Drift Away

Words & Music:

Mentor Williams

This was first a hit for Dobie Gray in 1973, then one for Uncle Kracker. I've given a full tab for the Dobie Gray version after the basic chords (I prefer it's tasty licks to the Uncle Kracker version.). The bass tab (courtesy of bassmasta.com) is at the end. Enjoy!

INTRO & TRANSITION RIFF FOR UNCLE KRACKER VERSION: [2x]

e--------4------------x-x-x--|

B--4-7-7---7-2h4p2p0--0-0-x--|

G---------------------1-1-4--|

D---------------------2-2-4--|

A---------------------2-2-2--|

E---------------------0-0-x--|

E B E F B

Day after day I'm more confused. So, I look for the light in the pouring rain.

E B C#m E

You know that's a game that I hate to lose. I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame?

CHORUS:

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul.

F/A E/G

I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul.

F E [D#5 C#5 B5 G#5 F#5 B]

I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.

Beginning to think that I'm wastin' time. I don't understand the things I do.

The world outside looks so unkind. I'm countin' on you to carry me through.

CHORUS:

BRIDGE:

C#m E B

And when my mind is free, you know your melody can move me.

C#m E C#

And when I'm feelin' blue, the guitar's comin' through to soothe me.

Thanks for the joy that you've given me.

I want you to know I believe in your song.

Rhythm and rhyme and harmony,

You help me along, makin' me strong.

CHORUS: [repeat & out – Kracker ends with the descending line at the end of the chorus to the intro riff.]

Dobie Gray version guitar tab:

Tab by: omanyen@fusemail.com

With apologies to Uncle Kracker, the original is still the best. I've included two different intros to this song. The original and a much "cleaner", country version. I've included most, (if not all) of the fill-in runs and a few of my own, have fun.

Intro 1 ( original ) h=hammer r=rake \=slide down /=slide up

rake=(pull-off)

E |--4--|--6--|--9--|--6--|--------|------------4-|--9r7--|------0----|

B |--4--|--7--|--9--|--7--|--4-----|------------4-|--7----|------0----|

G |--4--|--6--|--9--|--6--|----4---|--------4-4-4-|--8----|------1----|

D |--4--|--8--|--9--|--8--|------4-|------2-----4-|--9----|------2----|

A |-----|-----|-----|-----|--------|----4---------|-------|------2----|

E |-----|-----|-----|-----|--------|--2-----------|-------|--9\0------|

Intro 2: (country version)

E |----------------------------------------------|-7/9---7-|--12----|

B |--------7-----9-----7-------------------------|---------|--9-----|

G |--8--------------------9r8-------------9--0--8|-7/9---8-|--9-----|

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

A |-------------------------------7h9------------|---------|--11----|

E B

Day after day I'm more confused.

B |-----5r4-----------------------|

G |----------6r4------------------|

D |---------------6r4-------------|

A |--------------------6\4---2----|

E F# B

Yet I look for the light through the pouring rain.

B |--5r4--5r4--5r4----12h14r12----|

E B

You know that's a game that I hate to lose.

E |--7---9-9/11--12--11--9--7--|--4--|

B |----------------------------|--5--|

G |--8---9-9/11--11--11--9--8--|--6--|

D |----------------------------|--6--|

A |----------------------------|--4--|

C#m C#m D E

And I'm feelin' the strain--------, ain't it a shame?

CHORUS:

B F#

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul, I want to get lost in your rock & roll,

and drift away.

A |--2---4r2-----------2-|

E |-----------4--2--4----|

B F#

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul, I want to get lost in your rock & roll,

And drift away.

B |--2r0-----------0-|-----------------------------------|

G |-------1-----1----|-----------------------------------|

D |----------2-------|-----------------------------------|

A |------------------|--4/7-7--5-5-4-------2-4-2-------2-|

E |------------------|----------------2h4---------4-2----|

(play intro again)

2nd VERSE:

E B

Beginning to think that I'm wasting time.

