Rush: High Water From the album Hold Your Fire (Mercury Records) Copyright 1987 Core Music Publishing Music by Lee and Lifeson Lyrics by Peart Comments/corrections to Rich Soto Transcription by C.D. Bruce You asked for it! Here is a draft of High Water. (Once again..."single handedly"!) Mind you, this is a "work in progress". I'll tab the lead work in the next couple of days. This is a good start. I think this is one of the best songs on Hold Your Fire (my personal favorite is "Mission"), the only "problem" is that it is heavily laden with synth. It has the typical Lifeson chords in it (sus2 chords) which makes it sound different. There is two primary guitar sounds used, a crisp clean tone and an overdriven tone. I split the tab in various places to indicate when both guitars are playing simultaneously (Alex!...you and your damn overdubbing!). In some places I've tabbed the synth chords. Have fun... Drum intro (guitar tacet for 2 bars) Clean tone w/either "chorus" or "dimension" effect e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R D|<12>-----------------------------|<12>-----------------------------|1 A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|------------<12>-----------------|-------------<12>----------------| e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T G|<12>-----------------------------|<12>-----------------------------|R D|------------<7>------------------|------------<7>------------------|1 A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R D|<12>-----------------------------|<12>-----------------------------|1 A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|------------<12>-----------------|-------------<12>----------------| Csus2 e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T G|o----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5--o|R D|o5-------------------------------|-5------------------------------o|1 A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | A | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|-7~------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|-7~------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|-5~------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|<7>~~~---------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Csus2 e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G | B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T | G|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|R | D|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G | B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T | G|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5---|R | D|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Gsus2 e|-----------------10--------------|-----------------10--------------|G | B|---------10----------10----------|---------10----------10----------|T | G|-----12------12----------12--12--|-----12------12----------12--12--|R | D|-12------------------------------|-12------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Fsus2 e|-----------------8---------------|-----------------8---------------|G | B|---------8-----------8-----------|---------8-----------8-----------|T | G|-----10-------10---------10--10--|-----10------10----------10------|R | D|-10------------------------------|-10------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | (1st verse synth can be reproduced by using a clean tone with a tremolo effect otherwise use an overdriven tone These chords below should be used for the first verse only.) e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-------------------| D|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-------------------| A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------| A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------| E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------| (%) Repeat 4 times e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|-3-------------------------------|-3-------------------------------|T G|o2-----------1-------------------|-2-----------1-------------------|R D|o0-----------2-------------------|-0-----------2-------------------|2 A|-------------2-------------------|-------------2-------------------| E|-------------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------| e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T G|-4-----------6-------------------|-4-----------5------------------o|R D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7------------------o|2 A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------| E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------| F#m (synth) e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| GaddA Coda (+) e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|-7-----------9-------------------|-8-----------10~-----------------|T G|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-~-------------2-2-|R D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------2-2-|2 A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------0-0-| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|----2-------2-----------2---2----|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | A | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R | D|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 | A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|R | D|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|2 | A|(0)------------------------------|(0)--------------------------0-0-| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|----2-------2-----------2---2----|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | A | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R | D|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 | A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|R | D|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2-|2 | A|(0)------------------------------|(0)--------------------------0-0-| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2----|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | A | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R | D|-2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 | A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Asus2 e|-----------------0---------------|-----------------0---------------|G | B|---------0-----------0-----------|---------0-----------0-----------|T | G|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|-----2-------2-----------2---2---|R | D|-2-------------------------------|-2-------------------------------|1 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|(2)------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R | D|(2)------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 | A|(0)------------------------------|(0)------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | G e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| F#m e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| Repeat 5 times D E D E e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|-3-------------------------------| G|o2-----------1-------------------|-2-----------1-------------------| D|o0-----------2-------------------|-0-----------2-------------------| A|-------------2-------------------|-------------2-------------------| E|-------------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------| G A G A e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-----------6-------------------|-4-----------5------------------o| D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7------------------o| A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------| E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------| F#m (synth) e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| GaddA (synth) e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|-7-----------9-------------------|-8-----------10~-----------------|T G|-7-----------9-------------------|-7-----------9-~-------------2-2-|R D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------2-2-|2 A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------0-0-| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| A | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|o2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|R | D|o2~------------------------------|(2)------------------------------|2 | A|-0~------------------------------|(0)------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2o|R | D|(2)------------------------------|(2)--------------------------2-2o|2 | A|(0)------------------------------|(0)--------------------------0-0-| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | G e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| F#m e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| Solo (Later) don't worry I'll do it, its an easy one! 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| Repeat 5 times D E D E e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|-3-------------------------------| G|o2-----------1-------------------|-2-----------1-------------------| D|o0-----------2-------------------|-0-----------2-------------------| A|-------------2-------------------|-------------2-------------------| E|-------------0-------------------|-------------0-------------------| G A G A e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-----------6-------------------|-4-----------5------------------o| D|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7------------------o| A|-5-----------7-------------------|-5-----------7-------------------| E|-3-----------5-------------------|-3-----------5-------------------| F#m (synth) e|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| GaddA (synth) e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------| A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| Repeat 6 times Csus2 e|-----------------3---------------|-----------------3---------------|G B|---------3-----------3-----------|---------3-----------3-----------|T G|o----5-------5-----------5---5---|-----5-------5-----------5---5--o|R D|o5-------------------------------|-5------------------------------o|1 A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| Bb (synth) e|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | G|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | D|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | A|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | Am (synth) e|-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | B|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | D|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | A|-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | G (synth) e|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | B|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | G|-4-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | D|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | A|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| | | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 | e|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|G | B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|T | G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|R | D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|2 | A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| | F e|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|G B|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------|T G|-2-------------------------------|---------------------------------|R D|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------|1 A|-3-------------------------------|---------------------------------| E|-1-------------------------------|---------------------------------| Lyrics When the waters rose in the darkness In the wake of the endless flood It flowed into our memory -- it flowed into our blood When something broke the surface Just to see the starry dome -- We still feel that relation When the water takes us home In the flying spray of the ocean The water takes you home -- The water takes you home -- Springing from the weight of the mountains Like the heart of the earth would burst Flowing out from marble fountains In the dreams of a desert thirst Something swam through the jungles Where the mighty rivers roam -- Something breaks the silence When the water takes you home I hear the wordless voices When the water takes me home -- Waves that crash on the shoreline Torrents of tropical rain streaming down Beyond our memory Streaming down inside our veins When something left the ocean To crawl high above the foam -- We still feel that elation When the water takes us home In a driving rain of redemption The water takes me home... Tabulature Explanation: | = bar line ~ = vibrato or held note x = percussive note with no pitch; muted note . = staccato; mute the note immediately after striking it h = hammer p = pull s = slide (used when \ or / don't fit) ^ = bend string up to indicated pitch/fret shown in parenthesis () r = release bend to indicated string/fret t = fret board tap (not many of these with Rush) / = slide up \ = slide down <5> = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated) [5] = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack) o =\ repeat sign o =/ D.C. = "Da capo" - means "from the head", when you see these initials you ' go back to the beginning of the piece of music. D.S. = "Dal segno" - means "from the sign", go back in the tabulature only as far as the (%) sign. Coda = A passage at the end of a movement or composition that brings it to a formal close. Al Coda = means "to the tail", tells you that you must go to the end section which starts with the Coda sign (+). R.F. = repeat and fade rit. = "ritardando" - Gradually slowing in tempo; retarding. Other pertinent information: Tempo: 1/4 note = ??? Tuning: Standard [EADGBe]. Key signature: ? Effects: Overdrive, Reverb, Chorus or Dimension