Can We Still Be Friends?

Words & Music:

Todd Rundgren

 

This was first covered by Robert Palmer, then Paolo Santos and there are a slew of chord variations out there as a result.  So, I went to the Todd Rundgren source (trconnection.com) to find the originals.  Both Palmer & Santos rely on the add9 versions of the chord (Fadd9 to Am for Palmer and Cadd9 to Em for Santos), but here is what was originally recorded for Rundgren's "Hermit" album.  Even he changes it to E and re-harmonizes it for its "On With A Twist" re-recording.  Playing notes are from L. Sprague, keeper of all things Todd Rundgren at trconnection.com.

 

(*1)

D/C      G/C       D/C     G/C       Em7    D/E      Em7

We can't play this game anymore, but can we still be friends?

D/C         G/C      D/C     C/C         Em7    D/E      Em7

Things just can't go on like before, but can we still be friends?

       C            Bm7
            Am7          D        GM7

We had something to learn, now it's time for the wheel to turn.

          C            Bm7
            A7sus4 A7  C/D D

Grains of sand, one by one, before you know-- it, all gone.

 

Let's admit we made a mistake, but can we still be friends?

Heartbreak's never easy to take, but can we still be friends?

It's a strange, sad affair; sometimes, seems like we just don't care.

Don't waste time feeling hurt, we've been through hell together.

 

INTERLUDE:  (*2)

G/E   D/E   G/E   D/E  G/E   D/E  |  D/B   A/B   D/B   A/B  D/B   A/B

La la la    la la la   la la la   |  La la la    la la la   la la la

 

C/A   G/A   C/A   G/A  C/A   G/A  |  G/D   D     G/D   D    G/C  D/C

La la la    la la la   la la la   |  La la la    la la la   La   la

[repeat INTERLUDE, except 4th section is as follows:]

G/D  G/D  D   D

La   la   la  la

 

INSTRUMENTAL HALF-VERSE:

[vocal fill after 1st line:  "Can we still get together, sometime?"]

[vocal fill after 2nd line:  "You know life will still go on & on & on"]

We awoke from our dream, things are not always what they seem.

Memories linger on, it's like a sweet, sad old song.

 


Playing Notes by L. Sprague:

 

(*1: Todd plays this on piano harmonizing the melody by alternating D and G triads with his right hand, while playing the C and E bass notes with his left. It's difficult to mimic this on guitar; my compromise is to not worry about keeping the melody note in the top of the triad, but just alternate the chords. Here is a line of tab showing the rhythm I use:)

 

  E--|--------|--------|--------|--------|-

  B--|7-8-87-7|-7-87-8-|8-7-7-87|----87--|-

  G--|7-7-77-7|-7-77-7-|7-7-7-77|----77--|-

  D--|7-9-97-7|-7-97-9-|9-7-7-97|----97--|-

  A--|--------|--------|7-7-7-77|----77--|-

  E--|8-8-88-8|-8-88-8-|--------|--------|-

 

We can't play this game anymore, but can we still be friends

    D/C       G/C                  Em7(G/E)    D/E

    x         x

  7||111|   7||111|                7|11111   7|11111

   2|||||    2|||3|                 ||||3|    ||||||

   ||||||    ||4|||                 ||4|||    ||||||

   ||||||    ||||||                 ||||||    ||||||

 

 ...something to       learn...  time for the wheel to turn

     C        D/C       Bm7       Am7          D        Gmaj7     Em7

   x                    x   x                x         _x____    ox___o

  3|11111   7||111|   72|333|   52|333|     5|1||||    ||||||    ||||||

   ||||||    2|||||    ||||||    ||||||      ||||||    ||||||    ||||||

   ||333|    ||||||    ||||||    ||||||      ||333|    1|||2|    ||||1|

   ||||||    ||||||    ||||||    ||||||      ||||||    ||34||    |||2||

                                                                 ||3|||

 

 ...sand,  one by      one   ... you know      it,      all      gone

     C        D/C       Bm7        A7sus4      A7       C/D        D7

   x                    x   x                          x         x

  3|11111   7||111|   72|333|     5111111   5111111   5|11111   5|11111

   ||||||    2|||||    ||||||      ||||||    |||2||    ||||||    ||||||

   ||333|    ||||||    ||||||      |3|4||    |3||||    ||||||    ||3|4|

   ||||||    ||||||    ||||||      ||||||    ||||||    ||||||    ||||||

 

(*2 - this section changes meters in a clever way. The pattern is 2 bars of 3/4 time followed by one bar of 2/4 - very balletic!)

 

    La la     la

    G/E       D/E

   x         x

  7|11111   7|11111    This pattern is moved to 2nd fret for D/B - A/B

   ||||2|    ||||||    then to the nut position for C/A - G/A

   ||3|||    ||||||

   ||||||    ||||||

 

       G/D        D        G/C        D/C

      x___xx    x___xx     x         x   x

      ||||||    ||||||   7||222|   7||222|

      ||||||    |||1||    2|||3|    2|||||

      ||||||    ||||||    ||4|||    ||||||

      |||2||    ||2|||    ||||||    ||||||

     5|34|||   5|3||||

 

  This section is played twice; on repeat, the last line lapses back

  into 4/4 time and consists of 2 beats of G/D and 2 of D.)

 

 





Back to the Songbook Index.

This page's content is copyrighted ©1977-2009 by Kristin C. Hall. Please drop me a line (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") if you wish to use it or link to it or correct it! Please send comments, suggestions, fixes and general mischievious mayhem to the web diva via the above email address. (sorry, spambots have forced me to remove my automatic mail link.) Many thanks...and enjoy!

Note to lawyers and any other litigious-minded folk:
I am not trying to screw anyone out of royalties, etc. I have posted these only as a helpful resources for teachers, camp counselors and people who like to "sing along with Mitch", if you will. If you do not want your work posted to these pages, please just email me (via "dink (at) media (dot) mit (dot) edu") and I shall remove it.