Home > Rock & Pop > NoFX >
Decline Guitar Tablature
THE DECLINE (Part 1 Revised) - Nofx 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Yes. I have decided to do the unthinkable and tab out the entire 18 minute  
anti-america masterpiece that we all call "the decline." It might kill me, but  
by god it will put me on the map and give all those who attempt this song a  
good challenge. I hope everybody is able to understand this ***. I tabbed out  
the guitar that is most audible. I am horrible at typing two guitar tabulature, 
but there are exceptions (eg. the part after the first trombone riff, lead is  
tabbed, rythem is in chords). In most cases I tabbed the bass for guitar. 

chords in this song (mostly powerchords) 
       low<----->high 
E 0-2-2-1-0-0 
E7 0-2-0-1-0-0 
E5 0-2-2-x-x-x 
F5 1-3-3-x-x-x 
G5 3-5-5-x-x-x 
G5* 2-5-5-x-x-x 
G#5 4-6-6-x-x-x 
A 0-0-2-2-2-0 
Am 0-0-2-2-1-0 
A5 5-7-7-x-x-x 
A#5 6-8-8-x-x-x 
B5      7-9-9-x-x-x     or   x-2-4-4-x-x 
C5 8-10-10-x-x-x   or   x-3-5-5-x-x 
C5* 7-10-10-x-x-x 
C#5 9-11-11-x-x-x   or   x-4-6-6-x-x 
C#5! x-4-9-x-x-x     or   9-x-9-x-x-x 
D5 x-5-7-7-x-x     or   10-12-12-x-x-x 
D5! x-5-9-x-x-x 
E5^     x-7-9-9-x-x 
F5^ x-8-10-10-x-x 
G5^ x-10-12-12-x-x 
A5^ x-12-14-14-x-x 

|----------------------------------------------- 
|----------------------------------------------- 
|------------------------------------2-2-------- 
|--7-7----3-3----5-5----5-5----------2-2---0---- 
|--7-7----3-3----3-3----5-5----7--0-----3---3-- 
|--5-5----1-1----3-3----3-3--------------------- 

|------------------------------|---------------- 
|------------------------------|---------------- 
|----2-2----------2-2----------|-5-7-----5------ 
|----2-2---0------2-2---0------|-5-7-7-7-5-7---- 
|--0-----3---3--0-----3---3--0-|-3-5-7-7-3-7---- 
|------------------------------|-----5-5---5---- 

|------------------------------|----------------- 
|------------------------------|----------------- 
|----2-2----------2-2----------|----------------- 
|----2-2---0------2-2---0------|-5-5--5--5--5---- 
|--0-----3---3--0-----3---3--0-|-5-5--5--5--5---- 
|------------------------------|----------------- 

|----------------|--------------------------------- 
|----------------|--------------------------------- 
|----------------|-----------5-7-5----------5-7-5-- 
|--4-4--4--4--4--|--7--7--7--5-7-5-7--7--7--5-7-5-- 
|--5-5--5--5--5--|--7--7--7--3-5-3-7--7--7--3-5-3-- 
|----------------|--5--5--5--------5--5--5--------- 

|------------------|------------|------------------ 
|------------------|------------|------------------ 
|-----------5-7-5--|-5-7-----5--|-----------5-7-5-- 
|--7--7--7--5-7-5--|-5-7-7-7-5--|--7--7--7--5-7-5-- 
|--7--7--7--3-5-3--|-3-5-7-7-3--|--7--7--7--3-5-3-- 
|--5--5--5---------|-----5-5----|--5--5--5--------- 

|------------------|------------------------------- 
|------------------|------------------------------- 
|-----------5-7-5--|--5-5----4-4--7-7-------------- 
|--7--7--7--5-7-5--|--5-5----5-5--7-7----5-6------- 
|--7--7--7--3-5-3--|--------------5-5--7----------- 
|--5--5--5---------|------------------------------- 

