#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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From jws5@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu
~Subject: XTC - The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Here it is, long awaited (?) and hopefully accurate.
Some notes:
(1) I figured this out without having the tape player going, so though the
chord pattern is accurate (pretty much all I-IV-V) I've put this in the key of
G, which may be different from that on the album. The important thing is that
_I_ can sing it in this key. So there.
Seriously, though, transposing this would not be a big deal.
(2) There is a surprise A chord (or II chord, made major) in the last
chorus. I really feel like there is another "surprise" chord in the rest of
the choruses, but I can't quite put a finger on it (ha, ha). The way I've
printed it here sounds pretty good, though.
-------------------------------
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
-------------------------------
by Andy Partridge
Album: XTC "Nonsuch"
-------------------------------
G C
Peter Pumpkinhead came to town
G C
Spreading wisdom and cash around
G G/B C
Fed the starving and housed the poor
G G/B C
Showed the Vatican what gold's for
C D Em
CHORUS: But he made too many enemies
C D Em
Of the people who would keep us on our knees
C D
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin,
C D
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkin-
G D/F# C/E D C G/B D/A D/F#
head?
Peter Pumpkinhead pulled them all
Emptied churches and shopping malls
When he spoke it would raise the roof
Peter Pumpkinhead told the truth
(CHORUS)
Peter Pumpkinhead put to shame
Governments who would slur his name
Plots and sex scandals failed outright
Peter merely said, "Any kind of love is all all right"
(CHORUS)
Peter Pumpkinhead was too good
Had him nailed to a chunk of wood
He died grinning on live TV
Hanging there he looked a lot like you, and an awful lot like me!
C D Em
(CHORUS)But he made too many enemies
C D Em
Of the people who would keep us on our knees
C D
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin,
C D
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkin-
G D/F# C/E D
head? Ah-ah-ah
C D
Hooray for Peter Pumpkin
C D
Who'll pray for Peter Pumpkin
C Dsus4 D C/D D
Hooray for Pe - ter - Pump - kin -
G D/F# C/E D
Head!
C G/B A D/F#
Oh my, oh my, don't it make you want to cry, oh!
G
(ending)
