Rush: Second Nature 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 Revision 0, Date submitted: 7/17/98. Guitar rests for 36 measures. As2 G As2 G e e e e Q ew e e e e Q ew |---------0-----3-|-----------------|---------0-----3-|-----------------| |-----0---------3-|-----------------|-----0---------3-|-----------------| |-------2-------4-|-----------------|-------2-------4-|-----------------| |---2-----------5-|-----------------|---2-----------5-|-----------------| |-0-------------5-|-----------------|-0-------------5-|-----------------| |---------------3-|-----------------|---------------3-|-----------------| Some palm muting occurs in this section each time... D E F# E e e e e e e e e e e e e e e q e e e e e e e e e e e Q e q |-----------------|-----------0-0---|-----------------|-----0-------0---| |-----------------|-----------0-0---|-----------------|-----0-------0---| |-----7-----7-----|-----9-----9-9---|-----11----11----|-----9-------9\--| |-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9---|-111111111111119-|-9-9-9-----9-9\--| |-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7---|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-7-|-7-7-7-----7-7\--| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| As2 G As2 G e e e e Q ew e e e e Q ew |---------0-----3-|-----------------|---------0-----3-|-----------------| |-----0---------3-|-----------------|-----0---------3-|-----------------| |-------2-------4-|-----------------|-------2-------4-|-----------------| |---2-----------5-|-----------------|---2-----------5-|-----------------| |-0-------------5-|-----------------|-0-------------5-|-----------------| |---------------3-|-----------------|---------------3-|-----------------| D E F# E e e e e e e e e e e Q e q hQ ew |-----------------|-----0-----0-0---|---------------0-|-----------------| |-----------------|-----0-----0-0---|---------------0-|-----------------| |-----7-----7-----|-----9-----9-9---|-11------------9-|-----------------| |-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-|-9-9-9-----9-9---|-11------------9-|-----------------| |-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-7-|-7-7-7-----7-7---|-9-------------7-|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| Guitar rest for 13 measures. "It ought to be 2nd..." "At least that's what I feel..." E/B B E/B B Q e hw e w Q e hw e w |-7-----7-7-------|-----------------|-7-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-9-----7-7-------|-----------------|-9-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-9-----8-8-------|-----------------|-9-----8-8-------|-----------------| |-9-----9-9-------|-----------------|-9-----9-9-------|-----------------| |-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------|-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------| |-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------|-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------| E/B B E/B B Q e hw e w Q e hw e w |-7-----7-7-------|-----------------|-7-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-9-----7-7-------|-----------------|-9-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-9-----8-8-------|-----------------|-9-----8-8-------|-----------------| |-9-----9-9-------|-----------------|-9-----9-9-------|-----------------| |-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------|-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------| |-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------|-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------| B/F# F# B/F# F# C# Q e hw e w Q Q qww |-2-----2-2-------|-----------------|-2-----2-2-------|-----------------| |-4-----2-2-------|-----------------|-4-----2-2---6---|-----------------| |-4-----3-3-------|-----------------|-4-----3-3---6---|-----------------| |-4-----4-4-------|-----------------|-4-----4-4---6---|-----------------| |-2-----4-4-----4-|-4---------------|-2-----4-4---4---|-----------------| |-2-----2-2-----2-|-2---------------|-2-----2-2-------|-----------------| As2 G As2 G e e e e Q ew e e e e Q ew |---------0-----3-|-----------------|---------0-----3-|-----------------| |-----0---------3-|-----------------|-----0---------3-|-----------------| |-------2-------4-|-----------------|-------2-------4-|-----------------| |---2-----------5-|-----------------|---2-----------5-|-----------------| |-0-------------5-|-----------------|-0-------------5-|-----------------| |---------------3-|-----------------|---------------3-|-----------------| D E F# E e e e e e e e e e e e e e e q e e e e e e e e e e e Q e q |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----7-----7-----|-----9-----9-9---|-----11----11----|-----9-------9\--| |-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-9-|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9---|-111111111111119-|-9-9-9-----9-9\--| |-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7---|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-7-|-7-7-7-----7-7\--| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| As2 G As2 G e e e e Q ew e e e e Q ew |---------0-----3-|-----------------|---------0-----3-|-----------------| |-----0---------3-|-----------------|-----0---------3-|-----------------| |-------2-------4-|-----------------|-------2-------4-|-----------------| |---2-----------5-|-----------------|---2-----------5-|-----------------| |-0-------------5-|-----------------|-0-------------5-|-----------------| |---------------3-|-----------------|---------------3-|-----------------| D E F# E e e e e e e e e e e e e e e q hQ ew |-----------------|-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------| |-----7-----7---9-|-----9-------9---|-11------------9-|-----------------| |-----7-----7---9-|-----9-------9---|-11------------9-|-----------------| |-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7---|-9-------------7-|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| F# Q hew Q hew |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4---------| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4---------| |-----------------|-2-----2---------|-----------------|-2-----2---------| F# Q hew Q hew |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4---------| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4---------| |-----------------|-2-----2---------|-----------------|-2-----2---------| B Q hew Q hew |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4---------| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4---------| |-----------------|-2-----2---------|-----------------|-2-----2---------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| F# F# C# Q hew Q Q qw |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2-----2---------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-2-----2-----6---| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3-----3-----6---| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4-----6---| |-----------------|-4-----4---------|-----------------|-4-----4-----4---| |-----------------|-2-----2---------|-----------------|-2-----2---------| E/B B Q e hw e w |-----------------|-----------------|-7-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-9-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-9-----8-8-------|-----------------| |-----------------|------pick slide-|-9-----9-9-------|-----------------| |-----------------|-------------x\--|-7-----9-9-------|-----------------| |-----------------|-------------x\--|-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------| E/B B E/B B Q e hw e w Q e hw e w |-7-----7-7-------|-----------------|-7-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-9-----7-7-------|-----------------|-9-----7-7-------|-----------------| |-9-----8-8-------|-----------------|-9-----8-8-------|-----------------| |-9-----9-9-------|-----------------|-9-----9-9-------|-----------------| |-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------|-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------| |-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------|-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------| E/B B Q e hw+ e w+ |-7-----7-7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-9-----7-7-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-9-----8-8-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-9-----9-9-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-7-----9-9-----9-|-9---------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-7-----7-7-----7-|-7---------------|-----------------|-----------------| F# ss w |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|---------------44|-4---------------|-----------------| |-----------------|---------------44|-4---------------|-----------------| |-----------------|---------------22|-2---------------|-----------------| F# vibrato arm "dips" e e e H - - - - - - ss |-----------------|---------------2-|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-2---2-----------|---------------xx| |-----------------|-----------------|---3-------------|---------------xx| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------------xx| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------------xx| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| F# E F# q hw sw |-----------------|----------------2|-----------------|-----------------| |-11--9---~~------|----------------2|-----------------|-----------------| |-11--9---~~------|----------------3|-----------------|-----------------| |-11--9---~~------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-9---7---~~------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| B/F# F# Q h+ |-------2---------| |-4-----2---------| |-4-----3---------| |-4-----4---------| |-2-----4---------| |-2-----2---------| Lyrics A memo to a higher office Open letter to the powers that be To a God, a king, a head of state A captain of industry To the movers and the shakers Can't everybody see? It ought to be second nature I mean, the places where we live! Let's talk about this sensibly We're not insensitive I know progress has no patience But something's got to give I know you're different and you know I'm the same We're both too busy to be taking the blame I'd like some changes but you don't have the time We can't go on thinking it's a victimless crime No one is blameless But we're all without shame We fight the fire...while we're feeding the flames Folks have got to make choices And choices got to have voices Folks are basically decent Conventional wisdom would say Well, we read about the exceptions In the papers every day It ought to be second nature At least, that's what I feel "Now I lay me down in Dreamland" I know perfect's not for real I thought we might get closer But I'm ready to make a deal Today is different, and tomorrow the same It's hard to take the world the way that it came Too many rapids keep us sweeping along Too many captains keep on steering us wrong It's hard to take the heat It's hard to lay blame To fight the fire...while we're feeding the flames Tablature Contributors: This transcription was created by C. D. Bruce (cbruce@peco-energy.com) in the format described below. Disclaimer: This tablature represents how the song is played as closely as reasonably achievable to the studio recording. Alex Lifeson may have played it slightly differently. Revision History: Revision 0: 7/17/98, 1st submittal of this song by C. D. Bruce. Tablature Explanation: NT= Nashville Tuning is when the low E, A and D strings are replaced with lighter gauge strings and tuned one octave higher than normal. | = bar separating measures ~ = vibrato 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 () a "u" used in lieu of a specific number indicates a "unison bend" where the lower of two notes is bent to match the pitch of the higher note. r = release bend (string/fret may be indicated) t = fret board tap (not many of these with Rush) / = slide up \ = slide down x/= pick slide up x\= pick slide down <5> = natural harmonic (lightly touch the string at fret indicated) [5] = artificial harmonic (use thumb to follow through the pick attack) (5) = note sustained from previous measure 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: Some Overdrive, Chorus/Dimension, Reverb. Tablature Format: This Tablature is based on the format indicated below. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 <--Quarter note beat locations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 <--Eighth note beat locations <--Effects/Misc Line D C G/B <--Chord Line e e e q q e e e e q e e e <--Note Duration Line (table below) |-----2-----------|-----------------| <--High E string |-------3---------|-----------------| <--B string |---2-------2---0-|-----0-------0---| <--G string |-0---------------|---2-------0---0-| <--D string |-----------------|-3-----2---------| <--A string |-----------------|-----------------| <--E string Effects/Misc Line: Provides effects information, number of repeats, etc. Chord Line: Provides the chord name for the chords used in the tab below. Note Duration Line: Provides the "value" of each note, e.g., whole, half, quarter, etc. Note Duration Designator Table: w = Whole note h = Half note q = Quarter note H = Dotted half note Q = Dotted Quarter note s = Sixteenth note e = Eighth note S = Dotted sixteenth note E = Dotted eighth note + = Duration exceeds 2 measures t = Thirty-second note T = Dotted thirty-second note Notes with two designations immediately adjacent to each other have durations added (e.g., he = half note + eigth note, etc.) String lines: Represent the strings of a guitar. The tab is laid out as if you placed a right handed guitar on your lap, string side up. A vertical line character "|" represents a bar between measures. A dash "-" represents each string. The numbers indicate which fret should be fingered to sound the note. The first space after every bar is a blank space that is almost never used. Quarter notes are separated by 3 dashes, eighth notes are separated by 1 dash. In an effort to make the ASCII tab look as much like tab in a music book, the notes are spaced out as accurately as possible. In the event the notes will not fit into the format shown above, the tab will be expanded (usually only required for solos).