A5^                             D5 
where are all the stupid people from 
A5^  F5^              C5    G5^ 
and how'd they get to be so dumb? 
C5                       C5* 
bred on purple mountain range 
                    A#5  
feed amber waves of grains 
                A5              F5  
to lesser human beings, zero feelings 

|------------------------------------------------- 
|--10-10--10--10-10--10/12-12--12-/13-13--13------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--7--7---7---7--7---7-/9--9---9--/10-10--10------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
  A5 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--10-10--10--10-10--10--10-10--10--10-10--10----- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--7--7---7---7--7---7---7--7---7---7--7---7------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
  A5  
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--10-10--10--10-10--10/12-12--12-/13-13--13------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--7--7---7---7--7---7-/9--9---9--/10-10--10------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
  A5 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--10-10--10--10-10--10--10-10--10--10-10--10----- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--7--7---7---7--7---7---7--7---7---7--7---7------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
   A5                               (blame it on!) 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--10-10--10--10-10--10/12-12--12-/13-13--13------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--7--7---7---7--7---7-/9--9---9--/10-10--10------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
   F5^ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--10-10--10--10-10--10--10-10--10--10-10--10----- 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|--7--7---7---7--7---7---7--7---7---7--7---7------ 
|------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------     
                                                  
   A5 

A5      F5^              C5  
human nature, man's destiny (man's destiny) 
F5^                       C5          
blame it on the greediocracy (greediocracy) 
C5          G5^             A#5            F5^ 
the fear of God the fear of change fear of truth 

C5 
add the bill of rights  
C5           F5      G#5  
subtract the wrongs (theres no answers!) 
C5 
memorize and sing  
C5            F5     G#5 
star spangled songs (when the questions!) 
C5          G5 
aren't ever asked 
G5         A5               F5  
is anybody learning from the past? 
C5               G5          F5 
we're living in united stagnation 

|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 

A5                 G5^ 
father what have i done 
  C5        A#5    A5 
i took that twenty two 
  F5      C5      G5 
a gift to me from you  
D5                  A5  
to bed with me each night  
A5      F5^               C5    
kept it clean polished it well 
F5^             C5        C5*   F5^ 
cherished every cartridge every shell 
A5                      F5 
down by the creek under brush under dirt 
F5       G5                   A5 
theres a carcass of my second kill 

|--------------- 
|--------------- 
|--------------- (i can't get this to sound right!) 
|--------------- 
|--------7-6-5-- 
|--5-4-3-------- 
A5                     F5^ 
down at the park under stone under under pine 
F5^      G5^                   A5 
theres a carcass of my brother william 
A5      F5^ 
brother where have you gone to i swear 
F5^               C5 
i never thought i could i see so many times 
C5                    F5^ 
they told me to shoot straight 
F5^ 
don't pull the trigger squeeze  
F5^                C5 
that will insure a kill a kill is what you want 
C5                F5^  C5  F5^ C5  F5^ C5 
to kill is why we breed 

[rythem fig.1] 
|------------------------------------| 
|------------------------------------| 
|------------------------------------| 
|-----12-----------------------------| 
|-----12----12----12----12----12-----| 
|--10----10----10----10----10----10--| 

|------------------------------| 
|------------------------------| 
|------------------------------| 
|----12---12--------12---------| 
|----12---12---12---12---12----| 
|--9----9----9----9----9----9--| 

|----------------------------|--------------------| 
|----------------------------|--------------------| 
|----------------------------|-12----12-----12----| 
|---12--------12---12--------|-12-12-12--12-12-12-| 
|---12---12---12---12---12---|-10-12-10--12-10-12-| 
|-8----8----8----8----8----8-|----10-----10----10-| 

|------------------------------------| 
|------------------------------------| 
|------------------------------------| 
|-----12-----------------------------| 
|-----12----12----12----12----12-----| 
|--10----10----10----10----10----10--| 

|------------------------------| 
|------------------------------| 
|------------------------------| 
|----12---12--------12---------| 
|----12---12---12---12---12----| 
|--9----9----9----9----9----9--| 
                                 [end rythem fig.1] 
|----------------------------|--------------------| 
|----------------------------|--------------------| 
|----------------------------|-12----12-----12----| 
|---12--------12---12--------|-12-12-12--12-12-12-| 
|---12---12---12---12---12---|-10-12-10--12-10-12-| 
|-8----8----8----8----8----8-|----10-----10----10-| 

