Up To Me
taken from rec.music.dylan
from Andrew Mullins (mullins@ARTSCI.Concordia.CA)
thanks to Christopher Mobley (wmobley@hubcap.clemson.edu)
Use E Tuning: E B E G# B E or all these chords won't work
6 5 4 3 2 1
I think Dylan uses a number of variations on the E chord in this tune,
and I'm not sure where each goes, but if you fool around you'll get the
right sound. The 2 he seems to use most are as follows:
E: 054000
E(open): 000000 **remember E tuning**
You can also use 054300 or 050000 etc.
The other chords are:
Emaj7: 044000
A: 555555 just a barre with index finger
B: 777777 " "
Put together it's something like:
E Emaj7
Everything went from bad to worse
A
Money never changed a thing
E Emaj7
Death kept followin, trackin us down
A
At least I heard your bluebird sing
B E(open)
Now somebody's got to show their hand
E Emaj7 A
Time is an enemy
E Emaj7
I know you're long gone
A E
I guess it must be up to me
The bit he plays in between verses is just a slide from the A to the B
Something like: E A->B E A E Emaj7 A E (and perhaps some
variations thereon)
If I'd a-thought about it I never would've done it,
I guess I would've let it slide,
If I'd a-paid attention to what others were thinkin',
the heart inside me would've died.
But I was just too stubborn to ever be governed by enforced insanity,
Someone had to reach for the risin' star,
I guess it was up to me.
The Union Central is pullin' out, the orchids are in bloom,
I've only got me one good shirt left and it smells of stale perfume.
In fourteen months I've only smiled once and I didn't do it consciously,
Somebody's got to find your trail,
I guess it must be up to me.
It was like a revelation when you betrayed me with your touch,
I'd just about convinced myself that nothin' had changed that much.
The old Rounder in the iron mask slipped me the master key,
Somebody had to unlock your heart,
He said it was up to me.
Well, I watched you slowly disappear down into the officers' club,
I would've followed you in the door but I didn't have a ticket stub.
So I waited all night 'til the break of day, hopin' one of us could get free,
When the dawn came over the river bridge,
I knew it was up to me.
The only decent thing I did when I worked as a postal clerk
Was to haul your picture down off the wall
near the cage where I used to work.
Was I a fool or not to try to protect your real identity?
You looked a little burned out, my friend,
I thought it might be up to me.
I met somebody face to face, I had to remove my hat,
She's everything I need and love but I can't be swayed by that.
It frightens me, the awful truth of how sweet life can be,
But she ain't gonna make me move,
I guess it must be up to me.
Ell I heard the Sermon on the Mount and I knew it was too complex,
It didn't amount to anything more than what the broken glass reflects.
When you bite off more than you can chew you gotta pay the penalty,
Somebody's got to tell the tale,
I guess it must be up to me.
Dupre came pimpin' tonight to the Thunderbird Cafe,
Crystal wanted to talk to him, I had to look the other way.
Well, I just can't rest without you, love, I need your company,
But you ain't a-gonna cross the line,
I guess it must be up to me.
There's a note left in the bottle, you can give it to Estelle,
She's the one you been wond'rin' about,
but there's really nothin' much to tell.
We both heard voices for a while, now the rest is history,
Somebody's got to cry some tears,
I guess it must be up to me.
So go on, boys, and play your hands, life is a pantomime,
The ringleaders from the county seat say you don't have all that much time.
And the girl with me behind the shades, she ain't my property,
One of us has got to hit the road,
I guess it must be up to me.
If we never meet again, baby, remember me,
How my lone guitar played sweet for you that old-time melody.
And the harmonica around my neck, I blew it for you, free,
No one else could play that tune,
You know it was up to me.