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Balloon Man

Robyn Hitchcock

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. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
 
From: Daniel L. Lovall 
Subject: /Hitchcock.Robyn/BalloonMan.crd
To: jamesb@animal-farm.nevada.edu
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 93 10:36:42 EST
Cc: lovall@animal-farm.nevada.edu (Daniel L. Lovall)
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]

Enjoy!
Bob Paley
rpaley1@cc.swarthmore.edu

Title:  Balloon Man
Artist: Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
Album:  Globe of Frogs

 INTRO:  G

 VERSE:

 G                                                           C
 I was walkin' up 6th Ave. when balloon man came right up to me
        G                                                            D
 He was round and fat and spherical with the biggest grin I've ever seen
 G                                                        C
 He bounced on up towards me but before we could be introduced
 G                                                D        G
 He blew up very suddenly - I guess his name was probably Bruce

 CHORUS:

        D               G     C
 And I laughed, like I always do
        D              G        C
 And I cried, like I cried for you
      C       G  D    G  D  F#m G
 And balloon man blew up in my hands

 VERSE:

 G                                                                     C
 He spattered me with tomatoes, hummus, chickpeas, and some strips of skin
      G                                           D          G
 So I made a right on 44th, but I washed my hands when I got in

 CHORUS:
         D              G      C
 And it rained, like a slow divorce
         D              G      C
 And I wished, I could ride a horse
      C      G   D    G   D F#m G
 And balloon man blew up in my hands

 INSTRUMENTAL BREAK:  G    F    (listen for the rhythm)

 I like playing this:---------------|
                     -12---10-------|
                     -12---10-------|
                     -12---10-------|
                     ---------------|
                     ---------------|


 VERSE:

 G                                                         C
 I was walkin' up 6th Ave. when balloon man blew up in my face
            G                                              D       G
 There were loads of them on Bryant Park, so I didn't feel out of place
                                                                   C
 There must have been a plague of them on the TV when I came home late
            G                                             D       G
 They were guzzling marshmellows and then jumping off the Empire State

 CHORUS:
        D               G      C
 And I laughed, like I always do
        D              G        C
 And I cried, like I cried for you
      C      G   D    G  D  F#m G
 And balloon man blew up in my hands

 SOLO:  It's played on the top two strings, starting at xxxx87.
 I hear xxxx88 (C), xxxx1010 (D), xxxx1312 (G7), etc. in there, but the
 picking is too fast too accurately transcribe.  IMPROVISE!!!