Bullet the Blue Sky U2
"Bullet The Blue Sky" by U2
As heard on "The Joshua Tree" (1987)
Track Length: 4:32
Guitar 1 Tuning: eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb -elec. w/ slight echo -full dist. w/slide
Guitar 2 Tuning: eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb -elec. w/ dist. set 0 gain (1 pickup)
Not that the other version was wrong in any way... here's my interpretation.
Lyrics not quite lined up.
Begins with drums (0:00)
G1 (0:06) w/slide (clink noises from slide) *tap harmonic to slowly mute it
e|-----------|-----------------------------12^-----------------------------| B|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| G|-----7^----|-------------------------------------------------------------| D|-7^--------|-------------------------------------------------------------| A|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------| E|--------8^-|--9.5^*------------------------------------------------------|
G1 Intro (0:31) w/ slide *accidental harmonics (0:44)
e|----------------------------------------12-------------------------------| B|----------------------------------------12-------------------------------| G|-12======\9---9^*-----12======\9==\7/12-12======\9---------12======\9----| D|------------------8^*-12======\9==\7/12-12---------\x-9/12-12======\9----| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------------------------------------0--|
G1 Verse (0:57) volume down until 2:22
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|--7^---------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
"In the howling wind... comes a stingin' rain.
[G1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--15^--------------------------------------------------------------------|
See it drivin' nails into the souls on the tree of pain.
G1 *ringing from previous note
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-*-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
From the fire fly... a red orange glow.
[G2]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------x-------x---| G|-------------------------------------------------------------x-------x---| D|-----------------------------------------------------------x-x----x--x-x-| A|-----------------------------------------------------------x------x----x-| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
See the face of fear runnin' scared in the valley below.
G1 Chorus (1:08)
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
[G2]
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Wooh- hoo hoo. Wooh- hoo hoo.
[G1]
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
[G2]
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue sky Bullet the blue sky
[G1]
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
[G2]
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7======-| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue... Bullet the blue... oh- oh...
G1 Verse (1:28)
e|-----------------------7------------|------------------------------------- B|-----------------------7------------|------------------------------------- G|-----------------------7------------|------------------------------------- D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------- A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------- E|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
[G2]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-----------------------------------------------------------------x----x--| G|-----------------------------------------------------------------x----x--| D|-----------------------------------------------------------------x----x--| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
In a locust wind... comes a rattle and hum.
G1 *equivalence on the frettboard
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|*25----------26----------26/27----------27/28----------28/29\25----------| G|*------25----------26-------------27-------------28----------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Jacob wrestled and angel and the angel was overcome.
G1 *equivalence on the frettboard
e|--------------------15==\12\3\0------------------------/12/15\-----------| B|*-------25----------15==\12\3\0------------------------/12/15\-----------| G|*-25---------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
You have a demon seed... you need the flower of fire.
[G1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------15\12-------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------15\12-------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G2]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------x-----------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------x-----------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------x-----------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
See them burning crosses... see the flames higher and higher.
G1 Chorus (1:56)
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
[G2]
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Wooh- hoo hoo. Wooh- hoo hoo.
[G1]
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
[G2]
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue sky Bullet the blue sky
[G1]
e|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| B|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| G|-----------------------7------------|-----------------------7------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Shot Shot
[G2]
e|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| B|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| G|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------|-(7)-(7)-7(7)-----------------------| D|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7--5--7-|---------------(5)--(5)--5--7======-| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Bullet the blue... oh- oh... Bullet the blue... oh- oh...
G1 (2:22) volume swell
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------- B|-12----------------12---------------|------------------------------------- G|-12======\9--x-----12======\9-------|------------------------------------- D|-12----------x/12--12----------x/12-|------------------------------------- A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------- E|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------
G1 Verse *volume back down
e|-12==\9------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-12==\9------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------17^----------------------------------------------|
This guy comes up to me, face red like a rose on a thornbush, like all the
[G1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------------22^----------------------------|
colors of a royal flush. And he's peelin' off those dollar bills, slappin'
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------------17^*----------------------------|
em' down. "One-hundred, two-hundred." And I can see those fighter planes.
