Goodbye Tab

by Steve Earle
8,171 views, added to favorites 323 times
Difficulty: intermediate
Tuning: E A D G B E
Capo: 5th fret
Author onecentrob [a] 563. Last edit on Sep 1, 2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Goodbye – Steve Earle (live in Sydney)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Version: Steve Earle live at Factory Theatre in Sydney on April 8, 2012
Tuning: Standard with capo on 5th fret.
Key: C (G relative to capo)
Timing 4/4
Tabbed by Robert Saunders
 
 
NOTES:
 
As with most folk-style finger-pickers, I think Steve Earle probably improvises every time he plays
this song. Please note that this is a tab of the live Sydney recording, which is on YouTube and is
the best version I've heard.
 
In the tab I’ve differentiated between the G (320003) and the Gadd9 (3X0203) chords. Although they
are both G chords with different melody notes, these are the two starting shapes that Steve Earle
uses, moving his second finger down from the 5th string to the 3rd string when he switches from the
G to the Gadd9. The Gadd9 becomes a D7sus4/G (3X021X) when he frets the 2nd string on the 1st fret
with his first finger. When playing the G chord he always frets the 5th string on the 2nd fret
(sometimes with a faint hammer-on) even though he doesn’t pick it.
 
Please let me know if you have any suggestions on how to improve this tab. I'm sure it's not perfect
but I think it's fairly accurate and it should give you a good idea of the different picking patterns
and variations he uses, and a base from which to improvise.
 
If you find this tab helpful please rate it so that other people can find it more easily. Thanks.
 
 
INTRO:
 
   G                G                G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-----------0----|-0h1-----0------|----------------|-0---------0----|
G|-------0--------|---------------0|-----------0----|-------0--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--h1------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|-0---------0----|
G|-0h2-----------2|-------2--------|-------------2--|-------2--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
 
 
   C/G              C/G              D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-------1----|-0---------0----|--h1------------|---1---0--------|
G|-0--------------|-------0--------|-0h2-----------2|-----------2---0|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
 
 
   G                Gadd9            G                Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|---0-------0----|---------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-----------0---2|-------2-------0|-----------0----|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
 
 
VERSE 1:
 
 
   Gadd9            Gadd9            G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0--------|-----------0----|-------0--------|----------------|
G|---------------2|-------2--------|-0-------------0|-------0-------0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
         I     remember                     holding on         to you
 
 
   D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--h1------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|-0---------0----|
G|--h2------------|-------2--------|-------------2--|-------2-------0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
 
 
   Em               Em               C/G              C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0-------0|-----------0----|-1--------------|-------1--------|
G|----------------|-------0--------|-2-------------2|-----------2----|
D|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|-3--------3-----|-3-------3------|
           All them long and                  lonely  nights that I           
 
 
   G                 G                G                Gadd9
E|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-------0-----|-0h1-------3----|---------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-------0---------|-------0-------0|-----------0----|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0--|------0------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
   put   you  through 
 
 
   Gadd9            Gadd9            G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-----------0----|-------0--------|-------0--------|
G|---------------2|-------2--------|---------------0|-----------0---0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
          Somewhere in there                sure I   made    you   cry
 
 
   D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|-0---------0----|
G|--------2-------|-------2--------|-------------2--|-------2--------|
D|------0------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2--------2-----|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
 
 
 
   C/G              C/G              D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-----------1|----------------|-0h1------------|-----------1----|
G|-0--------------|---0---0--------|-0h2-----------2|-------2--------|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
          Can’t remember                     if  we   said        goodbye       
 
 
   D7sus4/G         D7sus4/G         G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-1---------1----|-----------1----|-0--------------|
G|-------2--------|-2-----2--------|-0---------0----|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
 
 
CHORUS:
 
 
   C/G              C/G              C/G              C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-------1----|-0h1------------|-----------1----|----------------|
G|----------------|-------0--------|-------0-------0|-------0-------0|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
         I recall                                    all off them nights
 
 
   C/G              G                G                Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1--------|-0-----0-------0|-----------0----|---------------0|
G|-----------0----|-0---------0----|-------0h2------|-2--------------|
D|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
   down in Mex i   co                                             One
 
 
   G                D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|-----------0----|---------------1|
G|---------0------|-------2--------|-------2--------|-2--------------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
   place   I   may  never go                                  in  my
 
