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This file represents the author's own work and interpretation of the song.  You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.  Please note that the law strictly prohibits the reproduction of a song without permission.

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Song: 1979
Band: The Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
Words and Music by: Billy Corgan
Transcribed by: Agent Brown
Tuning: Eb (1/2 step down)

Chords used:

    Eb7 E7 B7 F# B5(1) B5(2) C#m E(1) E(2) A
Eb - -x-- x-- x-- x-- --x-- --x--- -x-- -0--- 0---- 5--
Bb - -x-- x-- x-- x-- --x-- --0--- -5-- -0--- 0---- 5--
Gb - -8-- 9-- 4-- x-- --x-- --4--- -6-- -9--- 1---- 6--
Db - -x-- x-- x-- 4-- --9-- --4--- -6-- -9--- 2---- 7--
Ab - -6-- 7-- 2-- 4-- --9-- --2--- -4-- -7--- 2---- 7--
Eb - -0-- 0-- 0-- 2-- --7-- --x--- -x-- -0--- 0--- 5--

Intro -- Play the Eb7, E7, B7 chord progression that is shown below (riff 1) and follow that up with riff 2:

Riff 1:

    Eb7 E7 B7
Eb |-- -------------------- -- --------------------|
Bb |-- -------------------- -- --------------------|
Gb |-- 8--8--8--8-8-8-8--8- 9\ 4--4--4--4--4--4--4-|
Db |-- x--x--x--x-x-x-x--x- x- x--x--x--x--x--x--x-|
Ab |-- 6--6--6--6-6-6-6--6- 7\ 2--2--2--2--2--2--2-|
Eb |-- 0--0--0--0-0-0-0--0- 0- 0--0--0--0--0--0--0-|

Riff 2:

Eb |------------------|------------------|
Bb |------------------|------------------|
Gb |------------------|------------------|
Db |--6--6--4--4\2--2-|-2/4--6--9-9-9-9--|
Ab |--0--0--0--0\0--0-|-0-0--0--0-0-0-0--|
Eb |------------------|------------------|

Verse 1 (note: riff 2 is played throughout the lyrics except when F#5 and B5 come in):

Riff 1 Riff 2    
    Shakedown 1979
Riff 1 Riff 2            
    Cool kids never have the time
Riff 1 Riff 2                 F#5         B5(1)    
    On a live wire right up off the street     you and I should meet
Riff 1 Riff 2          
    Junebug skipping like a stone
Riff 1 Riff 2              
    With the headlights pointed at the dawn
Riff 1 Riff 2               F#5         B5
    We were sure we'd never see an end     to it all

Chorus 1:

  E(1)   Eb7 E(1) A           E(1)
And I don't e- ven care   to shake these zipper blues
  Eb7   E(1) A             E(1)     Eb7   E(1) A
And we   don't know   just where are bones will rest   to dust   I guess
    F#5       B5(1)    
Forgotten and absorbed   into the earth   below

Repeat Intro

Verse 2:

Riff 1 Riff 2              
    Double cross the vacant and the bored
Riff 1 Riff 2                  
    They're not sure just what we have in store
Riff 1 Riff 2       F#5     B5(1)
    Morphine city slippin' dues down to see

Chorus 2:

  E(1)     Eb7 E(1) A           E(1)
And we   don't e- ven care   as restless as we are
  Eb7   E(1) A               E(1)     Eb7 E(1) A
We feel   the pull   in the land of a thousand guilts   and poured ce- ment
      B5(2)           C#m   A
Lamend and as- sured   to the lights and towns be- low
B5(2)         C#m     A     B5(2)         C#m     A
Fas- ter than   the speed   of sound,     fas- ter than   we thought   we'd go
  F#5     B5(1)      
Be- neath   the sound   of hope

Verse 3:

Justine never knew the rules
Hung down with the freaks and ghouls
No apologies ever need be made
I knew you better than you faked it to see...

Chorus 3:

That we don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know just where are bones will rest to dust I guess
Forgotten and absorbed into earth below

Outro:

Riff 1 Riff 2              
    The street heats the urgency of now
Riff 1 Riff 2               E(2)
    As you see there's no one a- round

Notes:

 

 

 

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