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
And I can see those fighter planes. Across the mudhuts where children sleep
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--19^*-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Through the alley of a quiet city street. And take a staircase to the
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|--------------------------------------------------------12^*-------------|
first floor. And turn the key and slowly unlock the door.
G1 let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-0*----------------------------------------------------------------------|
As a man breathes into a saxiphone, and through the walls
[G1]
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| B|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-| G|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-| D|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
you hear the city groan. Outside it's America.
[G1]
e|-------------------------12======\9-|------------------------------------| B|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-| G|-------------------------12======\9-|-------------------------12======\9-| D|------------------------------------|-------------------------12======\9-| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
Outside it's America America...
G1 Solo (3:19) *volume swell
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| B|-9/12----------------12~~-----------|--12~~--------------12--------------| G|---------12~~--12~~--------12~~-----|--------12~~--------------12~~------| D|---------------------------------12-|--------------12~---------------12~-| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
[G1]
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| B|---------------12==/14--14~~~~=\9---|-9/12~~--------------12~~-----------| G|-12==/14-------12==/14=~------------|---------12~~--------------12=====~-| D|-12==/14~~~~~~----------------------|---------------12~~-----------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
[G2]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|--------------------------------------12------12----12------12---12------| G|------------------------------------------12------------12-----------12--| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G1]
e|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| B|-12~~--------------12~~-------------|---------------14-------------------| G|-------12~~--------------12~~-------|-12==/14~~~~~~-----14~~~~~----------| D|-------------12~---------------12~--|-12==/14~~~-------------------------| A|------------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
[G2]
e|-----------------------------------------------12------------------------| B|-12------12----12------12----12------12----12-----12----12------12----12-| G|-----12------------12------------12-------------------------12-----------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-14---------14.5-----------15-------15.25-------15.5------15.75-----(16)-| G|------14----------14.75--------15--------15.25-------15.5------15.75-----| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G2]
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------12------| B|-----12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12------12--| G|-12------------12------------12------------12------------12--------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G1]
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|----------21----------21----------21\20-------19\12p0-9====\7~~~~--------| G|-19/21----------21----------21------------20----------9====\7~~~~--------| D|------------------------------------------------------9====\7~~~~p0--12^-| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G2]
e|-----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12--| B|-12------12------------12------------12------------12------------12------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G1]
e|-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7/--------7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7-7/19\-| B|-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7/--7-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7-7/----| G|-----7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7/--------7--7--7--7\-----7--7--7--7-7/----| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-0---------------0------------------0---------------0--------------------|
[G2]
e|-----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12--| B|-12------12------------12------------12------------12------------12------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G1 Verse (4:08) let ring* touching random harmonics w/ feedback
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-0*----------------------------------------------------------------------|
[G2]
e|-----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12----12------12--| B|-12------12------------12------------12------------12------------12------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Across the feild see the sky ripped open. See the rain through the gaping
G1 *feedback from previous note
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| E|*0-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
wound. Telling the women and children to run. Into the arms of America."
Notation Key
- = string
~ = vibrato
/ = slide up (if not indicated, to and from "nowhere")
\ = slide down (if not indicated, to and from "nowhere")
h = hammer-on
p = pull-off
b = bend (to indicated frett or 1/4 step if not specified)
fb = full bend (1 step)
hb = hold bend
pb = pre-bend (bend before striking
r = release bend
x = string noise (tap/rake)
(#)= mute string (after striking)
^ = natrual harmonic (wanted to use but html problems...)
+ = artificial harmonic
t = trill/tremelo (as noted)
= = hold note
* = as noted
Lemme know if I should fix it.
e-mail: unsupersimth@gmail.com
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