E |--7r4r0---------------------|

B |---------7-4----------------|

G |--------------7r6r4---------|

D |---------------------6-4-2--|

E F# B

I don't understand the things I do.

E |-------7-------9---------11---------9----12--|

B |---------------------------------------------|

G |--6/8-----8/9------9/11-------8/9--------13--|

E B

The world outside looks so unkind.

E |--7---9---9/11---9----7---9---7--|--4--|

B |---------------------------------|--5--|

G |--8---9---9/11---9----8---9---8--|--6--|

D |---------------------------------|--6--|

A |---------------------------------|--4--|

C#m C#m D E

I'm a countin' on you--------, to carry me through.

CHORUS:

BRIDGE:

C#m E B

And when my mind is free, you know no melody can move me.

E |-------------------------12--|

B |--5--4-----------------------|

G |--x------6--4---6////13------| X = muff with left thumb

D |--x------x-------------------|

A |--x------x-------------------| //// = slow slide up

E |--x------x-------------------|

C#m

And when I'm feeling blue,

E F#

the guitars, comin' through to soothe me. [\\=slide way down]

E |--14\\----12\\----11\\----9\\----------7--|

B |------------------------------------------|

G |--15\\----13\\----11\\----9\\----5/8------|

E B

Thanks for the joy that you've given me.

E |-----11-----9-----7-------12--|

B |------------------------------|

G |--11-----9-----8-----/13------|

E F# B

I want you to know, I believe in your song.

E |--7r4r0------------------------|

B |---------7--4---------------5--|

G |---------------7\6r4-----4-----|

D |----------------------6--------|

E B

Rythm and ryhme in harmony.

G |--6r4-----------------------------|

D |-------6--4-----6r4---------------|

A |-------------6-------6-----6---4--|

E |------------------------7---------|

C#m C#m D E

You'll help me along--------, making me strong.

CHORUS: [repeat and out]

Drift Away Bass Tab

Artist: Uncle Kracker Tabbed By JD

h = hammer on p = pull off ~ = let ring

**note**

This isn't exactly how the song is on the CD. So please don't email me or post on how my tab is incorrect. Although I am always down for hearing suggestions. This Is how I play it when my band and I play shows. The chord progression and order is correct just i play a few extra notes here and there and also exclude some notes. Thanks!

Intro riff:

G |-------------------------|

D |-----2-4----------2-4----|

A |---------2-2-2h4------2--|

E |-2-4-------------0-------|

Verse:

G |---------------|-------------|

D |-----------2h4-|-------------| [3x]

A |---------------|-2--2--2h4p2-|

E |-0-0-0-2h4-----|-------------|

G |---------------|---------------|

D |---------------|-----------2h4-|

A |-4--4--4h6p4---|---------------|

E |---------------|-0-0-0-2h4-----|

Chorus:

G |-------------|-------------|---------------|----------------|

D |-------------|-------------|-----------2h4-|----------------|

A |-2--2--2h4p2-|-------------|---------------|-2--2--2h4p2----|

E |-------------|-2--2--2h4p2-|-0-0-0-2h4-----|----------------|

G |-------------|-------------|---------------|----------------|

D |-------------|-------------|---------------|----------------|

A |-------------|-------------|-7-4-2---------|-2--2--2h4p2--2-|

E |-2--2--2h4p2-|-0-0-0-2h4---|-------2-4-2h4-|----------------|

Bridge:

G |-------------|-------------|--------------2h4-|

D |-------------|-1-2~--------|----------2h4-----|

A |-4p2h4~------|-------------|-2~---2h4---------|

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

G |-------------|-------------|------------|

D |-------------|-1-2~--------|------------|

A |-4~-----4----|-------------|-4p2h4~-----|

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

Outro:

G |----------------|-------------|---------------|

D |----------------|-------------|-----------2h4-|

A |-2--2--2h4p2--2-|-------------|---------------|

E |----------------|-2--2--2h4p2-|-0-0-0-2h4-----|

G |---------------||

D |---------------|| [3x]

A |-7-4-2---------||

E |-------2-4-2h4-||