Jean The Birdman

david sylvian and robert fripp

Verse
He gambles on the saddle, hes pulling on the mane
e|---------------------|---------------------------|
B|---------7---------7-|-------5-------------------|
G|---------7---------7-|-------5-------------------|
D|---------7---------7-|-------5-------------------|
A|--5----------------5-|-------3-*1--3--4--3--1----|
E|---------------------|-------------------------3-|
*this single note run is only played in the intro verses without vocals

He thrashes on the horses back, ambition is a bloody game...
e|----------3----------3-------|-5v----------------------|
B|----------3----------3-------|-2v----------------------|
G|----------4----------4-------|-2v----------------------|
D|----------5----------5-------|-2v----------------------|
A|----------5----------5-------|-0v----------------------|
E|----------3----------3-------|-------------------------|

Horse doesn't want to jump the river looks too wide
Well he faces every hurdle with a nervous state of mind
Stay with me, breath deeply
Take 3 paces back, turn and make a full attack
The Gods are laughing and they're tugging at the reins
But he's taken to his wings and they hit the bank

Chorus
Heaven may stone him, but Jean the Birdman pulls it off
e|-----0------------|-----3----------------|----------------|
B|-----0------------|-----0----------------|-----------7--7-|
G|-----1------------|-----0----------------|-----------7--7-|
D|-----2------------|-----0----------------|-----------7--7-|
A|-----2------------|-----2----------------|-----------5--5-|
E|-----0------------|-----3----------------|----------------|

                   Heaven    may ...
e|--------------------------|--0 ...
B|--------------------------|--0 ...
G|--------------------------|--1 ...
D|--5--3--5--6--5--3--0-----|--2 ...
A|-----------------------0--|--2 ...
E|--------------------------|--0 ...

Bridge
e|---------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------|
G|--1-2h--1-2h--1-2h--4--2--4p--2--1--2--|
D|--0-----0-----0------------------0-----|
A|---------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------|

Verse
His fingers on the trigger his eye is on the clock
He doesnt give the game away and quickly fires the bullets off
Six hearts cut short still dreaming theyre alive
Blown round in dusty circles like an absent state of mind
Who hunter?  Who victim?
God love America he surely doesnt love him
Hitching out of nowhere lines of traffic knee deep
A chance to stave the morning off and get some sleep

Chorus

Bridge

Solo (not tabbed)

Verse
He wears a crucifix his mother left to him
Its wrapped in chains around his heart rusted and wafer thin
dont count on luck son, all the angels sing
dont need to check a weathervane we all know what tomorrow brings
Life is a cattle farm coyotes with the mules
Life is a bullring for taking risks and flouting rules
Who needs a safety net the world is open wide
Just look out for the card sharks and the danger signs

Chorus