Preview (partial song; no chords displayed)

"The Hammer Holds" by Bebo Norman
Words and music by Bebo Norman
Copyright 1996 Bebo Norman
(which is concert F#). I play fingerstyle, I think Bebo might use a
pick (it's arranged for flat-picking, and I don't hear any finger
squeaks). Leave your ring finger on the second string, third fret
throughout the song except momentarily for the A7 chords. A great solo
piece, but the harmony vocals and shaker don't hurt. The studio
version even has a second guitar and bass.
1 2
|------------0------------------|------------0------------------|
|--------3---------------3------|--------3---------------3------|
|----2---------------2-------0--|----0---------------0-------0--|
|0------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|----------------4--------------|2---------------0--------------|
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D9............ (C#)........... (B)............ (A).............
3 4
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|------------3------------------|--------2-------3-------2------|
|--------0-------------------0--|--------0-------0-------0------|
|----0-------------------0------|----2-------2-------2-------2--|
|----------------0--h2----------|0------------------------------|
|3------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G.............................. A7.............................
5 6
|------------0------------------|------------0------------------|
|--------3---------------3------|--------3---------------3------|
|----2---------------2-------0--|----0---------------0-------0--|
|0------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|----------------4--------------|2---------------0--------------|
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D9............ (C#)........... (B)............ (A).............
7 8 (one 2/4 measure)
|-------------------------------|---------------|
|------------3------------------|------------3--|
|--------0---------------2--p0--|--------0------|
|----0---------------0----------|----0----------|
|-------------------------------|---------------|
|3---------------2--------------|3--------------|
G.............. D/F#........... G..............
9
|------------------------0------|
|--------2-------3--------------|
|--------0-------0-------0------|
|----2-------2-------2-------2--|
|0------------------------------|
|-------------------------------|
A7.............................
different 2-bar riffs. We'll call measures 1-2 riff A. This is the
main riff of the song; every 4-bar segment of the song is composed of
riff A followed by one of the other three riffs. Riff B is measures
3-4; riff C first appears at measures 16-17; and riff D is first played
The outro is A, the first measure of C, A and E.
16 17
|-------------------------------|----------------0h2---------2--|
|------------3---------------3--|--------3-----------3----------|
|--------0---------------0------|----2-------2-----------2------|
|----0---------------2----------|0------------------------------|
|----------------0--------------|-------------------------------|
|3------------------------------|-------------------------------|
flame it melts my dreams.
32 33
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|------------3------------------|------------3-----------2------|
|--------0---------------2--p0--|--------0---------------0------|
|----0---------------0----------|----0---------------2-------2--|
|-------------------------------|----------------0--------------|
|3---------------2--------------|3------------------------------|
I can bear the flames.
111 112
|-------------------------------|--------0---0---0h2------------|
|-------------------------------|----3-------3---3--------------|
|--------------------0----------|2-----------2---2--------------|
|----0-------------------0---0--|----------------0--------------|
|--------0--h2---0--------------|-------------------------------|
|3------------------------------|-------------------------------|
G.............. A7..... D......................................
Transcribed 2/28/1998 by tstilwel@comp.uark.edu
More songs available at http://www.engr.uark.edu/~tks/tab/
**********************************************************
A shapeless piece of steel
That's all I claim to be
This hammer pounds to give me form
This flame it melts my dreams
I glow with fire and fury
As I'm twisted like a vine
My final shape my final form
I'm sure I'm bound to find
So dream a little dream for me
In hopes that I'll remain
And cry a little cry for me
So I can bear the flames
And hurt a little hurt for me
My future is untold
But my dreams are not the issue here
For Thee the hammer holds
And the water cools me great
And the hurt subdued somehow
I have my shape this sharpened point
What is my purpose now
The question it still remains
What am I to be
Perhaps some perfect piece of art
Displayed for all to see
And a hammer pounds again
But flames I do not feel
This force that drives me helplessly
Through flesh and wood reveals
A burn that burns much deeper
It's more than I can stand
The reason for my life was to take the life
Of a guiltless man
This task before me may seem unclear
But it my Maker holds