Looking Over My Shoulder
Elliott Smith
New Moon
This is as it is recorded on New Moon. It is one step down, as Elliott would
have played it (although he probably used a 12-string). Listen to the track
to figure out the strumming. I don't know all the chord names, but the ones
provided are relative to being down one step (ie. 'E' actually means 'D'
Etc.) - most people find this easier to read. The chorus is a bit fiddley,
And there are some tricky chords in the verse, but once you get them down,
this song is not hard to play.
Intro:
E A7 C G B7/F# E
| D 0 0 0 |
| A 0 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 |
| F 1 1 0 0 0 (0) 2 2 1 |
| C 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 | (repeat) |
| G 0 0 3 |
| D (0) (0) 3 2 0 |
Verse:
E G A C#7 F♯m F#m/E D
| D 0 3 0 4 2 2 2 |
| A 0 0 2 6 2 2 3 |
| F 1 0 2 4 2 2 2 |
| C 2 0 2 6 4 2 0 |
| G 2 x 0 4 4 4 |
| D 0 3 2 0 |
Wiped out in the city slick, Another slick rock'n'roller acting like a dick
C#add7 F#m F#m D A E/G#
| D 2 2 2 0 4 |
| A 2 2 2 3 2 5 |
| F 4 2 2 2 2 4 |
| C 3 4 2 0 2 x |
| G 4 4 4 0 x |
| D 2 2 4 |
Needing cash. Burning through the trash that piles up in this place,
?(dim) Bm Bm/A Em D G B7/F#
| D 3 2 2 3 3 0 3 2 |
| A 2 3 3 0 0 3 0 0 |
| F 3 4 4 0 0 0 0 2 |
| C 2 4 4 0 2 4 0 1 |
| G x 2 0 x 5 x x |
| D 3 3 3 2 |
And fills up behind my empty face, full of things that I'm not to do.
Chorus 1 (repeat Intro)
You come over with all of your friends,
And all their opinions I don't want to know.
And I'm looking over my shoulder,
Booking away with nowhere to go.
Verse 2 (repeat Verse)
Chorus 2 (repeat Intro)
Bridge
F# A C#m /C /B
| D 2 0 |
| A 2 2 5 5 5 |
| F 3 2 2 4 6 6 4 |
| C 4 2 x x 6 6 6 |
| G 4 0 0 0 4 3 x |
| D 2 7 |
Well can't you just leave me alone? You've already thrown all the
A Am
| D 0 0 |
| A 2 1 |
| F 2 2 |
| C 2 2 | (repeat) |
| G 0 0 |
| D |
Sticks and stones you had to send my way, Well...
Verse 3 (repeat Verse)
Last Chorus (repeat Intro x2)
End
That's it! Not too difficult, hope you enjoy playing this great
lesser-known Elliott Smith song.