Deacon Blues - Steely Dan
00:00 / 00:00
Tabs and lyrics
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
Deacon Blues- Steely Dan

I was looking for a better tab for this tune all over the net (one I could
actually follow) and well, one thing kind of led to another...Thanks to
Howard Wright for getting me started and to Steely Dan for the inspiration!

Let me know if you know of a better way to play it...
Regards, Pat Sullivan 9/2006 - currentmaster@yahoo.com


INTRO:

Cmaj7 B7#5 A#maj7 A7#5 Dmaj7 C#7#5 Cmaj7 B7#5 E7#9
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--8-----8-----6-----6-----10-----10-----8-----8-----8 ~ 13 ~ 8-----8---|
G--9-----8-----7-----6-----11-----10-----9-----8-----7 ~ 12 ~ 7-----7---|
D--9-----7-----7-----5-----11------9-----9-----7--------------------6---|
A-------------------------------------------------------------------7---|
E--8-----7-----6-----5-----10------9-----8-----7------------------------|


VERSE 1:

Cmaj7 A#13 G13 F13
E-----------------------------------------|
B- ~ -8----------8------------5-------3---|
G- ~ -9----------7------------4-------2---|
D- ~ -9----------7------------4-------2---|
A-----------------------------------------|
E- ~ -8----------6------------3-------1---|
This is the day of the expanding man

Cmaj7 A#13 G13 D9
E-------------------------------------------------5---|
B ~ 8----------------8-------------------5--------5---|
G ~ 9----------------7-------------------4--------5---|
D ~ 9----------------7-------------------4--------4---|
A-------------------------------------------------5---|
E ~ 8----------------6-------------------3------------|
That shape is my shade there where I used to stand

F6add9 Edim7 D6add9 C6add9
E---8-------------6----------5-----------------------3---|
B---8-------------8----------5-----------------------3---|
G---7-------------6----------4-----------------------2---|
D---7-------------6----------4-----------------------2---|
A---8-------------7----------5-----------------------3---|
E--------------------------------------------------------|
It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass

D6add9 D#6add9 D6add9 C6add9 B7#9 E7#9
E-------5--------------6---------------5----------3--------------|
B-------5--------------6---------------5----------3-----3----8---|
G-------4--------------5---------------5----------3-----2----7---|
D-------4--------------5---------------4----------2-----1----6---|
A-------5--------------6---------------5----------3-----2----7---|
E----------------------------------------------------------------|
At ramblers, wild gamblers- That's all in the past

Cmaj7 A#13 G13 F13
E-----------------6-------------------5-------3----|
B ~ 8-------------8-------------------5-------3----|
G ~ 9-------------7-------------------4-------2----|
D ~ 9-------------7-------------------4-------2----|
A--------------------------------------------------|
E ~ 8-------------6-------------------3-------1----|
You call me a fool you say it's a crazy scheme

Cmaj7 A#13 G13 D9
E--------------------------------------------5---|
B---8--------------8---------------5---------5---|
G---9--------------7---------------4---------5---|
D---9--------------7---------------4---------4---|
A--------------------------------------------5---|
E---8--------------6---------------3-------------|
This one's for real I already bought the dream

F6add9 Edim7
E---8--------------6--------|
B---8--------------8--------|
G---7--------------6--------|
D---7--------------6--------|
A---8--------------7--------|
E---------------------------|
So useless to ask me why

D6add9 C#dim7 D6add9/C#6add9/C6add9
E---5---------------3-------------5 ~ 4 ~ 3-|
B---5---------------5-------------5 ~ 4 ~ 3-|
G---4---------------3-------------4 ~ 3 ~ 2-|
D---4---------------3-------------4 ~ 3 ~ 2-|
A---5---------------4-------------5 ~ 4 ~ 3-|
E-------------------------------------------|
Throw a kiss and say goodbye

F6add9 D6add9 F6add9
E-----------------8- 8~10 8~10----5--------8-----------------|
B-----------------8--8~10 8~10----5--------8-----------------|
G-----------------7---------------4--------7-----------------|
D-----------------7---------------4--------7-----------------|
A-----------------8---------------5--------8-----------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------|
I'll make it this time- I'm ready to cross that fine line


CHORUS:

A7#9 Em7 Dm9 Cmaj7
E----5-------------------------------1-------------------------|
B----5----------------------3--------1-------------------------|
G----5-------------------------------2-------------------------|
D----5------------------------------------------2--------------|
A----4----------------------2-------------------3--------------|
E----5------------------------------------------3--------------|
I'll Learn to work the saxophone and I play just what I feel

F Am7 Cadd9 C F Am7
C A# Fmaj7
E---1--------------------1-------------------1-/-----|
B---1-----1----1----1----1----1----1----1----3-/-1---|
G---2--------------------2--------------2----3-/-2---|
D---3-----2---------2----3----2--------------2-/-3---|
A-------------------3-------------------3------------|
E----------------------------------------------------|
Drink scotch whiskey all night long

