Traffic - Low spark
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OK, so what *is* this song about? Jim Capaldi, in _Goldmine_ #97, explained
that he and actor Michael J. Pollard were in Morocco preparing for a movie
that was never actually made:
Pollard and I would sit around writing lyrics all day, talking about
Bob Dylan and the Band, thinking up ridiculous plots for the movie.
Before I left Morocco, Pollard wrote in my book [the line] 'The Low
Spark of High Heeled Boys.' For me, it summed him up. He had this
tremendous rebel attitude. He walked around in his cowboy boots, his
leather jacket. At the time he was a heavy little dude. It seemed to
sum up all the people of that generation who were just rebels. [...]
The 'Low Spark', for me, was the spirit, high-spirited. You know,
standing on a street corner. The low rider. The 'Low Spark' meaning
that strong undercurrent at the street level.
"Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"
(S. Winwood - J. Capaldi)
Intro:
(fade in)
Dm7 [repeat to 1:15; vibra-slap enters]
/ / / / / / / /
Dm7 Em7/D [2X] [piano r.H.: A-C-D-F, B-D-E-G]
/ / / / / / / /
Verse 1:
If you see somDm7ething that looks like a star Em7/D
And it's sDm7hooting up out of the ground Em7/D
And your Dm7 head is spinning Em7/D from a loud guDm7itar Em7/D
And you just cDm7an't escape from the sound Em7/D
Don't worry Dm7too much it'll happeEm7/Dn to you
We wDm7ere children once Em7/D playing with tDm7oys Em7/D
And Dthe thing that you're hearinAg is only the sound
Of the lCow spark of hGigh heeled bFoys
Bridge:
(saxes arr. for guitar; doubled w/bass [2X; continue])
D7(no3) G/D D7(no3) [piano r.H: D-A-C, D-G-B]
v v v v v v v v (8th-note chords)
-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-------3---------|
-------5---------|---4-------------|
---4-------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|
D7(no3) G/D D7(no3)
The percentage you're paying is too high a price
D7(no3) G/D D7(no3)
While you're living beyond all your means
D7(no3) G/D D7(no3)
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the pF/Crofit he's mCade on your drGeams
But toF/Cday you just rCead that the mGan was shot dead
By a F/Cgun that didn't mCake any noGise
But it wDasn't the bullet that lAaid him to rest
Was the lCow spark of hGigh heeled bFoys
[Instrumental break: 16-bar piano solo on Dm7]
Dm7 Em7/D [2X]
/ / / / / / / /
Verse 2:
If you had just a minute to breathe
And they granted you one final wish
Would you ask for something like another chance
Or something similar as this
Don't worry too much it'll happen to you
As sure as your sorrows are joys
And the thing that disturbs you is only the sound
Of the low spark of high heeled boys
[repeat chorus]
High heeled boys
Instrumental break:
(Piano, sax, fuzz organ solos)
Dm7 Em7/D [5:18 - 9:19]
/ / / / / / / /
Dm7
/ / / / / / / /
Dm7 D7
/ / / / / / / /
Dm7 Em7/D [2X]
/ / / / / / / /
Verse 3:
If I gave you everything that I owned
And asked for nothing in return
Would you do the same for me as I would for you
Or take me for a ride
And strip me of everything including my pride
But spirit is something that no one destroys
And the sound that I'm hearing is only the sound
Of the low spark of high heeled boys
Heeled boys
[repeat chorus (instrumental)]
Coda:
Dm7 Em7/D [repeat to fade, w/fuzz organ]
/ / / / / / / /
-- another ace 70's tab from Andrew Rogers