 
   D7/F#            D7sus4/G         G                D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--------1--1----|-1---------1----|-0---------0----|--h1-------1----|
G|----------------|-------2--------|-0-----0h2------|-0h2-----------2|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------3------|
   life     again
 
 
   D7/F#            D7sus4/G         Gadd9            G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1--------|-1---------1----|-----------0----|-----------0----|
G|-----------2----|-------2--------|-2-----2-------0|---------------0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
         Was I                     off      some     where
 
 
   G                D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0--------|----------------|-----------0----|-0h1------------|
G|---------------0|-------2--------|-------2--------|-------------2--|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
  Just too   high
 
 
   D7/F#            C/G              C/G              D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0---------0----|-0h1-----------1|---------1---0--|-0h1------------|
G|-------2--------|-0--------------|---0-----0---0--|-0h2-----------2|
D|-----2-------2--|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|
            Well I          can't remember                    if  we said
 
 
   D7/F#
E|----------------|
B|-------1--------|
G|----------------|
D|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|
         goodbye 
 
 
 
BRIDGE:
 
 
   D7sus4/G         D7sus4/G         G                 Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-1---------1----|-----------1----|-0-------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-------2--------|-2-----2--------|-0---------0----|-------2--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   G                G                G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|-0h1-----0------|----------------|-0---------0----|
G|-0---------0----|---------------0|-----------0----|-------0--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   D7/F#           D7/F#            D7/F#             D7/F#
E|---------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-----------|-----------0----|-0h1-------------|-0-------------0|
G|-0h2-----------|-------2--------|-------------2---|---------2-----0|
D|-----0------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0--|
A|---------------|----------------|-----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2-----|-2-------2------|-2-------2-------|-2-------2------|
 
 
   G                G                C/G              C/G
E|----------------|-3--------------|----------------|-3--------------|
B|-------0-----1--|-----------0----|-0h1----h1-1----|---------------1|
G|-------0--------|----------------|-0-----0--------|-----------0---0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|--h2-0--h2---0--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   G                G                G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|p0-----1--------|-----------3----|-------3-------3|-------1-------1|
G|-----------0----|---------------0|----------------|---0-------0----|
D|p0---0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
 
 
HARMONICA PART:
 
It's difficult to hear exactly which notes he picks out here but it doesn't much matter what you play
as long as you stick to the chords with the alternating bass and pick the 2nd or 3rd string on the
"and" between beats 2 and 3 in most bars:
 
 
   G                G                G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|p0--------------|-------0--------|---------------0|-----------0----|
G|----------------|---------------0|-------0--------|-------0--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|----------------|----------------|-------1--------|-----------1----|
G|----------------|-------2--------|---------------2|-------2--------|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   C/G              C/G              D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1-------1|-----------1----|---------------1|-----------1----|
G|----------------|-------0-------0|-------2--------|-------2-------2|
D|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------2--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------2------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
 
 
   G                G                G                Gadd9
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|---------------0|----------------|-----------0---1|---0-------0----|
G|-------0--------|-------0--------|-------0--------|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
 
 
 
VERSE 2:
 
Same chords as verse 1, with some slightly different picking patterns. The main difference is the
following bit which goes something like this:
 
 
   Em               Em               C/G              C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------0--------|-------0-------0|h1-------------1|-------1--------|
G|h2-------------0|-----------0---0|----------------|--0--------0----|
D|h2---2-------2--|-----2-------2--|h2---2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|h3--------3-----|-3-------3------|
        It's like the soft breeze              Blowin' up from the Car... 
 
 
   G                 G                G                Gadd9
E|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0-----1---------|-3-----------3--|-3-------------1|---0-------0----|
G|-----------------|-------0--------|-----------0----|-------2-------2|
D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0--|------0------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|-----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3-------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 ..ri......be..an
 
 
Etc...
 
 
 
 
REPEAT CHORUS:
 
Very similar to the first chorus. The main difference is the slide up after "Mexico":
 
   C/G              G                G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-------1--------|-----------0----|-0-----0---2----|/3---------3----|
G|-----------0----|-------0--------|-0-----0---1----|/4--------------|
D|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
   down in Mex i   co                                             That's
 
 
   G
E|----------------|
B|-3-----0--------|
G|-----------0----|
D|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|
   one     place I'll never go
 
 
  Etc...
 
