Parasite
View chords used in this chart
TUNING: D A D G D F# (capo 1st fret), or C G C F C E (capo 3rd fret)
Figure I:
F#:||--------0----|-------0----|-------0----|-------1p0--|-------1p0----||
D :||-----0-----0-|----0-----0-|----0-----0-|----0-----0-|----0-----0---||
G :||.-0h2--------|-0h2--------|-0h2--------|-0h2--------|-0h2---------.||
D :||.----0-----0-|----0-----0-|----0-----0-|----0-----0-|----0-----0--.||
A :||--3-----3----|-2-----2----|-1-----1----|-0-----0----|-0-----0------||
D :||-------------|------------|------------|------------|--------------||
Figure II:
F#:||--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|-------1p0--|
D
:||--------1-----|--------1-----|--------1-----|--------1-----|----0-----0-|
G
:||.-3--3--------|--3--3--------|--3--3--------|--3--3--------|-0h2--------|
D
:||.-------1-----|--------1-----|--------1-----|--------1-----|----0-----0-|
A
:||--1--1--------|--1--1--------|--1--1--------|--1--1--------|-0-----0----|
D
:||--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|------------|
F#:-------1p0----||
D :----0-----0---||
G :-0h2---------.||
D :----0-----0--.||
A :-0-----0------||
D :--------------||
Lifting the mask from a local clown, feeling down like him
Seeing the light in a station bar and travelling far in sin
Sailing downstairs to the northern line, watching the shine of the shoes
And hearing the trials of the people there
Who's to care if they lose?
Take a look you may see me on the ground
For I am the parasite of this town
Dancing a jig in a church with chimes, a sign of the times today
And hearing no bell from a steeple tall, people all in dismay
Falling so far on a silver spoon, making the moon for fun
Changing a rope for a size too small, people all get hung
Take a look you may see me coming through
For I am the parasite who travels two by two
But I'm lifting the mask from a local clown and feeling down again
And I'm seeing the light in a station bar and travelling far in sin
And I'm sailing downstairs to the northern line, watching the shine of
the shoes
And hearing the trials of the people there
Who's to care if they lose?
Take a look you may see me on the ground
For I am the parasite of this town
And take a look you may see me on the dirt
For I am the parasite who hangs from your skirt
NOTE: Just a fixing of the lyrics, since I have the Fruit Tree box set
lyrics now.
(from Pink Moon, 1972)
From: Mike <michael.healey@balliol.ox.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 12:19:52 GMT+0000
PARASITE- Nick Drake
TUNING: D A D G D F# (capo 1st fret), or C G C F C E (capo 3rd fret)
VERSE/INTRO:-
E-|-------------|-0-----------|-------------|-0-----------|
C-|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
F-|-5-----------|-5-----------|-0h4---------|-4-----------|
C-|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
D-|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|
C-|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E-|-------------|-0-----------|-------------|-1p0---------|
C-|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
F-|-0h3---------|-3-----------|-0h2---------|-2-----------|
C-|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
D-|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|
C-|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
CHORUS:-
E-|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
C-|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
F-|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
C-|-------1-----|-------1-----|-------1-----|-------1-----|
D-|-1---1---1---|-1---1---1---|-1---1---1---|-1---1---1---|
C-|-------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
E-|--------------|-1p0---------|-------------|-1p0---------|
C-|--------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
F-|--0h2---------|-2-----------|-0h2---------|-2-----------|
C-|--------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|-------0-----|
D-|--0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|-0---0---0---|
C-|--------------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
How to play Parasite
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is D. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.