| ^That 's what I always thought, but I just never had a reason to express that idea to anybody. | |
|
No Picture
D.J Wanna Be |
#9 by D.J Mortensen at Nov 6, 1996 at 3:07 PM EST |
| The song is about After Hours bars of which there are plenty in New York City. It's about the other world that exists there where you don't have to face the reality of what's outside so long as you keep the door closed (in realty and metaphorically). It's not about any particular romance or whatever it's just about the kind of people who hang around bars at 3-4 am when everyone decent is asleep. Everyone looks good in the dark. For a good perspective on this song listen to the Maxs Kansas City album where Reed sings it, especially the final verse. If you want to view it in a wider context its about anyone who doesn't want to race the reality of something (in Reed's case the band was breaking up when Maxs was recorded) and hides away from it. | |
|
No Picture
Sam Average |
#10 by Sam at Jun 20, 1997 at 1:03 PM EST |
| Best explanation I've heard is that the song is about "loneliness, alcoholism or suicide...or all three." | |
|
No Picture
Maggotkill Average |
#11 by Maggotkill at Dec 1, 1999 at 4:13 AM EST |
| lost_in_twilight, this song is sung by Maureen "Moe" Tucker, the percusianist in the VU. She also does co-vocals with Yule on the murder mystery on the same album. | |
|
No Picture
guitar girl Rhythm Player |
#12 by guitar girl 13 at Jul 23, 2001 at 3:16 AM EST |
| It's about isolation and being by yourself while everyone else is having fun and hoping someday you could be having that fun someday and you will find that person that makes you complete. | |
|
No Picture
duncan_player Wanna Be |
#13 by duncan_player at Jan 22, 2002 at 5:57 PM EST |
| I love this song, can't get it out of my head. It’s relatable and sounds so honest. And I love Maureen's voice; to me it’s so pure, feminine and engaging. "I wish it could happen to me" | |
|
No Picture
tim Average |
#14 by tim martin at Sep 9, 2002 at 7:58 AM EST |
| It's about an after hours place, as in a bar that let's people stay after closing hour to party into the morning. If you close the door to the bar you can stay as long as you want after the bar has closed. | |
|
No Picture
$~Andrew~$ Average |
#15 by $~Andrew~$ at Oct 19, 2002 at 4:15 PM EST |
| "Dark cloudy bars Shiny Cadillac cars and the people on subways and trains Looking gray in the rain As they stand disarrayed And if you close the door, the night could last forever. Leave the sunshine out and say hello to never.." GAH! its MEANT to be "dark PARTY bars" and.."Looking gray in the rain, As they stand disarrayed, oh but people look well in the dark..." [CHORUS] pishhh! most beautiful song though...i love moes voice! | |
|
No Picture
Gladis Wanna Be |
#16 by Gladis McHumphry at Oct 6, 2004 at 10:18 PM EST |
| this song makes me think of virginity. the narrator wants to see what it's like ("all the people are dancing and they're having such fun"), hope it will happen to her ("i wish it could happen to me"). losing virginity a toast to never (never be a virgin again). it sounds like she's about 14 years old or something and very curious. she figures that experiencing sex now will not lessen the effect of when, someday, she finds someone that she actually loves (Oh, someday I know someone will look into my eyes; and say hello -- you're my very special one--"). And finally, day symbolizes purity, clarity and goodness. the night (that could last forever) symbolizes vice/sin ie. sexual "immorality" - once the day ends, it's night forever. | |
|
No Picture
Shreder Dude Wanna Be |
#17 by Shreder Dude at May 28, 2005 at 12:58 AM EST |
| This is an amazing song. Its a song that expresses what any normal person is looking for...love. The door is like a heart, and when you close it for somebody your heart is theres. | |
|
No Picture
brennan Average |
#18 by brennan collins at Feb 1, 2006 at 10:53 PM EST |
| she's already found that person. the party is still going on, he walked her to her room. she invited him in and asked her to close the door, but he won't. if he stays, they'll be together forever in the night and she won't have to deal with the daylight anymore. but she knows he won't stay. | |
Top 7 The Velvet Underground Guitar Tabs
Popular Guitar Tabs