Man in a shed

by Nick Drake

Taken from the album "Time of no reply"

Transcribed by Nick Gill (Number6@mindless.com)

Tuning: Open G5 (CGCGCG, low to high); it's easier on the strings if you tune to

open F5 (Bb,F,Bb,F,Bb,F, low to high) and capo up to 2nd fret (adjust to suit

vocal range).

Notes:

1. The intro and outro are in straight time, with the main themes and tunes

being in swing time (easier to play than to describe; listen to the record to

get a better idea).

2. The two straight time sections are, pretty much, in free time, but stick

roughly to the tempo of the main tune.

3. The verse section is roughly the same throughout; however, since Nick was a

bit of an improviser, it's a case of "take this as a guideline".

4. This particular transcription is taken from his original demo recording,

rather than the final cut from "Five Leaves Left"; they're similar, but not

identical. Personally, I prefer the solo acoustic version; I think the piano

makes it sound a bit too jolly and hearty, and the bass part (while being great)

detracts from the descending bass on the acoustic. Anyway, you can make your

own minds up.

(5)-grace note s-slide h-hammer on p-pull off b-bend

rp- repick notes

Intro: (straight time)

G:-------------------0----------------|------------------------------------|

C:-------------0-0-------0-----0------|-------------0-------0-------0------|

G:-----------0---------------0---2----|-----------0-------0-------0---2----|

C:---------4-------3---3---2-------0--|---------4-------3-------2-------0--|

G:-2-(2)s4-----4-3---3---2------------|-2-(2)s4-------3-------2------------|

C:-------------------------------0----|-------------------------------0----|

Verse: (swing time)

G:-----------------------0--------|--------------------------|

C:-----------------0--------------|--0--------0--------------|

G:--------------0-----------0-----|--------0-----2-----------|

C:-----------4--------3--------3--|-----2-----------0-----0--|

G:--(2)-s-4--------3-----3--------|--2-----------------2-----|

C:--------------------------------|--------------0-----------|

Chorus: (swing time)

G:-----------------------0--------|-----------0--------------|

C:-----------------0--------------|--0-----------0-----------|

G:--------------0-----0-----0-----|-----0--------------------|

C:-----------5-----------------5--|--------4--------4-----4--|

G:--(2)-s-5--------5-----5--------|--4--------4--------4-----|

C:--------------------------------|--------------------------|

G:--------------------------|--------------------0--------| {quarter

C:-----------0--------------|-----------4-b-4.5-----0-----| < tone

G:--------0-----2-----------|--------0-----------------0--| { bend

C:-----2-----------0-----0--|-----0-----------------------|

G:--2-----------------2-----|--0--------------------------|

C:--------------0-----------|-----------------------------|

G:-----------------------0--------|-----------0--------------|

C:-----------------0--------------|--0-----------0-----------|

G:--------------0-----0-----0-----|-----0--------------------|

C:-----------5-----------------5--|--------4--------4-----4--|

G:--(2)-s-5--------5-----5--------|--4--------4--------4-----|

C:--------------------------------|--------------------------|

G:-----------------0--------|--------------------------|---------0-----------|

C:-----------0--------------|-----------0--------------|------------0-----4--|

G:--------0-----0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----------|--0-h-2--------2--2--|

C:-----3-----------------3--|-----2-----------2-----2--|--0---------------0--|

G:--3--------3-----3--------|--2--------2--------2-----|---------------------|

C:--------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|

Outro: (straight time)

G:-------------------0----------------|-----------0--2-s-rp-5-s-rp--2--|

C:-------------0-0-------0-----0------|-----0--2-----------------------|

G:-----------0---------------0---2----|-----------0--2-s-rp-5-s-rp--2--|

C:---------4-------3---3---2-------0--|-----0--2-----------------------|

G:-2-(2)s4-----4-3---3---2------------|--0-----------------------------|

C:-------------------------------0----|--------------------------------|

G:-----------4--------------|

C:--------0-----4-----------|

G:-----4-----------4--------|

C:--------------------0-----|

G:--0--------------------0--|

C:--------------------------|

Structure:

(Intro)

(Verse I)

Well, there was a man

Who lived in a shed

Spent most of his days

Out of his head

For his shed was rotten

Let in the rain

Said it was enough

To drive any man insane

(Chorus I)

When it rained he felt so bad

When it snowed he felt just simply sad

(Verse II)

Well there was a girl

Who lived nearby

Whenever he saw her

He could only simply sigh

For she lived in a house

So very big and grand

To him it seemed like

Some very distant land

(Chorus II)

So when he called her his shed to mend

She said "I'm sorry, you'll just have to find a friend"

(Verse III)

Well this story

Is not so very new

For the man is me

Yes and the girl is you

So leave your house

Come into my shed

Please stop my world from

Raining through on my head

(Chorus III)

Please don't think I'm not your sort

You'll find that sheds are nicer than you thought

(Outro)

If anyone has any comments/requests/corrections/et caetera, feel free to

mail me.

Be seeing you.

Number6@mindless.com