HEROIN - The Velvet Underground
Tuning: Standard EADGBe
Riff 1: Riff 2: Riff 3:
e|------1---1-| e|------------| e|----2--1---1-|
B|----2---2---| B|------4---4-| B|--2------2---|
G|--3---------| G|-0--3---3---| G|-------------|
D|------------| D|------------| D|-------------|
A|------------| A|------------| A|-------------|
E|------------| E|------------| E|-------------|
Order: 1-2-3-2
This song is based on the chords Db and Bb, which are played as follows:
e|--1------1---|
B|--2------3---|
G|--1------3---|
D|--3------3---|
A|--x------x---|
E|--x------x---|
Lyrics:
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom if I can
Cuz it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
Then, I tell ya', things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushin' on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made big decisions
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
Cuz when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
After this line, Morrison interjects with a riff B, which is to be repeated as necessary:
e|-----7---7---9---7--------|
B|-----8---8---10--8--------|
G|-----7---7---9---7--------|
D|--------------------------|
A|--------------------------|
E|--------------------------|
And you can't help me, not you guys
Or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
Ah, in a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heeeeeroin
Be the death of me
Heeeeeroin
It's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off as dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
Ah, I really don't care anymore
About all the jim-jims in this town
And all the politicians makin' busy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in Nam
Play riff B a few times
Cuz when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
Ah, when that heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank god that I'm good as dead
And thank your god that I'm not aware
And thank god that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
Ah, and I guess I just don't know
End on Db