Back

Marthas Harbour Tab

by All About Eve





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

>From the album 'All About Eve'. 
(also available on the compilation 'Winter Words, Hits and Rareties')


The tuning for both guitars is: D G C F A D (from low to high) 
(This is Standard tuning with reference to D, instead of E)

Intro (Guitar1 and Guitar2)
----------------------------

(With the sound of waves hitting the beach)

Guitar 1
D---------0---0----|----------0---0---|---------0---0----|---------------0--|
A---------------0--|----------------0-|---------------0--|------------------|
F------9----9------|--------9---9-----|------9----9------|------------------|
C---10-------------|-----10-----------|---10-------------|-----10-----------|
G-0----------------|-0-8--------------|-0----------------|-0-8---------8----|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Guitar 2	   |		      |		         |		    |
D------------------|------------------|---8--------------|------8----5------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
F------------------|------------------|-9----------------|---9--------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|

D--0------0-----0--|---------0-----0--|
A----3--------0----|-----------3------|
F------4-----------|------4------4----|
C------------------|----5-------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|--0---------------|
		   |		      |
D--3---------------|----3-------------|
A----5-------------|------------------|
F------------------|------------------|
C--5---------------|--5---------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|

D---------0---0----|----------0-------|---------0---0----|----------0-----0-|
A---------------0--|----------------0-|---------------0--|--------------0---|
F------9----9------|--------9-----9---|------9----9------|--------9---------|
C---10-------------|-----10-----------|---10-------------|-----10-----------|
G-0----------------|-0-8--------------|-0----------------|-0-8--------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
		   |		      |		         |		    |
D----8-------------|-----8------------|---8--------------|------8--(5)------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
F-9----------------|---9--------------|-9----------------|---9--------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|

D--0-----0-----0---|---------0-----0--|
A----3-----3-----3-|-----------3------|
F------4-----4-----|------4------4----|
C------------------|----5-------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|--0---------------|
		   |		      |
D--3---------------|----3-------------|
A----5-------------|------------------|
F------------------|------------------|
C--5---------------|--5---------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|


Verse 1 (Guitar1 only)
-----------------------

D---------0--0-----|---------0----0---|---------0--0-----|--------0------0--|
A------------------|----------------0-|--------------0---|------------------|
F------9---9---9-9-|------9-----------|------9---------9-|------9---9-------|
C---10-------------|---10-------------|---10-------------|---10------10-----|
G-0----------------|-8----------------|-0----------------|-8----------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	    I	     Sit     by    the  Harbour

D-------0------0---|---------0--------|
A-----3------3-----|-------3---3------|
F------------------|-----4-------4-0--|
C-0-5------5-------|-0-5--------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|
  A sea calls to     Me

D---------0----0---|---------0--------|-------0----------|--------0---------|
A----------------0-|--------------0---|---------------0--|---------------0--|
F------9-----9-----|------9-----9-----|-------------9----|------9------9----|
C---10-------------|---10-------------|----10------------|---10-------------|
G-0----------------|-8----------------|-0----------------|-8----------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	    I	     Hide   in   the    Water

D-------0------0---|--------0----0----|
A-----3------3-----|------3---3----3--|
F------------------|----4-------4-----|
C-0-5------5-------|--5---------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|
  But I  need  to    Breathe

Chorus 1 (Guitar1 and Guitar2)
-------------------------------

Guitar 1
D------------------|------------------|--------0-----0---|------------------|
A-------5------5---|--------5-----5---|------3-----------|------------------|
F-----6------6-----|-----6------------|----4-------------|----2-------------|
C---7------7-------|---7------7---(7)-|--5---------5--(5)|--0----4--/7------|
G-0----------------|-0----------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Guitar 2	   |		      |		         |		    |
D-5----------------|-4----------------|--3---------------|-----------3/5----|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|--3---------------|
F-6----------------|-5----------------|--5---------------|------------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|--0--2/4----------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	   You are   An ocean wave my   Love		     Crashing at the

D------------------|------------------|--------0-----0---|------------------|
A-------5------5---|--------5-----5---|------3-----------|------------------|
F-----6------6-----|-----6------------|----4-------------|------------------|
C---7------7-------|---7------7-------|--5---------5-----|--0--------4---0--|
G-0----------------|-0----------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
		   |		      |		         |	 	    |
D-5----------------|-4----------------|--3---------------|------------------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|--3---------------|
F-6----------------|-5----------------|--5---------------|------------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|--0------2/4---0--|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
  Bow	   I am a    Galley slave my     Love               If only I could

Guitar 1
D-------------(0)--|---------0-----0--|-------------(0)--|-------0-------(0)|
A-------0----------|------------------|--------0---------|------------------|
F-----7------------|-----9------------|------9-----------|------------------|
C---7--------------|---9--------------|---10-------------|-0---2------------|
G-5----------------|-7----------------|-0----------------|---0-----0-2--3---|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
  Find out the 	     Way     		To sail  you  	  	  Maybe I'll   	    

Guitar 1
D--------0----0----|-----------0----0-|
A------------------|------------------|
F-----7------------|-------9----------|
C---7--------------|----9-------------|
G-5----------------|------------------|
D------------------|-0----------------|
  Just stow	     away

Interlude (Guitar1 and Guitar2)
--------------------------------

(With the sound of waves hitting the beach)

Guitar 1
D---------0---0----|----------0-------|---------0--------|----------0-----0-|
A---------------0--|----------------0-|----------------0-|------------------|
F------9----9------|--------9---------|------9-----------|--------9---------|
C---10-------------|-----10-----------|---10-------------|-----10-----------|
G-0----------------|-0-8--------------|-0----------------|-0-8--------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Guitar 2	   |		      |		         |		    |
D---8--------------|---8-----(5)------|---8--------------|---8-----(5)------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
F-9----------------|-9----------------|-9----------------|-9----------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|

D---------0--------|---------0--------|
A-------3-----3----|------3------3----|
F-----4---------4--|----4----------4--|
C-0-5--------------|--5---------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|
		   |		      |
D---3--------------|----3-------------|
A------------------|------------------|
F------------------|------------------|
C---5--------------|--5---------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|

Verse 2 (Guitar1 only)
-----------------------

D---------0--------|---------0--------|---------0--------|---------0-0---0--|
A--------------0---|---------------0--|---------------0--|------------------|
F------9-----9-----|------9------9----|------9-------9---|-------9-----9----|
C---10-------------|---10-------------|---10-------------|----10------------|
G-0----------------|-8----------------|-0----------------|-0-8--------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	    I've     Been   run    aground

D--------0------0--|---------0--------|
A------------------|-------3-----3----|
F------4------4----|-----4----------0-|
C-0-5-------5------|(0)5--------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|
  So sad   for   a      Sailor


D---------0---0----|---------0--------|---------0--------|--------0----0--0-|
A---------------0--|--------------0---|---------------0--|------------------|
F------9----9------|------9-----9--9--|------9-------9---|------------9--9--|
C---10-------------|---10-------------|---10-------------|-----10--10-------|
G-0----------------|-8----------------|-0----------------|-0-8--------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	       I     Felt   safe   and   Sound        

D--------0-----0---|---------0-----0--|
A------3-----3-----|------3----3-----3|
F----4-----4-------|----4--------4----|
C--5---------------|0-5---------------|
G------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|
  needed    the        danger

Chorus 2 (Guitar1 and Guitar2)
-------------------------------

Guitar1
D------------------|------------------|--------0-----0---|------------------|
A-------5------5---|--------5---------|------3-----------|------------------|
F-----6------6-----|-----6------------|----4-------------|----2-------------|
C---7------7-------|---7-------7--(7)-|--5---------5-----|--0----4--/7------|
G-0----------------|-0----------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Guitar2		   |		      |		         |	     	    |
D-5----------------|-4----------------|--3---------------|-----------3/5----|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|--3---------------|
F-6----------------|-5----------------|--5---------------|------------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|--0--2/4----------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	You are	    An ocean wave my	Love		   Crashing at the


D------------------|------------0-----|--------0-----0---|------------------|
A-------5------5---|--------5---------|------3-----------|------------------|
F-----6------6-----|-----6------------|----4-------------|------------------|
C---7------7---(7)-|---7--------------|--5---------5-----|--0-------4---0---|
G-0----------------|-0----------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
		   |		      |		         |	 	    |
D-5----------------|-4----------------|--3---------------|------------------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|--3---------------|
F-6----------------|-5----------------|--5---------------|------------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|--0-----2/4---0---|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
 Bow	 I am a	     Galley slave my	Love		   If only I could

Guitar1								     w/effect
D------------------|--------0------0--|------------------|------0-----------|
A---------0--------|----------0-------|--------0---------|------------------|
F------7-----------|-----9------------|------9-----------|------------------|
C---7--------------|---9--------------|---10-------------|---2--------------|
G-0----------------|-7----------------|-0----------------|-0-----0--2---3---|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
  Find out the	     Way		To  sail  you		Maybe I'll 

Guitar 1
D------------------|---------------0--|
A----------0-------|---------0------0-|
F-------7----------|-------9----------|
C----7-------------|----9-------------|
G-5----------------|-7----------------|
D------------------|------------------|
  Just stow 	     Away


Chorus 3 (Guitar1 and Guitar2)
-------------------------------

Guitar 1
D------------------|------------------|--------0-----0---|------------------|
A-------5------5---|--------5-----5---|------3-----------|------------------|
F-----6------6-----|-----6------------|----4-------------|----2-------------|
C---7------7----(7)|---7------7----(7)|--5---------5--(5)|--0-----4---/7----|
G-0----------------|-0----------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Guitar 2	   |		      |		         |	     	    |
D-5----------------|-4----------------|--3---------------|-------------3/5--|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|--3---------------|
F-6----------------|-5----------------|--5---------------|------------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|--0---2/4---------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
	  You are    An ocean wave my	Love		   Crashing at the

