This old thing from The Royal Scam album has some tricky parts in it, a lot of electric guitar shots etc. which tend to moderate the sound of the chord, but I've tried to make it playable, while staying as true to the actual song as possible. Note that there is a syncopation to this song which makes it difficult to place the chords over the words as they change, or present it in the form of an even 4/4 bar count. My advice is play the chart along with the record if you get confused.
Also, I've included two different shapes for an F/G chord to be played at different times. One will be called F/G*, and the other F/G**.
This tune is one of my favorite examples of brilliant Steely Dan lyrics and their usual superbly crafted music.
" DON'T TAKE ME ALIVE " Steely Dan The Royal Scam
INTRO: First slowly strum out a G7#9 with this shape: EADGBE 355466 This may look like an impossibility, like a cruel, unusual and unplayable chord, but it can be done. You must use the power of the force. First you use your ring (3rd) finger to cover BOTH the 4th and 5th strings on the 5th fret (straight down on the fingertip, not barred), and next you use the baby finger to barr both the 1st and 2nd strings on the 6th fret. Of course your index finger is on the 6th string, 3rd fret, and your middle finger is on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Once you've let it ring for a few seconds you quickly play Eb/Ab and F/G* (shapes shown below) as the last two beats of a lead-in bar, and you're into the intro, which is a guitar solo over:
||| | | | | | |
|| | | |Fm7 | | | |
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Vs. I ||| | | | | Agents of the law ||| | | | | Luckless pedestrians
| | | I know you're out there
| | | With rage in your eyes and your megaphones ||| | |Eb/Ab | | Saying all is forgiven
| | | Mad Dog surrender
| | | How can I answer?
| | | A man of my mind can do anything.
Chorus: ||| | |Eb/Ab | I'm a book keeper's son
| | | | I don't want to shoot no one
| | | Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
|| | | | csus4 | Csus4 Eb/Ab F/G* | Alive
| | | Got a case of dynamite
| | | I could hold out here all night
| | | Well, I crossed my old man back in Oregon, don't take me
| Csus4 | Csus4 | Csus4 | csus4 | alive
Vs. II ( Chords same as for Vs. 1)
Can you hear the evil crowd The lies and the laughter I hear my insides, The mechanized hum of another world Where no sun is shining No red light flashing Here in this darkness I know what I've done I know all at once who I am
* CHORUS *
BRIDGE: There is some keyboard and guitar work here which mostly is played over a 'C' bass note, and although it would be messy to try to write it out note for note, I think you can get away with playing these chords: (formations shown below).
