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]
/ / / / / / / /
[2X] [piano r..: ---, ---]
/ / / / / / / /
Verse 1:
If you see something that looks like a star
And it's shooting up out of the ground
And your head is spinning from a loud guitar
And you just can't escape from the sound
Don't worry too much it'll happen to you
We were children once playing with toys
And the thing that you're hearing is only the sound
Of the low spark of high heeled boys
Bridge:
(saxes arr. for guitar; doubled w/bass [2X; continue])
(no3) (no3) [piano r.: --, --]
v v v v v v v v (8th-note chords)
-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-------3---------|
-------5---------|---4-------------|
---4-------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|
-----------------|-----------------|
(no3) (no3)
The percentage you're paying is too high a price
(no3) (no3)
While you're living beyond all your means
(no3) (no3)
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
But today you just read that the man was shot dead
By a gun that didn't make any noise
But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest
Was the low spark of high heeled boys
[Instrumental break: 16-bar piano solo on Dm7]
[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]
/ / / / / / / /
/ / / / / / / /
/ / / / / / / /
[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