[rythem fig.1] 
the christians love their guns  
the church and n - r - a 
pray for thier salvations 
prey on the lower faiths 

[rythem fig.2] 
|------------------------------------| 
|------------------------------------| 
|------------------------------------| 
|-----14-----------------------------| 
|-----14----14----14----14----14-----| 
|--12----12----12----12----12----12--| 

|-----------------------------------| 
|-----------------------------------| 
|-----------------------------------| 
|-----14----14----------14----------| 
|-----14----14----14----14----14----| 
|--11----11----11----11----11----11-| 

|-----------------------------------| 
|-----------------------------------| 
|-----------------------------------| 
|----14----------------------14-----| 
|----14----14----14----14----14-----| 
|-10----10----10----10----10----10--| 

                       [end rythem fig.2] 
|----------------------| 
|----------------------| 
|--14----14-----14-----| 
|--14-14-14--14-14-14--| 
|--12-14-12--14-12-14--| 
|-----12-----12----12--| 

[rythem fig.2] 
the story books been read 
and every line believed 

[rythem fig.2] 
cirriculums been set 
logic is a threat 
reason searched and seized 

|-0------------------------------------------------ 
|-0------------------------------------------------ 
|-1------------------------------------------------ 
|-2----4-6-4---6-4----4-6-4---4-6-4-6-4----7-7-7-7- 
|-2--7-------7------7-------7-----------7---------- 
|-0------------------------------------------------ 

|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|--7-6-4--7-7-7-7-6-4----4-6-4--------------------- 
|----------------------7-------7-4---7-4---4-7-4-7- 
|----------------------------------7-----7--------- 

|------------------------------| 
|------------------------------| 
|------------------------------| 
|--4------------6-6-7-7-6-4----| 
|----7-4-7--7-7-------------7--| 
|------------------------------| 

|-------------------------------------------------- 
|109-9-9-9-10/12-12-12-12-109-9-9-9-10/12-12-12-- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-76-6-6-6-7/-9--9--9--9---76-6-6-6--7/9--9--9--- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 

|--------------------------------------------| 
|109-9-9-9-10/12-12-12-12-109-9-9-9-10/12--| 
|--------------------------------------------| 
|-76-6-6-6-7/-9--9--9--9---76-6-6-6--7/9---| 
|--------------------------------------------| 
|--------------------------------------------| 
E5^                            A   Am 
(jerry spent some time in michigan) 
E5              C#5          F#5          B5 
a twenty year vacation after all he had a dime 
E5^                              C#5  B5   
(a dime is worth a lot more in detroit) 
A5            E5       A5            B5 
a dime in california a twenty dollar fine 

|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 

E5^                         A      Am 
(jerry only stayed a couple months) 
E5            C#5      
its hard to enjoy yourself  
      F#5              B5 
while bleeding out the ass 
E5^                         C#5  B5   
(asphyxiation is simple and fast) 
A5            E5                A5            B5 
it beats seventeen fun years of being someonesbitch 
E5^ 
don't think (stay!) 
           D5! 
drink your wine (home!) 
               C#5! 
watch the fire burn (be!) 
                 A5 
his problems not mine (safe!) 
A5 
just be that model citizen 

|-------------------------------------------------| 
|-------------------------------------------------| 
|--/7-7-----------/7-7--7-7-xx-xx--/7-7-----------| 
|--/7-7-5--5-5-5--/7-7--7-7-xx-xx--/7-7-5--5-5-5--| 
|-------5--5-5-5------------------------5--5-5-5--| 
|-------------------------------------------------| 

