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Tuning: E A D G B E
Miserlou (Aka "the theme from Pulp Fiction.") Dick Dale and the Del-Tones popularized Miserlou in 1962. Recently, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack introduced another generation to the tune. In fact, though, Miserlou is a Greek folk tune from waaaaay back. Dick Dale's '62 version largely defined the surf sound. He played it on Fender outboard spring reverb tank (along with a classic Stratocaster through a 1961 Showman setup). The original folk tune has lyrics, but -- as you surely know -- surf music does *not* have lyrics! Dick Dale just shouted "hu!" and "haa!" in a couple of spots. Dick Dale doublepicked Miserlou left-handed and upside-down at blinding speed. I've simplified this tab to emphasize Miserlou's melody. The original thus has about four times as many notes as you see here. Dick Dale apparently learned to speed-pick from his Lebanese uncle, who played an oud with a turkey quill. Dick Dale still tours -- don't miss him! The popular '62 version of Miserlou sometimes *sounds* a semi-tone higher than it appears here, especially in the lower ranges. StratoCossack attributes tuning and/or recording flukes to the '62 version, however. Later recordings and observationos at live performances bear out the approach set forth here, which resolves in E and puts exactly two octaves between the first and second guitar passages. If you want to mimic the '62 sound, trying bumping up the first guitar passage, on the low E string, by a semi-tone. Tempo: Presto con huevos! (Doublepick all guitar passages unless otherwise indicated.) E|---------|---------|---------| B|---------|---------|---------| G|---------|---------|---------| D|---------|---------|---------| A|---------|---------|---------| E|-#-#-7s0-|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-| "hu!" "hu!" "haa!" E|-----------|------------|---------|--------| B|-----------|------------|---------|--------| G|-----------|------------|---------|--------| D|-----------|------------|---------|--------| A|-----------|------------|---------|--------| E|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|7-7-s-0-| E|-----------|------------|---------|---------| B|-----------|------------|---------|---------| G|-----------|------------|---------|---------| D|-----------|------------|---------|---------| A|-----------|------------|---------|---------| E|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-| E|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| B|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| G|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| D|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| A|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| E|-8-7h8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-| 1pick E|-------------|-----------|---------|-7sssss0-| B|-------------|-----------|---------|---------| G|-------------|-----------|---------|---------| D|-------------|-----------|---------|---------| A|-------------|-----------|---------|---------| E|-5h8-7h8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-#-|-1-4-0-0-|---------| E|-0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|7-7-7s0-| B|-----------|------------|---------|--------| G|-----------|------------|---------|--------| D|-----------|------------|---------|--------| A|-----------|------------|---------|--------| E|-----------|------------|---------|--------| E|0-0h1-4-5-|-7-7h8-11-8-|-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-| B|----------|------------|---------|---------| G|----------|------------|---------|---------| D|----------|------------|---------|---------| A|----------|------------|---------|---------| E|----------|------------|---------|---------| E|-8-7h8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-1-|-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-| B|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| G|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| D|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| A|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| E|-----------|-----------|---------|---------| singlepick E|-8-7h8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-#-|-1-4-0-0-| B|-----------|-----------|-------0-| G|-----------|-----------|---------| D|-----------|-----------|---------| A|-----------|-----------|---------| E|-----------|-----------|---------| trumpet solo (2pick all, or 1pick vibrato & 2pick trills): E|--------------|-----|----------|-----|---------|---------| B|--------------|-----|----------|-----|---------|---------| G|--------------|-----|----------|-----|---------|---------| D|--------------|-----|----------|-----|---------|---------| A|-------------0|-0===|==------0-|-2===|==-#-0h2-|-3==-2h3-| E|-1-0-1-3-4-3--|-----|---55p4---|-----|---------|---------| E|-------|-----|-----|---------------|-----------------|-----| B|-------|-----|-----|---------------|-----------------|-----| G|-------|-----|-----|---------------|-----------------|-----| D|-------|-----|-----|---------------|-----------------|-----| A|-6==-6-|-7===|====-|-#-8p7h8-777-5-|-777-7p5h7-555-3-|-2===| E|-------|-----|-----|---------------|-----------------|-----| E|-----|--------------|---------|-------|---------------| B|-----|--------------|---------|-------|---------------| G|-----|--------------|---------|-------|---------------| D|-----|--------------|---------|-------|---------------| A|2===-|#-5p3h5-333-2-|-2-0-2-0-|-------|-------------0-| E|-----|--------------|---------|-1-0==-|-1-0-1-3-4-3---| Guitar, basically