Character Zero Lyrics

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"CHARACTER ZERO" by Phish
(music by Trey Anastasio, words by Tom Marshall)
December 16, 1996
The Riff (usually done on bass):
p = pull off / =slide to
A -----2p0-5-2-0-2-5-2/7--------------------|(let note ring as line is sung)
E -3p0--------------------------------------|
RI
I was taught a month ago
RI
To bide my time and take it slow
RI
But then I learned just yesterday
RI
To rush and never waste the day
RI
Now I'm convinced the whole day long
RI
That all I learn is always wrong
RI
And things are true that I forget
RI
Well no one taught that to me yet
[lightly strum an A chord, getting gradually louder, then
forcefully hit A G]
I-I'm off to see the man Mulcahey, I'm off to see the man
Mulcahey (x4)
I was taught a month ago . . . .
To bide my time and take it slow . . . .
But then I learned just yesterday . . . .
To rush and never waste the day . . . .
Now I'm convinced the whole day long . . . .
That all I learn is always wrong . . . .
And things are true that I forget . . . .
Well no one taught that to me yet . . . .
I - I'm off to see the man Mulcahey, I'm off to see the man
Mulcahey (x4)
I - I . . . . Mulcahey, I'm off to see the man Mulcahey
I - I . . . . Mulcahey, I - 'Cahey, 'Cahey . . . .
SOLO over (x4)
[Continue solo and stuff along with E G A progression, and
fade out with refrains along the lines of:]
I - I . . . . I - . . . .
I - I . . . . I - . . . .
I - I'm off to see the man Mulcahey, I'm off to see the man
Mulcahey..... (BLAH BLAH BLAH.....)
That should hold you rascals for now!
(when I play this tune, I put an Asus4-A-Asus4-A quick
change at the verse ends that isn't necessary...Trey doesn't
play it, but if you're playing alone on a guitar - as I
usually do - it substitutes in for Page's piano fills.)
(Oh, and I didn't transcribe the solo because, well... I
don't have the patience, and I can barely solo anyway.