(played more aggressively)
D------------------|------------------|--------0-------0-|----0-----0---0---|
A-------5------5---|--------5-----5---|------3----3------|------------------|
F-----6------6-----|-----6------------|----4--------4----|------------------|
C---7------7---(7)-|---7------7----(7)|--5---------------|-0-0-----4---0----|
G-0----------------|-0----------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
		   |		      |		         |	 	    |
D-5----------------|-4----------------|--3---------------|------------------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|--3---------------|
F-6----------------|-5----------------|--5---------------|------------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|--0---2/4---0-----|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
  Bow	  I am a     Galley slave my	Love		   If only I could
		      
Guitar 1	  'Maracas'
D---------0-----0--|--X---------------|------------------|------------------|
A------------------|--X-8--------8----|-------0----0-----|(0)--0------------|
F------7-----------|--X----7--9-------|-----9--------0---|------------------|
C----7--------7----|--X---------------|---10-------------|---2--------------|
G--5--------5------|------------------|-0--------0-------|-0------2---3-----|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
  Find out the	     Way		To  sail  you		Maybe I'll 

Guitar 1
D----------0---0---|-----------0---0--|
A------------6-----|------------------|
F--------7------7--|-------9----------|
C----7-------------|----9-------------|
G-5----------------|-7----------------|
D------------------|------------------|
  Just stow		away


Outro (Guitar1 and Guitar2)
----------------------------

(With the sound of waves hitting the beach)

Guitar 1
D---------0--------|------------------|---------0--------|--------------0---|
A---------------0--|------------------|---------------0--|----------------0-|
F------9------0----|------------------|------9------0----|------------------|
C---10-------------|------------------|---10-------------|------------------|
G-0----------------|-0-8---------8--8-|-0----------------|-0-8---------8----|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Guitar 2	   |		      |		         |		    |
D---8-----0--------|-----8----5-------|---8-----0--------|------8---5-------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
F-9----------------|---9--------------|-9----------------|---9--------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|


D---------0--------|--------------0---|---------0--------|------------------|
A---------------0--|----------------0-|---------------0--|------------------|
F------9------0----|------------------|------9-----------|------------------|
C---10-------------|------------------|---10-------------|------------------|
G-0----------------|-0-8--------8-----|-0----------------|-0-8--------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
		   |		      |		         |		    |
D---8-----0--------|-----8----5-------|---8-----0--------|------8----5------|
A------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
F-9----------------|---9--------------|-9----------------|---9--------------|
C------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
G------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
D------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
  Stowaway

Guitar 1     rake
D-----0------(0)---|
A-------0-----0----|
F-------------9----|
C------------10----|
G-8-----------0----|
D------------------|

 Stowaway

(With the sound of waves hitting the beach)

TAB Key
--------

	/ - slide up
       () - incidental note
	X - mute
     rake - exagerate the strumming of the chord
	    (but not enough for it to be an arpeggio)

Notes
------

Tuning Notes
------------

The guitars are kept in standard tuning, but tuned a whole tone down
to 'D' instead of the normal 'E' reference. The tuning was derived
from the record, by listening for open strings.

If you don't want to play along to the record then 'standard' (in E)
is Ok, but the tone of the song will suffer, due to the higher string
tension.

Playing Notes
-------------

Let all notes ring. The song meter is 4/4 time.

The verses use Guitar1 alone. The intro, choruses and interlude use
Guitar1 and Guitar2. The parts played by Guitar1 vary in note choice
and timing - in response to Julianne Regans voice.

There's no way to learn this verbatim. The 'trick' is to master the
basic shapes and play each with minor variations which fit with the
lyrics. We wrote it all down as there are some interesting variants
that give the song more dynamics and are worth stealing for your own
renditions. ASCII tab can't do the phrasing justice, so consult the
record whilst learning it.

The song works well as a solo piece, as you don't need 2 guitars to
play it - just selectively ignore the part played by Guitar2. 

Marthas Harbour was performed live by Julianne Regan and (originally)
Tim Brecheno playing alone. Live examples of the song are available
from a few sources ..... 

There are numerous recordings of live radio broadcasts in circulation.
An easy one to find one is the 'BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert' CD, which
was recorded at Glastonbury 1989. This is on the Windsong International
label. The recording is pretty good, but has some flaws. (If you listen
very carefully you can hear low level 'clicks' which I assume are vinyl
imperfections on the transcription disc used.)

There are bootlegs available. One particularly worth looking out for
is 'Blessed by Angels' (on KTS). This is the only AAE bootleg CD I've
seen, sound quality is good, and contains 2 live versions of Marthas
Harbour. Track 3 is a recording from the 'Touched by Jesus' tour with
'The Church' guitarist Marty Wilson-Piper. This recording is from the
soundboard, everything is very clear - and is the best one to listen to
if you want to hear the song stripped of studio production. It isn't a
carbon copy of the album track (since MWP plays it) but its close. A
note to fellow 'anorac wearers' - this track is tuned to C# instead of
D. Track 8 has original guitarist Tim Brecheno playing, and is a fair to
average audience recording - but doesn't reveal as much as track 3.

This Transcription (c) Copyright DarkMusic 1995. ReVamped for '96.

This Transcription (and others) is also available at:

Comments, corrections, requests and idle banter welcome.