“Off He Goes” by Pearl Jam – Chords, Tabs, and How to Play

“Off He Goes”
Pearl Jam

F – Am   F – Am   F – C   F – C

F – C                       F – C                                          Am
…     Know a man…        His face seems pulled and tense…
Am          F – C           F   –   C                 F      C      Am
Like he’s riding on a motorbike… in the strongest winds…
Am    F                     C      F                  C
So I approach with tact… suggest that he should relax…
C    F                  C         G             F
But he’s always moving much too fast…

F                                      Am         F                      Am
Said he’ll see me on the flipside… of this trip he’s taken for a ride.
Am            F – C     F      –     C      F   –   C
He’s been takin’… too much on… off he goes
C           F   –   C     F – C – Am           F            C
with his perfectly… unkept clothes… there he goes…

C       F – C – Am

Am   F                 C         F – C
He’s yet to come back…   but I see his picture…
F – C            F  –  C                      Am      F                 C
Doesn’t look the same up on the rack… We go way back…

C  F                     Am         F                                     Am
I wonder bout his insides… it’s like his thoughts are too big for his size…
Am           F – C      F                     C          F        C
He’s been taken… where?  I don’t know… off he goes
C           F   –   C     F – C – Am       F            C
with his perfectly… unkept hope… there he goes…

C              F          C        F         C
And now I rub my eyes… for he has returned
F – C                F – C                          F     –     C       –      Am
Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned…
Am  F        C                   F           C
For he still smiles… and he’s still strong…
F              C                             F              C            F  –  C  –  Am
Nothing’s changed but the surrounding bullshit… that has grown…

Am  F             C        F             C
And now he’s home and we’re laughing…
F     –     C           F     –     C                F  –  C  –  Am
Like we always did… my same old… same old friend…

Am     F              C     F               C
Until a quarter to ten… I saw the strain creep in…
C   F            C                      F              C                       F  –  C  –  Am
He seemed distracted and I know just what is going to happen next…

Am      F    –    C         F   –   C
Before his first step… He is off again…

C                    F – C – Am
[F – C] x 4       F – C – Am
[F – C] x 3
F – C (strum; end on C)

** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **

This is one in a series of acoustic cover songs, original music, and free mp3 downloads here on the Laptop Sessions Music Video Blog.

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