A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Version 1
R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Tuning: standard (EADGBe)
(Chords)
G: 320033
Cadd9: x32033
Aadd9: x02033 (simply remove top 3 on Cadd9)
D: xx0232
[Intro]
G C9
G D
[Verse 1]
G C9 D
Night - swimming...
G C9 A9*
deserves a quiet night.
C9 D
The..
G C9 D
photograph on the dashboard,
G C9 A9*
taken years ago,
C9 D
turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
G C9 D
Every streetlight reveals the
G C9 A9*
picture in re-verse.
C9 D
Still it's so much clearer.
G C9 D
I forgot my shirt at the
G C9 A9*
water's edge. The moon is low to-
C9 D
-night.
[Instrumental]
G C9
G D
[Verse 2]
G C9 D
Night - swimming...
G C9 A9*
deserves a quiet night. I’m
C9 D
not sure all these people under-
G C9 D
-stand. It’s not like years
G C9 A9*
ago. The fear of getting
C9 D
caught, of recklessness and
G C9 D
water. They cannot see me
G C9 A9*
naked. These things they go
C9 D
away, replaced by every(day).
[Verse 3]
G C9 D
-day. Night - swimming...
G C9 A9*
remembering that night. Sep-
C9 D
-tember's coming soon. I'm
G C9 D
pining for the moon. And
G C9 A9*
what if there were two side by
C9 D
side in orbit around the fairest
G C9 D
sun? That bright, tight for-
G C9 A9*
-ever drum cannot describe night-
C9 D
swimming.
[Verse 4]
G C9 D
You, I thought I knew you.
G C9 A9*
You, I can-not judge.
C9 D
You, I thought you knew me. This one’s
G C9 D
laughing quiet-ly under-
G C9 A9*
-neath my breath. Night-
C9 D
swimming.
[Interlude]
[Intro]
G C9
G D
[Verse]
(w/ solo)
G C9 D
G C9 A9*
C9 D
(The..)
[Verse 5]
G C9 D
photograph re-flects every
G C9 A9*
streetlight a reminder. Night-
C9 D
-swimming de-serves a quiet
G C9 D
night.
G C9 A9*
de-serves a quiet
C9 D
night.
[Outro]
(w/ solo)
G C9 D
G C9 A9*
C9 D
G C9 A9*
C9 D G (one strum)
Progressions
Intro (2 measures, played once)
1.G C9
2.G D
-d-u-d--u--u-d-u-d-------d---d---
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Verses (3 measures, repeat as needed)
1.G C9 D
2.G C9 A9*
-d---d--u--u-d-u-d---d-u-d---d-u-
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
then
3.C9 D
-d---d--u--u-d-u-d---d--u--u-d-u-
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Notes:
I found the previous tab hard to follow and played around with the chords
a little to get the rhythm down first. In doing so, I discovered that by
simply removing the A note off the C chord it sounded closer to the song.
Then, by changing the C to a Cadd9 and doing the same thing, song became
extremely simple to play and still sounds great (on my guitar, actually
better this way, to me). Thus creating the Aadd9 (A9)* for lack of a name.
(Sure you'll let me know the real chord)
I show the basic Intro and Verse progressions above. I suggest just
strumming until you get the rhythm down as it's not a very complicated
song. Then by adding in base lines especially on the G chords, and using
some middle string strumming you can make things a bit more interesting.
Anyways, I love this song and give thanks and credit to for the original
post. If you're looking, this is a great acoustic solo-artist song.
(Hopefully, this version works with formatting, else I give up - sorry for the previous one)
Good luck, have fun!
-Chris ()