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CANDLE
bass tab by chris lawrence
play some C slides during thurston's intro...
kick in:
G----------------------------------------------
D--14--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-10-10-10-10-10-10-
A----------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------
This section ends on an A note, but I don't think Kim plays it.
For the verse, stick on:
G---------------------------
D---------------------------
A--12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-- etc etc
E---------------------------
or double up the octave w/ an open A note + 7th fret on D..
Chorus:
G--------------------------------------------------------
D--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
G--------------------------------------------------------
D--10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
A--------------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------------
Hang on A for the loud explosive instrumental.
Back to the intro riff afterwards, then another verse/chorus.
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THE SONIC YOUTH GUITAR/BASS TABLATURE ARCHIVE:
http://www.islandnet.com/~mustang/tab/index.html
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Taken from BASSMASTA.NET - http://www.bassmasta.net
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
ian Average |
#1 by ian at May 30, 1971 at 11:03 PM EST |
| Another song about speed is Star Power , a song about Coke is Sugar Kane. | |
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mike Average |
#2 by mike o'brien at Jan 31, 1972 at 4:48 PM EST |
| i dont know what thurston is gettin' at really, but songs to me attach themselves to memories i have. this song makes me think about a realistion of how i felt for a person and become quite symbolic as i lay there drunk listening to this song and pondering how i felt for them, since then references to candles have come up in my poetry a lot and the song has had a great impact on me, even the music, not just the lyrics represent how i feel, one minute the song is nice and melodic, the next its discordant and angry, i really relate to this a lot | |
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sean (jello bia Average |
#3 by sean (jello biafra incognito) griffin at Feb 28, 1975 at 6:59 PM EST |
| This song is very obviously about crystal meth (speed). Thurston] I see a dark star drivin' at his magic, snatch it KEEPS ME UP AWAKE go crystal cracking *You cant sleep on speed as its an amphetamine, its also a crystal that cracks. * I can't wait I can't stay, uh candle *When you want speed, you REALLY want it bad, you will go through ANYTHING to get it * Gotta change my mind before it burns out *He knows its stupid, speed eventually burns out your mind and destroys it, but he is addicted.* I'm the cocker on the rock Wind is whipping through my stupid mop *Isnt a cock a male rooster, the king of its domain? A rock of speed. You think your king of the world on speed. Wind is whipping through his hair, but he knows doing speed is stupid.* I see a falling snowgirl walking Broadway *Snow = Coke* Turns the corner at 14th and I know there's no way It's alright *You always think life is going to be alright no matter what when your on speed* It's a lighted candle *On speed you tend to stare at lights, especially white ones. He is staying up all night, twacked out of his mind staring at a candle* And I know that she'll be okay by sunday I'm the cocker on the rock Coming back start shining In your electric clock *You stare at clocks , time has no meaning because your staying up all night spun out of your mind* It's safe to say, candle Tonight's the day, candle It's alright now, candle The wind's away, candle *He is still staring at this candle* Never thought I'd see a dark star falling I'm the cocker on the rock Wind is whipping through my stupid mop | |
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Dylan Wanna Be |
#4 by Dylan Johnson at Mar 24, 1976 at 5:27 AM EST |
| couldBanyone's right. The song deals with life and the escape from it through drugs. In western art, especially in the Vanitas (Vanity) still life paintings, the candle has always been representative our life as the flame is time burning away our life. When we die our life goes out like a flame. The album cover itself is even a painting by the artist Gerhard Richter, which I think is good evidence that they're using the same symbol of a candle in western art in their song. Although, I think it deals more with the escape from mortality than anything, mostly because of the lines: "I can't wait I can't stay, uh candle Gotta change my mind before it burns out" I maybe looking too deeply into it, but I interpret this as "I can't wait [until death/when my candle burns out]" because when we die, so does our mortality. "Gotta change my [mortal] mind before it [dies] out" probably a reference to drugs as an escape from harsh reality. To me, the song has a half-serious, half-sarcastic tone to it. It's very energetic. | |
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Matt Average |
#5 by Matt at Jun 15, 1978 at 2:44 PM EST |
| i can't believed how little posts sonic youth gets. their soo good | |
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Fresh Average |
#6 by Fresh at Jul 16, 1978 at 7:19 AM EST |
| This song is absolutely mind-blowing in my humble opinion. The duality of its ethereal introduction and its grungey guitar work are perfect. | |
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No Picture
KETcH Average |
#7 by KETcH UP at Oct 20, 1980 at 4:12 PM EST |
| I think this song is about a relationship where one person is really needy and clings to the other person, like if he goes out, she will extinguish. | |
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duke Professional |
#8 by duke windsor at Sep 15, 1981 at 3:13 AM EST |
| tweeker=thurston | |
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Kevin Average |
#9 by Kevin Pringle at Nov 4, 1983 at 10:05 AM EST |
| a love song to a candle? | |
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Grunge Hamster Lead Player |
#10 by Grunge Hamster at Dec 13, 1984 at 7:56 PM EST |
| i can't believed how little posts sonic youth gets. their soo good | |
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No Picture
Todd Average |
#11 by Todd Cathey at Sep 26, 1991 at 9:04 AM EST |
| karmas rite more peplee need to post sonic youth\ | |
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patrick Average |
#12 by patrick wilson at Dec 8, 1991 at 9:13 PM EST |
| yeah. they're the best just wondering, is "stupid mop" referring to thurston's hair? that's how i've always thought of his hair like that, a mop. | |
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Zach250 Wanna Be |
#13 by Zach250 at May 24, 1993 at 7:48 AM EST |
| I read somewhere that Lee and Thurston were reading a lot of Philip K. Dick novels during the Daydream era, and that some of the lyrics are based on those stories...I think Candle and Eric's Trip were a couple of those. | |
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Zac Wanna Be |
#14 by Zac McCollum at Feb 4, 1994 at 7:55 PM EST |
| Y love intro on this song.The intro is really cool. i think that in this song candle is a metaphor for sex....hm,maybe :)))if not for sex than for something else same special as sex. | |
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No Picture
hottyrocker55 Rhythm Player |
#15 by hottyrocker55 at Mar 11, 1999 at 12:08 PM EST |
| Actually the term cocker means "buddy" or "friend." It's a pretty old term but using it in that sense would still support the drugs subtext. He is the "friend" of the "rock" (meth). However, I disagree that the song is just a pure drug reference. A candle is representative of mortal beauty. They possess an entrancing glow but they must burn out eventually. Thurston sees his life as reflected in this candle. It's a feel good song in the end..."it's alright Candle / Tonight's the day Candle / The wind's away Candle" Wind, in this sense, represents that omnipresent force of impending death. But it is gone for this one night. | |
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No Picture
josip Wanna Be |
#16 by josip pucek at Nov 27, 2000 at 10:15 PM EST |
| ha ha love that line "Wind is whipping through my stupid mop" coz i have a mop, they are annoying, but look good. it broke my heart when i found out that thurston's mop was actually blonde, not red. damn it if he was a red head we would have the exact same hair-doo | |
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guido Average |
#17 by guido at May 2, 2002 at 11:06 PM EST |
| For some reason i got the impression that "Candle" was Marilyn Monroe. But Matamoros is probably right! | |
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andrew/JESUS Lead Player |
#18 by andrew/JESUS roman at Dec 15, 2002 at 8:45 AM EST |
| another great art-indie record that nobody has heard!! If you havent heard 'daydream nation' (the album) then get it | |
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