Simon and Garfunkel
Sparrow (1964)
(Paul Simon)
From: "Wednesday Morning 3 A.M."
I play this song using a mixture of picking (bass) and strumming (chords).
The pattern is roughly:
1 e + e
t i t
When played fast, the pattern creates the driving rhythm characterising this beautiful song.
INTRO
3/4
| e | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 |
| B | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 |
| G | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 h2 |
| E | | | | |
4/4
| e | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 |
| B | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 |
| G | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 |
| D | | |
| A | h2 h2 | h2 h2 |
| E | 0 0 | 0 0 |
VERSE, part 1
| e | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 22 22 22 22 | 22 22 22 22 |
| B | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 33 33 33 33 | 33 33 33 33 |
| G | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 22 22 22 22 | 22 22 22 22 |
| D | 2 2 | 2 2 | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| A | 2 2 | 2 2 | 0 0 | 0 0 |
| E | | | | |
| e | 22 22 22 22 | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 22 22 22 22 |
| B | 33 33 33 33 | 11 11 11 11 | 11 11 11 11 | 33 33 33 33 |
| G | 22 22 22 22 | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 22 22 22 22 |
| D | 0 0 | | | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 | 3 3 | 3 3 | 0 0 |
| E | | 3 3 | 3 3 | |
| e | 22 22 22 22 |
| B | 33 33 33 33 |
| G | 22 22 22 22 |
| D | 0 0 |
| A | 0 0 |
| E | |
VERSE, part 2
2/4 4/4
| e | 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 22 |
| B | 00 00 | 22 22 22 22 | 22 22 22 | 33 33 33 |
| G | 00 00 | 22 22 22 22 | 22 22 22 | 22 44 44 |
| D | | h2 h2 | h2 | 0 0 44 44 |
| A | h2 | 0 0 | 0 0 2 4 | 4 2 2 |
| E | 0 | | | |
2/4
| e | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 22 | 00 00 |
| B | 22 22 22 22 | 22 22 22 | 33 33 33 | 22 22 |
| G | 22 22 22 22 | | 22 44 44 | 22 22 |
| D | h2 h2 | h2 | 0 0 44 44 | |
| A | 0 0 | 0 0 2 4 | 4 2 2 | 0 0 |
| E | | | | |
| 1st and 3rd time
4/4
| e | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 |
| B | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 |
| G | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 |
| D | | 2 2 | 2 2 |
| A | h2 h2 | 2 2 | 2 2 |
| E | 0 0 | | |
| 2nd and 4th time (=CODA)
4/4 3/4
| e | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 |
| B | 00 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 |
| G | 00 00 00 00 | 0 | | 0 | |
| D | 2 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A | 2 2 | 4 | 4 h2 | 4 | 4 h2 |
| E | | | | | |
4/4 (4th time: ritardando) |CODA
| e | 0 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 0 |
| B | 0 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 0 |
| G | 0 00 00 00 | 00 00 00 00 | 0 |
| D | | | 2 |
| A | h2 h2 | h2 h2 | 2 |
| E | 0 0 | 0 0 | 0 |
INTRO
| [3/4] Em7/C# | Em7/C# | Em7/C# | Em7/C# | [4/4] Em | Em |
Em D
Who will love a little Sparrow?
C D
Who's traveled far and cries for rest?
Em A
"Not I," said the Oak Tree,
D Bm A
"I won't share my branches with no sparrow's nest
D Bm A Em
And my blanket of leaves won't warm her cold breast."
Em D
Who will love a little Sparrow?
C D
And who will speak a kindly word?
Em A
"Not I," said the Swan,
D Bm A
"The entire idea is utterly absurd,
D Bm A Em [INTRO]
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the other Swans heard."
Em D
Who will take pity in his heart
C D
And who will feed a starving sparrow?
Em A
"Not I," said the Golden Wheat,
D Bm A
"I would if I could but I cannot I know,
D Bm A Em
I need all my grain to prosper and grow."
Em D
Who will love a little Sparrow?
C D
Will no one write her eulogy?
Em A
"I will," said the Earth,
D Bm A
"For all I've created returns unto me,
D Bm A Em [INTRO] Em
From dust were ye made and dust ye shall be."