repeating the trumpet passage, here tabbed to indicate doublepicking: hu!hu! hu! E|---------|-----------|---------|-----------|-----------| B|---------|-----------|---------|-----------|-----------| G|---------|-----------|---------|-----------|-----------| D|---------|-----------|---------|-----------|-----------| A|-0-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-----|-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-0h2-|-3-3-3-2h3-| E|---------|-------4h5-|---------|-----------|-----------| hu! E|-----------|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|---------| B|-----------|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|---------| G|-----------|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|---------| D|-----------|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|---------| A|-6-6-3h6-6-|-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-|-8-7h8-7-5-|-7-5h7-5-3-|-2-2-2-2-| E|-----------|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|---------| 1pick piano enters E|---------|-------------|---------|---------|---------| B|---------|-------------|---------|---------|---------| G|---------|-------------|---------|---------|---------| D|---------|-------------|---------|---------|---------| A|-2-2-2-2-|-5-3h5-3-2p0-|-#-0-2-0-|---------|---------| E|---------|-------------|---------|-1-0-0-0-|-0-0-0-0-| *********************************************** h - hammer-on (and, sometimes, play in same beat) p - pull-off (aka hammer-off) (and, sometimes, play in same beat) s - slide # - rest = - hold note a beat 1pick --> singlepick 2pick --> doublepick "hu!"; "haa!" --> various shouts *********************************************** (Piano trills continue for 3 measures) (base and rhythm continue for 3 more measures) Repeat high E-string guitar passage, with piano embellishments. VERSION 2 [Intro] (E) e|-------12-12----------------------------| B|-11s12----------------------------------| G|------------------14-13-----------------| D|------------------------14-14-----------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| where the high E's are played with twelfth-fret harmonics. The chords are:
EBilly Ray was a preacher's son And when his dAaddy'd visit he'd come alEong EWhen they gathered round and started talking That's when BiAlly would take me walkingE, Eall through the backyard we'd go walking, theAn he'd looked into my eyeEs, Elord knows to my surprise
[Chorus]
ThEe only one who could ever reach me AWas the son of a preaEcher man And the oEnly boy who could ever teach me A Was the son of a prEeacher man Yes Ehe wBas, was, Ayes he was
[repeat intro] (E) e|-------12-12----------------------------| B|-11s12----------------------------------| G|------------------14-13-----------------| D|------------------------14-14-----------| A|----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------| [Verse] [another verse - something about "bein' good isn't always easy"] Bein' good isn't always easy, no matter hard I try, when he started sweettalking to me, he'd come and tell my everything is allright he'd kiss it down and everything's allright Can I get away again tonight ? [Chorus]
ThEe only one who could ever reach me AWas the son of a preaEcher man And the oEnly boy who could ever teach me A Was the son of a prEeacher man Yes Ehe wBas, was, Ayes he was
[Bridge]
AOh yes he Dwas How will I remember AThe look within his eyes Stealin' kisses from me on the sly B7Takin' time to make time Tellin' me that he's all mine ELearnin' from each other's knowin'
Looking to see how uch we've grown coda [repeat to fade] And the only one who could ever reach me was the son of a preacher man The only boy who could ever teach me Was the son of a preacher man Yes he was, he was, oh yes he was [repeat to fade]
The only Aboy who could ever reach me Was the Dsweet-talkin' son of a preacher man
VERSION 3: Here's that "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" tune from Pulp Fiction, in which the Urge OVerkill guy does his best Neil Diamond. Enjoy. Chords E A D G B e Gm 3 5 5 3 3 3 F 1 3 3 2 1 1 D# - - 5 3 4 3 C - 3 2 0 1 0

Intro

Girl, |---------------------------| |---------------------------| |------3----2----0----------| |-0-------------------------| |---------------------------| |---------------------------|
You'll be a woman.... soon (Main Riff - Speedy Tempo)
GmI love you so much, can't count all the ways GmI've died for you girl and all I can say is FHe's not your kind. GmYou never get tired of putting me down GmAnd I'll never know when I'll come around FBut I'm going to fight - Don't let them D#make up your mind. Don't you know.....
[Chorus]
GmGirl, YCou'll be a wFoman Gmsoon. GmPlease, CCome take Fmy Fhand or Soon, Youll need a man
[Verse]
GmI've been missing you all of my life GmThen someone like him cuts like a knife FThe boys no good GmWell If I'm finally gone while looking poor GmBut they get a chance when off the shore FI'm sure they would - I've dD#one all I could.. Now it's up to ....
[Chorus]
GmGirl, YCou'll be a wFoman Gmsoon. GmPlease, CCome take Fmy Fhand or Soon, Youll need a man x2
(- Piano Solo -) [Chorus]
GmGirl, YCou'll be a wFoman Gmsoon. GmPlease, CCome take Fmy Fhand or Soon, Youll need a man x2