Promise Is A Pendulum - Big Thief
Capo: Fret 1
Tuning: Eb, D A D G A D
Live: DADGAD, capo 1st fret
Studio: DADGAE, capo 3rd fret
This tab is based on the live version, but it is pretty much the same as the studio version. The tuning on the
studio version seems to keep the high E string an E. Personally, I prefer the live tuning, so that's
what I'm using. Also, the outro is slightly different on the two versions. Again, the live version is tabbed.
Chords used (r
d |--0-----0--
A |--0-----0--
G |--0-----0--
D |--2-----4--
A |--5-----5--
D |--x-----x--
elative to cap
---0-----0----
---0-----0----
---0-----0----
---5-----4----
---2-----2----
---x-----x----
o):
-0-----0----|
-0-----0----|
-0-----0----|
-5-----2----|
(2)----0----|
-2-----x----|
Here's how the picking pattern and chord progression goes:
d|------------
A|-------0----
G|---0-------0
D|-----2------
A|-5-------5--
D|------------
---0----------
-----------0--
-------0------
-2-------4----
-----5-------5
--------------
-----0-|
-------|
-0-----|
---4---| x2
-------|
-------|
d|------------
A|-------0----
G|---0-------0
D|-----5------
A|-2-------2--
D|------------
---0----------
-----------0--
-------0------
-5-------4----
-----2-------2
--------------
-----0-|
-------|
-0-----|
---4---| x2
-------|
-------|
d|------------
A|-------0----
G|---0-------0
D|-----5------
A|------------
D|-2-------2--
---0----------
-----------0--
-------0------
-5-------5----
--------------
-----2-------2
-----0-|
-------|
-0-----|
---5---| x1 (x2 in the chorus)
-------|
-------|
d|------------
A|-------0----
G|---0-------0
D|-----2------
A|-0-------0--
D|------------
---0----------
-----------0--
-------0------
-2-------2----
-----0-------0
--------------
-----0-|
-------|
-0-----|
---2---| x (varies)
-------|
-------|
The chorus is finished off with a little tail like this, instead of playing regular A7sus4 :
d|------------
A|-------0----
G|---0-------0
D|-----2------
A|-0-------0--
D|------------
---0----------
-----------0--
-------0------
-2/4-----4----
-----0-------0
--------------
-----0--|-----
--------|-----
-0------|---0-
---4/5--|-----
--------|-0---
--------|-----
----------0---
--0-----------
------0-------
5-------5\4---
----0-------0-
--------------
------------0-
----0---------
0-------0-----
--4-------4---
------0-------
--------------
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
-|
In the outro, after playing the chorus tail once, it goes something like this: (It's pretty much in free time
and this is not a 100% correct tab, but the chords should be right):
d|------------
A|-------0----
G|---0-------0
D|-----2------
A|-0-------0--
D|------------
---0----------
-----------0--
-------0------
-2/4-----4----
-----0-------0
--------------
-----0--|-----
--------|-----
-0------|---0-
---4/5--|-----
--------|-0---
--------|-----
----------0---
--0-----------
------0-------
5-------5/7---
----0-------0-
--------------
--------------
----0---------
0-------7-----
--7---------9-
------0-------
--------------
|-----------0-
|-----0-------
|---7-----7---
|-9-----9-----
|-------------
|-------------
-----------0--
-----0--------
---7-----7----
-9-----9------
--------------
--------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
d|------------
A|------0-----
G|----9------9
D|-11-----11--
A|------------
D|------------
-0-------|----
-------0-|----
-----9---|----
---11----|-11-
---------|----
---------|----
-----0--------
---0---------0
11--------11--
-------11-----
--------------
--------------
--0---------0-
----------0---
-------11-----
----11-------1
--------------
--------------
-------0------
-----0--------
--11-------11-
1-------11----
--------------
--------------
--0---------0-
0---------0---
-------11-----
----11--------
--------------
--------------
--|
--|
--|
--|
--|
0-|
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
I could never
build the ethe
r, or the gras
s overgrown
I could never
build the rive
r with a mouth
full of foam
I could never
build the wint
er with her co
ld tears of gl
itter
I've been list
ening to the r
ed oak, the ac
orn she cries
Listening to t
he white birch
, the paper sh
e dries
I've been list
ening to the f
rogs joke, lis
tening to the
fire smoke
[Chorus]
I could never
tell you now w
hat I had oftе
n said before
Becausе promis
e is a pendulu
m just swingin
g at the door
And I'm not sa
ying I'm not j
ealous, or sca
red anymore
I'm just sayin
g
[Verse 2]
I could never
make a rainbow
, or any kind
of flower
Could never ma
ke a sparrow,
or a meteor sh
ower
Could never bu
ild an earthwo
rm, never make
the earth tur
n
I've been list
ening to the l
aughing of the
fox down the
trail
Clasping to th
e listening of
the moss to t
he snail
Ooo
The shimmer of
the beech lea
ves, as the wi
nd does a big
sneeze
[Chorus]
I could never
tell you now,
but I had so o
ften said befo
re
Because promis
e is a pendulu
m, just swingi
ng at the door
And I'm not sa
ying I'm not j
ealous, or sca
red anymore
I'm just sayin
g
[Verse 3]
I could never
make the shado
w between your
cheek and you
r eye
Could never ma
ke a freckle o
r the warm bre
ath you sigh
The canopy of
lashes with th
e softness of
ashes
I've been list
ening to the m
emory, the way
that it was
Listening to t
he echo of why
s and because
Listening to t
he echo, telli
ng me to let g
o
[Chorus]
I could never
tell you now,
but I had ofte
n said before
Because promis
e is a pendulu
m, just swingi
ng at the door
And I'm not sa
ying I'm not j
ealous or scar
ed anymore
I'm just sayin
g
Sayin'