G Am7
E-------3------------------|
B----------------------1---|
G--------------------------|
D----------------------2---|
A-------2------------------|
E-------3------------------|
And die behind the wheel

Am7 Em7
E----------------------------------------------|
B---1-------------------------3----------------|
G----------------------------------------------|
D---2------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------2----------------|
E----------------------------------------------|
They got a name for the winners in the world

Dm7 Cmaj7
E--1------------------------|
B--1------------------------|
G--2------------------------|
D-------------2-------------|
A-------------3-------------|
E-------------3-------------|
I want a name when I lose

F Am7 Cadd9 C F Am7
C A# Fmaj7
E---1--------------------1-------------------1-/-----|
B---1-----1----1----1----1----1----1----1----3-/-1---|
G---2--------------------2--------------2----3-/-2---|
D---3-----2---------2----3----2--------------2-/-3---|
A-------------------3-------------------3------------|
E----------------------------------------------------|
They call Alabama the Crimson Tide

G Am7 Em7 A13
C13 A#13 E7#9
E---3------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B------------------1---------------3--------7----5---10----8 ~ 13 ~ 8 ---8---|
G-------------------------------------------6----4----9----7 ~ 12 ~ 7 ---7---|
D------------------2------------------------6----4----9----7-------------6---|
A---2------------------------------2-------------------------------------7---|
E---3---------------------------------------5----3----8----6-----------------|
Call me Deacon Blues - Deacon Blues


VERSE 2 :

My back to the wall a victim of laughing chance
This is for me the essence of true romance
Sharing the things we know and love with those of my kind
Libations, sensations which stagger the mind
I crawl like a viper through these suburban streets
Make love to these women languid and bittersweet
I'll rise when the sun goes down
Cover every game in town
A world of my own- I'll make it my home sweet home


CHORUS:


INSTRUMENTAL:

A9 G9 E9 A9 G9 E9
B9 G7#9 D9 D#9 D9 C9 Cmaj7/B7#5/A#maj7/A7#5
E---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3-----------------|
B---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3----8--8--6--6---|
G---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3----9--8--7--6---|
D---11---9--6--11---9--6--2--1----3----4----5----4----2----9--7--7--5---|
A---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----2----5----6----5----3-----------------|
E---------------------------------3------------------------8--7--6--5---|

A9 G9 E9 A9 G9 E9 C9B9 G7#9 D9 D#9 D9 C9
E---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3---|
B---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3---|
G---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----3----5----6----5----3---|
D---11---9--6--11---9--6--2--1----3----4----5----4----2---|
A---12--10--7--12--10--7--3--2----2----5----6----5----3---|
E---------------------------------3-----------------------|

Cmaj7 B7#5 A#maj7 A7#5 Dmaj7 C#7#5 Cmaj7 B7#5 E7#9 E7#9
E--------------------------------------------------------------------8---------|
B---10----8----8----8----8----8----6----6----10----10-----8----8-----8-----8---|
G---11----8----9----8----9----8----7----6----11----10-----9----8-----7-----7---|
D---11----9----9----7----9----7----7----5----11-----9-----9----7-----6-----6---|
A--------------------------------------------------------------------7-----7---|
E---10----9----8----7----8----7----6----5----10-----9-----8----7---------------|


Verse 3: (Same chords as the 2nd half of Verse 1)

This is the night of the expanding man
I take one last drag as I approach the stand
I cried when I wrote this song
Sue me if I play too long
This brother is free- I'll be what I want to be


CHORUS


OUTRO:
Same chords as the first half of Verse 1 - (X2) - to fade

There are several slides and variations on these chords that Becker throws in but
these chords should get you close enough to where those fills are pretty obvious...
Have Fun! :)
Tunning: Standard (E A D G B e)
I haven't seen a decent tab of this song yet. I enjoy playing Steely Dan songs on
acoustic, especially this one, so here's my go at it. Enjoy.


INTRO

|-----------------5---5--------------------------|
|-8---8---6---6---7---5---8---8---8---8~---------|
|-9---7---7---5---6---4---9---7---7---7~---------|
|-9---7---7---5---7-------9---7---8---6~---------|
|-----------------5---4-----------6---7~---------|
|-8---7---6---5-----------8---7------------------|


VERSE 1

This is the day of the expanding man
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|-5--------------3------------3-------3-------------------|
|-4--------------2------------4-------2-------------------|
|-----------------------------5---------------------------|
|-5--------------3--------------------3-------------------|
|-3--------------1------------5-------1-------------------|

That shape is my shade, there where I used to stand
|---------------------------------------------------------|
|-5-------------------3--------------------3-------5------|
|-4-------------------2--------------------4-------5------|
|------------------------------------------5-------4------|
|-5-------------------3----------------------------5------|
|-3-------------------1--------------------5--------------|

It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|-8----------6---------------5-----------------------8---|
|-5----------7---------------5-----------------------7---|
|-7----------6---------------5-----------------------6---|
|-8----------7-------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------5-----------------------6---|

