"The Hammer Holds" by Bebo Norman From the album "The Fabric Of Verse" Words and music by Bebo Norman Copyright 1996 Bebo Norman Capo 4 on a standard-tuned six-string acoustic. Pick at a moderately slow tempo in 4/4 time and in the key of D major relative to the capo (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. [riff A] 1 2 |------------0------------------|------------0------------------| |--------3---------------3------|--------3---------------3------| |----2---------------2-------0--|----0---------------0-------0--| |0------------------------------|-------------------------------| |----------------4--------------|2---------------0--------------| |-------------------------------|-------------------------------| D9............ (C#)........... (B)............ (A)............. [riff B] 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............................. That's the intro, and the rest of the song is composed of four 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 at measures 32-33. Each verse is ABACABAC; each chorus is ACADACAC. The outro is A, the first measure of C, A and E. [riff C] 16 17 |-------------------------------|----------------0h2---------2--| |------------3---------------3--|--------3-----------3----------| |--------0---------------0------|----2-------2-----------2------| |----0---------------2----------|0------------------------------| |----------------0--------------|-------------------------------| |3------------------------------|-------------------------------| flame it melts my dreams. [riff D] (similar to measures 7-9, but without the extra half-measure) 32 33 |-------------------------------|-------------------------------| |------------3------------------|------------3-----------2------| |--------0---------------2--p0--|--------0---------------0------| |----0---------------0----------|----0---------------2-------2--| |-------------------------------|----------------0--------------| |3---------------2--------------|3------------------------------| I can bear the flames. [riff E] (just for the outro) 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/ ********************************************************** [verse 1] 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 [chorus] 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 [verse 2] 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 [repeat chorus] [verse 3] 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 [repeat chorus] ("so bold" in place of "untold") [outro] This task before me may seem unclear But it my Maker holds