Brad's Paul Simon Guitar Tablature Page (www.bradpriddy.com/paul_simon)
...................... A Poem on the Underground Wall .....................
Copyright © 1966,1967 Paul Simon
From the Miami University concert, November 11 1969, as heard on the "Back
to College" or "A Time of Innocence" recordings.
Transcribed by John McGann.
% indicates a repeat of the previous measure.
(%) indicates a repeat of the previous TWO measures.
For the D/F#, wrap your thumb over the top of the neck to fret the low E
string at the second fret with the thumb.
Capo 8th fret (see tuning info on main page)
Beginning from the tune-up:
Em C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---0-------0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|-----2-------2---|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2-------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
Em ! C G
e:|-----0-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-----0---------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----2---------2-|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
Em C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|-----2---------2-|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
Em ! C G
e:|-----0-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-----0---------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----2---------2-|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
Em C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|-----2---------2-|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
The last train is nearly due the under - ground is
Em C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|-----2---------2-|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
closing soon and in the dark deserted station restless in
Em C
e:|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---0-------0-----|-------1-------1-|
G:|-----0---------0-|-----0-------0---|
D:|-------2-----0---|-----------------|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|
anticipation a man waits in the
G C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|-----2---------2-|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
shadows ... ... ... ...
Em ! C G
e:|-----0-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-----0---------0-|-------0---------|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----2-----------|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
His restless eyes leap & scratch at all that they can
Em ! C G
e:|-----0-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------1-----|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-----0---------0-|-------0---------|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----2-----------|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
touch or catch and hidden deep within his pocket safe within its
Em C G C
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---0-------0-----|---1-------1-----|-----0-----0-----|-------1-------1-|
G:|-------0-------0-|-------0-----0---|---------------0-|-----0-------0---|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----2---------2-|-------------0---|---2-------2-----|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-3-------2-------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
silent socket he holds a colored crayon ... ...
G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|----0h1----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|----0h2------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
Em ! C G
e:|-----0-----------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-----1-------|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-----0---------0-|-------0-----0---|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----2---------2-|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
Now from the tunnel's stony womb the carriage rides to
Em C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-------0---0-----|---1-------1-----|-----0-----0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:|-----0---------0-|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|---2---------0---|-----2-------0---|-------------0---|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|
meet the groom and opens wide and welcome doors ... hesitates
Em C G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|---1-------------|-----0-----0--0--|-----------------|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|-----0-----0--0--|--strum-------0--|
D:|-----2-------2---|-----2-------0---|-----0-----0--0--|--------------0--|
A:|-----------------|-3-------2-0-----|-----2-----2--2--|-----------------|
E:|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-3-------3----3--|------------2----|
and then withdraws deeper in the shadows ... ...
Em
e:|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G:|-0--strum--strum-|--------%--------|--------%--------|--------%--------|
D:|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A:|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
And the
Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|
B:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|
G:|----strum--strum-|--strum----0-0-0-|----------------(%)----------------|
D:|-----------------|-----------2-2-2-|-----------------------------------|
A:|-2---------------|-----------2-2-2-|-----------------------------------|
E:|-0---------------|-----------0-0-0-|-----------------------------------|
train is gone suddenly on
D/F#
e:|-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------------------------|
B:|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------------------------|
G:|-2--strum--strum-|-2--strum--strum-|----------------(%)----------------|
D:|-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------------------------|
A:|---(mute-string)-|---(mute-string)-|-----------------------------------|
E:|-2---------------|-2---------------|-----------------------------------|
wheels clicking silently ... ... like a
C Am
e:|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
B:|-1---------------|------------1--0-|-1---------------|-----------------|
G:|-0--strum--strum-|--strum-----0--0-|-2--strum--strum-|--------%--------|
D:|-2---------------|------------2--0-|-2---------------|-----------------|
A:|-3---------------|------------3--2-|-0---------------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
gently tapping li-ta-ny ... ... and he
Esus4 Am Am7 C
e:|-0---------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
B:|-0---------------|-1---------------|-1---------------|-1--------0------|
G:|-2--strum--strum-|-2--strum--strum-|-0--strum--strum-|-0-strum--0------|
D:|-2---------------|-2---------------|-2---------------|-2--------0------|
A:|-2---------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|-3--------2---0--|
E:|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
holds his crayon rosary ... ... tighter in his
G Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
B:|-0---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
G:|-0--strum--strum-|--strum---strum--|-0--strum--strum-|--strum---strum--|
D:|-0---------------|-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------|
A:|-2---------------|-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------|
E:|-3---------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-----------------|
hand ... Now
C G Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---1-------------|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|---0-----------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|-------------0---|
A:|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|-0-------0-------|
from his pocket quick he flashes the crayon on the wall he slashes
C G Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---1-------------|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|---0-----------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|-------------0---|
A:|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|-0-------0-------|
Deep upon the advertising a single worded poem comprised of
C G Em !
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-----------|
B:|---1-------------|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|-----0---------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----2-------0---|
A:|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-----------|
E:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|-0-------0-------|
four letters And his
C G Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---1-------------|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|---0-----------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|-------------0---|
A:|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|-0-------0-------|
heart is laughing screaming pounding . poem across the tracks rebounding
C G Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---1-------------|---0h1-----0-----|---0-------0-----|-----0-----0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|---0-----------0-|
D:|-----2-------0---|---0h2-------0---|-----0-------0---|-------------0---|
A:|-3-------2p0-----|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-3-------2-------|-0-------0-------|
Shadowed by the exit light his legs take their ascending flight
C G C G Em
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------0-----|
B:|---1-------1-----|---0-------0-----|---1-------1-----|-----------0-----|
G:|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-----------0-----|
D:|-----2-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----2-------0---|-----------------|
A:|-3-------2-------|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|--3--------0-----|
To seek the breast of darkness and be suckled by the night mmmmmm
Tap guitar six times:
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G:|----x------x-----|----x------x-----|----x------x-----|
D:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Lyrics:
The last train is nearly due.
The underground is closing soon.
And in the dark, deserted station,
Restless in anticipation,
A man waits in the shadows.
His restless eyes leap and scratch,
At all that they can touch or catch.
And hidden deep within his pocket,
Safe within its silent socket,
He holds a colored crayon.
Now from the tunnel's stony womb,
The carriage rides to meet the groom.
And opens wide and welcome doors.
But he hesitates, and then withdraws,
Deeper in the shadows.
And the train is gone suddenly,
On wheels clicking silently,
Like a gently tapping litany.
And he holds his crayon rosary,
Tighter in his hand.
Now from his pocket quick he flashes,
The crayon on the wall he slashes,
Deep upon the advertising,
A single worded poem comprised,
Of four letters.
And his heart is laughing, screaming, pounding.
The poem across the tracks rebounding.
Shadowed by the exit light,
His legs take their ascending flight,
To seek the breast of darkness and be suckled by the night.