The Impressions

"People Get Ready"
(Curtis Mayfield)
[Curtis Mayfield used an open F# tuning (low to high: F# A# C# F# A# F#);
I've notated the breaks in both standard and open F# (capoed at the 7th
fret) below. -- AWR]
Intro (w/wordless vocal, 2X):
Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Verse 1:
Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db
People get ready, there's a train a comin'
Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
Db Bbm Gb/Ab Db
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Fm Ebm Gb Db
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
Guitar break #1:
standard tuning:
(Db) (Bbm) (Ebm) (Db6)
v v v v v v v v
-4/6\4---------------|---------------------
-4/6\4---------------|-----------------9---
-----------6---------|-6h8p6---------6-6---
-----------8---6---6-|-8-----8-----8-8-8---
-----------8---8-8---|-6-------9---8-------
---------------------|-----------9---------
open F# tuning [capo VII]:
(Db) (Bbm) (Ebm) (Db6)
v v v v v v v v
Db ---------------------|---------------------
F -3/5\3---------------|-----------------3---
Db -2/4\2-----0---------|-0h2p0---------0-0---
Ab -----------2---0---0-|-2-----2-----2-2-2---
F -----------0---0-0---|---------1---0-------
Db ---------------------|-2---------0---------
Verse 2:
People get ready for the train to Jordan
It's picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em
There's hope for all among those loved the most.
Guitar break #2 (w/key change to D):
standard tuning:
(Db) (Bbm) (Gb) (Db)
v v v v v v v v
-----------------|--------------------
-6h7-6-----------|--------------6-----
-6---6-6---------|-6--6--6--6-8-6-----
-6-----8---8-6-8-|6h8-8-6h8-6-6-----3-
-4-----8---------|-9----------6-4-----
-----------------|--------------------
(D) (Bm) (G/D) (D)
v v v v v v v v
-----------------|-----------------
-7h8-7-----------|-3-3---3---------
-7---7-7---------|-4-4---2-----2---
-7-----9---9-7-9-|-5-5---4---4-----
-4-----9---------|-5-5---5---------
-----------------|-----------------
open F# tuning [capo VII]:
(Db) (Bbm) (Gb) (Db)
v v v v v v v v
Db -----------------|--------------------
F -0h1-0-----------|--------------0-----
Db -0---0-0---------|-0--0--0--0-2-0-----
Ab -0-----2---2-0-2-|0h2-2-0h2-2-0-------
F -------0---------|-1----------------0-
Db -0---------------|------------2-0-----
(D) (Bm) (G/D) (D)
v v v v v v v v
Db -----------------|-----------------
F -1h2-1-----------|-----------------
Db -1---1-1---------|-1-1---1---------
Ab -1-----3---3-1-3-|-3-3---1-----1---
F -------1---------|-2-2---1---1-----
Db -1---------------|-1-1---1---------
Verse 3:
D Bm G/A D
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
D Bm G/A D
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own
D Bm G/A D
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
F#m Em G D
For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's throne
[repeat verse 1 in D]:
So people get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
F#m Em [N.C.]
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
Coda (string tag):
D Bm G/A D6/9
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-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers