Artist: Rory Gallagher
Song: Continental Op [For Dashiell Hammett] (1989)
Album: Meeting With the G Man
Version: -
AUTHOR:
I've written this as I couldn't find a chord tab of this tribute to "the dean of the
school of detective fiction" (NY Times).
There's infinitely more subtleties in this song, such as the slide riffs which I'll add
later revisions. Please feel free to modify to full barre or power chords to suit your
and simply the chord riffs. Corrections are most welcome!
I do trust that you'll enjoy it, as much as I did trying to unravel it!...
TUNING:
Standard Tuning.
CHORDS:
========== x02220
A7 ========== x02223 (barre with first finger -lift-off 'e' string)
* ========= x02020
========== x20100
========== x22100
========= x00221
========== xx0232
========== xx0001
=========== xx0003
"Les's go to work!..."
Chord Intro:
A7(X3) forceful downward strokes only... repeat with A(x3), then G7 sliding to A7(sustained).
Verse 1:
There's a body in the bay
The cops are taking it away
They said this case was closed
It only shows you that - never know
So who they gonna get when the troubles got to stop
Here's my card
I'm the Contintental Op
Verse 2:
Jane Doe in the bay
Now that's exhibit 'A'
Bloodstains on the dress of the millionairess
But I saw you leavin' town
I'm gonna have to track you down
Just like a hound
You slipped through the web
And you might have dodged the Feds
But who they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my number
I'm the Continental Op
[Have mercy babe!...]
(First Guitar Solo - Slide)
Chord accompaniment:
A7(X3) A(X3) on downward and upward strokes, then G7 downward and G upward, sliding back
.
Chorus:
Call the agency, we never close
First consultation is free
Check my reputation an' my post
(But) ...first ya oughta check my fee
Verse 3:
There's a menace on the streets
Offering infants sweets
Don't give this man a ride
Lock your car from the inside
(He's) ...suspect No. 1
But I guess his race is run
He left a set of prints
He ain't as smart as ya think
But who they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my card
I'm the Continental Op
[Everythin'!...]
(Second Guitar Solo - Fuzz)
Chord accompaniment:
A7(X2) A(X2) on downward and upward strokes, then G7 downward and G upward, sliding back
.
[Repeat]
Chord accompaniment:
A7(X2) A(X2) on downward and upward strokes, then G7 downward and G upward, sliding back
A7 (with long sustain).
---------------------------------------------------------
Verse 4:
There's a body in the bay
The cops have taken it away
They say this case was closed
It only shows that you never know
Bruises 'round the neck
When they did a body check
I saw you leaving town
I'll track you down like a hound
Who they gonna get when you've outfoxed the cops
Here's my card
I'm the Continental Op
Yeah, who they gonna get when you've out foxed they cops
Here's my badge
I'm the Continental Op.
______
Footnotes:
1. Lyrics for Verses 1 to 3 confirmed from Rory Gallagher "Live at Montreaux" DVD (2006)
2. Lyrics for Verse 4 from Rory Gallagher "Meeting With the G Man" CD [IMPORT] (2003)
3. Additional verse courtesy of"The Thrilling Detective Web
Rory's song.
and his band put into their work!