 
 
 
OUTRO:
 
 
   D7sus4/G         D7sus4/G         G                G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-1---------1----|-----------1----|-0--------------|-0h1-----0------|
G|-------2--------|-2-----2--------|-0---------0----|---------0-----0|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
 
 
   C/G              C/G              D7/F#            D7/F#
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-0h1-----------1|---------1---0--|-0h1------------|-------1--------|
G|-0--------------|---0-----0------|-0h2-----------2|-----------2----|
D|--h2-2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----0-------0--|-----0-------0--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|-2-------2------|-2-------2------|
           Can't remember                    if we    said         good-
 
 
   Em               Em               C/G              C/G
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|-----------0----|----------------|-----------1----|----------------|
G|-------0-------0|-----------0----|-------0-------0|-----------0----|
D|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|-----2-------2--|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|-0-------0------|-0-------0------|-3-------3------|-3-------3------|
   bye                          Goodbye                           Good-
 
 
   G                G
E|----------------|------------^3--|
B|-------0--------|-0h1-----0--^0--|
G|-----------0----|------------^0--|
D|-----0-------0--|-----0------^0--|
A|----------------|------------^2--|
E|-3-------3------|-3-------3--^3--|
     bye
 
 
 
*********************************************************************
 
p = pull-off
h = hammer-on
/ = slide up
^ = arpeggiate
 
*********************************************************************
 
 
 
 
LYRICS & CHORDS:
 
 
Chords (relative to capo):
 
Gadd9:    3X0203
G:        320003 (often switching to 320013 and occasionally 320033)
D7sus4/G: 3X021X
D7/F#:    20021X (often switching to 20020X)
C/G:      33201X
Em:       022000
 
 
"Same girl - some girls are just better for songs than others. Different harmonica."
 
 
 
VERSE 1:
 
Gadd9  Gadd9  G         G        D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#
  I  remember   holding on to you
 
Em         Em       C/G       C/G           G                G   G   Gadd9
  All them long and,   lonely nights that I  put you through.
 
Gadd9       Gadd9    G       G                D7/F#  D7/F#  D7/F#  D7/F#
  Somewhere in there,  [I’m] sure I made you cry.
 
        C/G         C/G     D7/F#    D7/F#    D7sus4/G  D7sus4/G   G
[But] I     can't remember     if we said goodbye.
 
 
 
CHORUS:
 
C/G             C/G   C/G   C/G         C/G                G    G    Gadd9
[But] I recall              all of them nights down in Mexico
 
    G           D7/F#    D7/F#  D7/F#   D7/F#    D7sus4/G   G   D7/F#  D7/F#
One place I may never go          in my life  again
 
      D7sus4/G   Gadd9   G      G          D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#
Was I            off somewhere, just too high?
 
       C/G       C/G     D7/F#    D7/F#    D7sus4/G  D7sus4/G   G   Gadd9
Well I   can't remember    if we said goodbye.
 
 
 
BRIDGE:
 
G       G       G       G
 
D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#
 
G       G       C/G     C/G
 
G       G       G       G
 
 
 
HARMONICA PART:
 
G       G       G       G
 
D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#
 
C/G    C/G      D7/F#   D7/F#
 
G       G       G       Gadd9
 
 
 
VERSE 2:
 
Gadd9  Gadd9      G        G          D7/F#  D7/F#  D7/F#  D7/F#
  I only miss you  ever'   now and then.
 
Em              Em          C/G        C/G           G        G   G   Gadd9
  It's like the soft breeze,   blowing up from the Caribbean.
 
Gadd9    Gadd9    G        G          D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#
  Most Novembers   I break down and cry.
 
      C/G        C/G     D7/F#    D7/F#    D7sus4/G  D7sus4/G   G
Coz I    can't remember     if we said goodbye.
 
 
 
CHORUS:
 
C/G             C/G   C/G   C/G         C/G                G    G    Gadd9
[But] I recall              all of them nights down in Mexico
 
       G              D7/F#  D7/F#  D7/F#   D7/F#  D7sus4/G   G   D7/F#  D7/F#
That's one place I'll never go        in my life  again
 
      D7sus4/G   Gadd9   G      G          D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#   D7/F#
Was I            off somewhere, just too high?
 
       C/G       C/G     D7/F#    D7/F#    D7sus4/G  D7sus4/G   G   G
Well I   can't remember    if we said goodbye.
 
 
 
OUTRO:
 
C/G       C/G     D7/F#    D7/F#      Em  Em
  Can't remember     if we said   goodbye
 
    C/G   C/G
Goodbye
 
    G    G
Goodbye
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Goodbye – Steve Earle
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"Goodbye"
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