At ramblers, wild gamblers
|--0----------------------|
|--5--------------4-------|
|--7--------------2-------|
|--6--------------4-------|
|--7--------------2-------|
|--0----------------------|

That’s all in the past
|-----------------0-----0-----3-------|
|------3----------0-----3-----3-------|
|------2----------1-----1-----1-------|
|------3----------0-------------------|
|------2----------2-----2-----2-------|
|-----------------0-----0-----0-------|


VERSE 2

You call me a fool, you say it’s a crazy scheme
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-5----------------3--------------------3-----3---------------|
|-4----------------2--------------------4-----2---------------|
|---------------------------------------5---------------------|
|-5----------------3--------------------------3---------------|
|-3----------------1--------------------5-----1---------------|

This one’s for real, I already bought the dream
|---------------------------------------------------|
|-5-----------------3---------------3----------2----|
|-4-----------------2---------------4----------4----|
|-----------------------------------5----------5----|
|-5-----------------3-------------------------------|
|-3-----------------1---------------5----------5----|

So useless to ask me why, blow a kiss and say goodbye
|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|-8-------------6---------------5------------------3-------3---|
|-5-------------7---------------5------------------3-------3---|
|-7-------------6---------------5------------------3-------2---|
|-8-------------7------------------------------------------3---|
|-------------------------------5------------------3-----------|

I’ll make it this time, I’m ready to cross that fine line
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-1---------------8------------5----------------1-------------------|
|-2---------------7------------5----------------2-------------------|
|-2---------------10-----------4----------------3-------------------|
|-----------------7------------5------------------------------------|
|-1---------------------------------------------3-------------------|


CHORUS

Learn to work the saxophone, I play just what I feel
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-5-------------------8----------6----------5---------------|
|-5-------------------7----------5----------4---------------|
|-5-------------------9----------7----------5---------------|
|---------------------7----------5----------3---------------|
|-5---------------------------------------------------------|

Drink scotch whisky all night long, and die behind the wheel
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|---3-------------------5---------5-----1--1------8-----8---|
|---2-------------------5---------4-----3--2------7-----5---|
|---3-------------------5---------------2--2------10----7---|
|---1-----------------------------5---------------7-----8---|
|-----------------------5---------3-----2--1----------------|

They got a name for the winners in the world
|------------------------------------------------|
|-5-------------------------8--------------------|
|-5-------------------------7--------------------|
|-5-------------------------9--------------------|
|---------------------------7--------------------|
|-5----------------------------------------------|

I want a name when I lose
|----------------------------|
|-6----------5---------------|
|-5----------4---------------|
|-7----------5---------------|
|-5----------3---------------|
|----------------------------|

They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me Deacon Blues
|----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----3----------------5-------5-----1--1----8-------8-----------|
|-----2----------------5-------4-----3--2----7-------5-----------|
|-----3----------------5-------------2--2----10------7-----------|
|-----1------------------------5-------------7-------8-----------|
|----------------------5-------3-----2--1------------------------|

|---------5---5-------------------|
|-5---8---7---5---8---8---8---8---|
|-5---7---6---4---9---7---7---7---|
|-5---9---7-------9---7---8---6---|
|-----7---5---4-----------6---7---|
|-5---------------8---7-----------|


VERSE 3

Play Verse 1 chords


VERSE 4

Play Verse 2 chords


CHORUS


CHORDS FOR SAXOPHONE SOLO

|---------------------------------5---5---7---8---|
|-5---3---7---6---5---3---3---2---5---5---7---8---|
|-4---0---6---5---4---2---0---4---5---3---7---8---|
|-5-------5---4---3---1-------5---3---4---5---7---|
|-3---2-------5-------2---2-----------------------|
|-----0---5-------3-------0---5---------------7---|

|---------------------------------5---5---7---8---|
|-5---3---7---6---5---3---3---2---5---5---7---8---|
|-4---0---6---5---4---2---0---4---5---3---7---8---|
|-5-------5---4---3---1-------5---3---4---5---7---|
|-3---2-------5-------2---2-----------------------|
|-----0---5-------3-------0---5---------------7---|


INTRO


VERSE 5

Play Verse 2 chords


CHORUS


CHORDS FOR OUTRO

|---------------------------------|
|-5---3---3---3---5---3---3---5---|
|-4---2---4---2---4---2---4---5---|
|---------5---------------5---4---|
|-5---3-------3---5---3-------5---|
|-3---1---5---1---3---1---5-------|

|-----------------0-----------0---|
|-8---6---5---8---5---4---3---5---|
|-5---7---5---7---7---2---2---7---|
|-7---6---5---6---6---4---3---6---|
|-8---7-----------7---2---2---7---|
|---------5---6---0-----------0---|

The song eventually fades out. Any questions, my email is steveman1236@gmail.com
Song info
Deacon Blues
Steely Dan
2001
  • Jazz
  • Rock
  • Jazz-Rock
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