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Can the Circle Be Unbroken?
Carter Family
Tune down ½ step.
Play this using bass/strum technique with alternating bass and walking bass lines. Wherever you see (3 ½) next to a chord, it means play three measures of 4/4, then one measure of 2/4. Who would of thought that this old country tune would have tricky time signature changes?!
Strum: B D U B D U
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
|
Chord Guide |
|||
|
123 A: x02220 |
T 132
D/F#: 2x0232 |
231
E: 022100 |
132
D: xx0232 |
Intro: / A - - - / - - - - / - - - - /
A (4)
I was standin' by the window
D/F# (2) A (2)
On a cold and cloudy day,
A (3½)
And I saw the hearse come rollin'
E (2) A (2)
For to carry my mother away
Chorus:
A (3½)
Can the circle be unbroken?
D (2) A (2)
By and by Lord, by and by,
A (3½)
There's a better home a-waitin'
E (2) A (2)
In the sky Lord, in the sky.
Instrumental:
/ A - - - / - - - - / - - - - / - - - - /
/ D/F# - - - / - - - - / A - - - / - - - - /
/ - - - - / - - - - / - - - - / - - - - /
/ - - - - / E - - - / A - - - / - - - - /
A (4)
Lord I told the undertaker,
D/F# (2) A (2)
"Undertaker, please drive slow,
A (3½)
For this body you are hauling Lord,
E (2) A (2)
I hate to see her go."
Chorus
A (4)
I followed close behind her,
D/F# (2) A (2)
Tried to hold up and be brave,
A (3½)
But I could not hide my sorrow
E (2) A (2)
When they laid her in the grave.
Chorus
Instrumental:
/ A - - - / - - - - / - - - - / - - - - /
/ - - - - / E - - - / A - - - / - - - - /
A (4)
Went back home Lord, my home was lonesome,
D/F# (2) A (2)
Missed my mother she was gone.
A (3½)
All my brothers and sisters crying
E (2) A (2)
In our home so sad and alone.
Chorus
This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
