+
-

Epistle To Derroll

Donovan Leitch

Text File

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 08:24:23 -0800 (PST)
From: "Carl Gigun"  
Subject: TAB: Epistle To Derroll by Donovan

Epistle to Derroll, by Donovan

from carlg@pinc.com (Carl Gigun)
------------------

I found this album, RFor Little OnesS, in a box of old
forgotten records my parents bought before I was born.
This is my MomUs favourite song from the album, but the
whole thing is full of songs for single acoustic guitar
and voice. (a few have parts for friends with flutes
or harmonicas too.) All the songs are pretty easy to
play and are in the same Rpoetic hippieS style as this one.
This is the only one IUve tabbed, but if anyone asks
IUll gladly tab the rest.

Musically, this song is pretty simple. ItUs in E major,
4/4 timing, and uses only three chords. (E,A,C# minor)
The same bass strum/alternating thumb pattern is used
throughout. Count it as 1 2 3&4&. The only change in the
pattern comes in measures 2 and 3 of part 2. In measure two
the second thumb strike is a hammer-on, so youUll have to
count it as 1 2 3&&4&, and measure three has no eighth
notes at all.
Enough of me rambling hereUs the two main parts:

PART 1

   E
E |-----0-----------|-----0-----------|
B |-----0-----0---0-|-----0-----0---0-|
G |-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|
D |-2---------------|-2---------------|
A |---------2-------|---------2-------|
E |-----------------|-----------------|
    ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `   ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `

   A                 E
E |-----0-----------|-----0-----------||
B |-----2-----2---2-|-----0-----0---0-||
G |-----2-------2---|-----1-------1---||
D |-2---------------|-2---------------||
A |---------0-------|---------2-------||
E |-----------------|-----------------||
    ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `   ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `

PART 2

  E                  C# minor
E |-----0-----------|-----4------------|
B |-----0-----0---0-|-----5------5---5-|
G |-----1-------1---|-----6--------6---|
D |-2---------------|---------4h6------|
A |---------2-------|-4----------------|
E |-----------------|------------------|
    ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `   ^ ` ^ ` ^* ` ^ `     *sixteenth note hammer-on

   C# minor          A
E |-----4-----------|-----0-----------||
B |-----5-----------|-----2-----2---2-||
G |-----6-----------|-----2-------2---||
D |-----------------|---------2-------||
A |-4-------4---2---|-0---------------||
E |-----------------|-----------------||
    ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `   ^ ` ^ ` ^ ` ^ `

Donovan plays part 1 without the A chord, just four
measures of E, as an intro and then in between every verse.
Each verse is four lines long, using part 1 for the first
three lines and part 2 for the last one.

HereUs the lyrics, just in case:
--------------------------------

Come all Tye starry starfish, living in the deep blue sea
Crawl to me I have, a proposition to make thee
Would you walk the north sea floor, to Belgium from England
Bring me word of the banjo man, with the tattoo on his hand

The spokesman of the starfish, spoke as spokesmen should
If in you met our fee, then certainly we would
Should you cast a looking glass, upon the scalloped sand
YouUll have word of this banjo man, with the tattoo on his hand

Oh come you starry starfish, I know your ways are caved
Maybe itUs because you are, astrologically shaped
Converse with the herring shoals, as I know you can
Bring me word of the banjo man, with the tattoo on his hand

The eldest of the starfish, spoke after a sigh
youthful as you are young man, you have a wisdom high
surely you must know, a looking glass is made from sand
these young fish are fooling you, about your banjo man

Oh come now aged starfish, riddle me no more
For news I am weary, an my heart is sore
All on the silent sea shore, help me if you can
Tell to me if you know, of the banjo man

Now all through the seven oceans, I am a star most famed
Many leg-ees have I lost, and many I have gained
Strange to say quite recently, I have been to Flemish land
and if you are courteous, IUll tell you all I can

Oh you have my full attention, I answered him with glee
His brother starts were twinkling, in the sky above the sea
There I sat there with rapt, attention on the sand
very anxious for to hear, of the banjo man

I have seen the tattooed hand, through a ship porthole
Steaming on the watery main, through the waves so cold
heard his tinkling banjo, and his voice so grand
But you must come to Belgium to shake the tattooed hand

Oh gladly I would come, gladly I would go
Had I not my work to do, and my face to show
But I rejoice to hear heUs well, but I must go inland
Thank you for the words you brought, of the banjo man

I walked along the evening sand, as charcoal clouds did shift
Revealing the moon shining, on the pebble drift
contemplating every other, word the starfish said
Wispy winds they filled my dreams, in my dreaming bed.

----------------

ThatUs it. Enjoy!

Carl Gigun                         carlg@pinc.com
Happy Citizen of Humanity          ph: (604)467-5046

                        :-)