|----------------| 
|----------------| 
|----------------| 
|--9-9-7--6-7-6--| 
|--9-9-7--6-7-6--| 
|--7-7-5--4-5-4--| 

|-------------------------------------------------| 
|-------------------------------------------------| 
|--/7-7-----------/7-7--7-7-xx-xx--/7-7-----------| 
|--/7-7-5--5-5-5--/7-7--7-7-xx-xx--/7-7-5--5-5-5--| 
|-------5--5-5-5------------------------5--5-5-5--| 
|-------------------------------------------------| 

|----------| 
|----------| 
|----------| 
|--9-9-7---| 
|--9-9-7---| 
|--7-7-5---| 

E 
(i wish i had a schilling)  
E7                   A 
(for every senseless killing) 
     Am 
(i'd buy a government) 
E 
(americas for sale) 
E7                           A 
(and you can get a good deal on it) 
     Am 
(and make a healthy profit)   

or................. 

E5              C5      A5             E5   
maybe, tear it apart      start with assumption 
E5                        C5    A5              E5 
that a million people are smart    smarter than one 

[trombone riff] 
E5 C5 D5 G5 G5* 

[trombone riff] 
E5 C5 D5 G5 G5* 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--8-8-----8-8-----8-8-----8-8-----8-8-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--5-5-----5-5-----5-5-----5-5-----5-5-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
   E5      C5      D5      E5       E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--8-8-----8-8-----8-8-----8-8-----8-8-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--5-5-----5-5-----5-5-----5-5-----5-5-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
   E5      C5      D5      E5       E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--8-8-----7-7-----8-8-----8-8-----8-8-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--5-5-----4-4-----5-5-----5-5-----5-5-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
   E5      C5      D5      E5       E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--8-8-----4-4-----8-8-----8-8-----8-8-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--5-5-----1-1-----5-5-----5-5-----5-5-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
   E5      C5      D5      E5       E5 

[rythem fig.3] 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7------------------------------ 
|---------------------7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-8-8-8-8-- 
                                 [end rythem fig.3] 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|-------------------------------------------------- 
|------------------10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10--- 
|--8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--------------------------------- 

[rythem fig.3] 
serotonin's gone she gave up drifted away 
  
E5^     D5!                 C#5* 
  sara fled thought process gone 
C5           D5                G5 
she left her answering machine on 
E5^          D5!          C#5* 
the greeting left spoke insincere 
C5    D5                  G5 
messages no one will ever hear 
A5     C5         G5 
10,000 messages a day 
G5        D5                 A5 
a million more transmissions lay  
A5      C5             G5 
victims of the laissez faire 
A5     C5               G5 
10,000 voices a hundred guns 
G5  D5                A5 
100 decibels turns to one 
A5        C5           G5 
one bullet one empty head 

E5                  D5 
now with serrotonin gone  (gone!) 

C5 B5 A5 G5 E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--9-9---9---9-9--9/13-13---13---13-13-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--7-7---7---7-7--7/11-11---11---11-11-- 
|--------------------------------------- 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--9-9---9---9-9--9/13-13---13---13-13-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--7-7---7---7-7--7/11-11---11---11-11-- 
|--------------------------------------- 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--9-9---9---9-9--9/13-13---13---13-13-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--7-7---7---7-7--7/11-11---11---11-11-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
C5  B5  A5  G5  E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--9-9---9---9-9--9/13-13---13---13-13-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--7-7---7---7-7--7/11-11---11---11-11-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
C5  B5  A5  G5  E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--9-9---9---9-9--9/13-13---13---13-13-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--7-7---7---7-7--7/11-11---11---11-11-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
C5  B5  A5  G5  E5 

|--------------------------------------- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--9-9---9---9-9--9/13-13---13---13-13-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
|--7-7---7---7-7--7/11-11---11---11-11-- 
|--------------------------------------- 
C5  B5  A5  G5  E5 

the man who used...........(to be continued)
Previous guitar tablature in NoFX :: Next guitar tablature in NoFX