E|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|


THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE C NE (1)
Neil Young
transcription by Jesse Gress,
Guitar School magazine

Intro:
E|---2---0---------|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0---------|
B|-----------3---3-|---3-3-----3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3-3-3---3---0-|
G|-----2-------2-2-|-----2-------2---|---0-0-------0-0-|---0-0-----0-----|
D|-0---0---0---0---|-----0-------0---|-0---0---0---0-0-|-0---0---0---0---|
A|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-2-------2-------|-1-------1---1---|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

E|---------0---0-----0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0----0-|---0---0---0---0-|
B|---1-----1---1-----1-|-1-1---1---1---0-|---0-----------(0)|---0----------(0)|
G|-----------0---0h2---|-3---2---0-------|-2---2------------|-1---------------|
D|-2---0h2-------------|-------------3---|-----2---2---2----|-2---2-----------|
A|-3-------------------|-----------------|---------2--(2)---|-----2---2---0---|
E|---------------------|-----------------|-------------0-(0)|---------0-------|


A:First verse

 I caught you knockin' at my cellar door.        I love you baby can I have some
E|----2-----2-----2-----0-|--------0---------0-|-------0-------0---|-------0-----|
B|----3-----3-----3-----3-|---3--------3-------|---3---3---3---3---|-----3-3---3-|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2----|------2--------2----|---0-0-----0-0-0---|-----0-0---0-|
D|-0-----0-----0-----0----|------0--------0----|-0-0-0---0-0-0-----|-0-0-0-----0-|
A|------------------------|-3--------3---------|-2---2---2---2-----|-1-------1---|
E|------------------------|--------------------|-------------------|-------------|

 Oh,           oh,   the damage done
E|-----------0-----|-----1-1-------0-|-------0-------0-|---0----0----0--(0)-|
B|---1-1-1---1---1-|---1-1-1---1---0-|---0-0-0---0---0-|---0----0----0---0--|
G|-0---0---0---0-0-|-2-------2---2---|---2-2-----2-2---|--------------------|
D|-2---2---2---2---|-3-------3---3---|-2-------2---2---|-2--0h2--2/4---2----|
A|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|-2-------2---2---|-2------------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0------------------|


B:Second Verse

 I hit the city and I lost my band.       I watched the needle take another man.
E|---2---2---2---0-|---------0-------0--0-|-------0---0-----|-------0-0-0---0-|
B|---3---3---3---3-|---3-----------3-3--3-|---3-3-3---3---0-|-----3-3-3-3-3-0-|
G|-2---2-------2---|------2---------(2)---|---0-0-0-0-0---3-|---0-0-0-0-0-0---|
D|-0---0---0---0---|-0--------------------|-0---0---0-0-----|-0-------0-------|
A|---------0-------|-3----0-----3---------|-2-------2-2-2---|-1---------------|
E|-----------------|----------------------|-----3-----3-3---|-------------3---|

Gone,                gone, the damage done.
E|--------0-------0-0-|-----1-1-------1-0-|------0-0-------(0)|-------------------|
B|----1---1-----1-1-1-|---1-1-1-----1-1-0-|------0-0---0--0-0-|---0----0----0---0-|
G|------0-----0---0---|-2---------2---2---|---2-2--------2----|---1----1----0--(0-|
D|----------2-----2---|-3-------3-----3---|-2---2----2---2----|-2--------2h4--2---|
A|-3--------3---------|-3-------3-----3---|-2---2----2---2----|-2---0h2-----------|
E|--------------------|-------------------|-0--------0--------|-0-----------------|

C:Interlude
E|----2-----0-------------|---------0----------|---------0-----------|--------0---|
B|----------------3-----3-|----3-------------3-|----3----3----3----3-|---3----3---|
G|-2-----2-----2----------|------2-------2-2-0-|----0---------0----0-|---0---(0)--|
D|-0-----0-----0-----0----|------0-----0---0---|------0-----0----0---|-0---0----0-|
A|-------------------0----|-3----3-----3---3---|-2----2-----2----2---|-1---1----1-|
E|------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|------------|

E|--------------0-----0-|---0---0---0----0---|---0----------------|--------------|
B|---1----------1-----1-|---1---1---1------0-|---0---0----------0-|---0--------0-|
G|---0-----1------0h2---|-3---2---0---0------|-2---2------(2)-----|-1-----1----1-|
D|-2---0h2---0----------|-------------3------|-----2----2--2------|-----2--(2)---|
A|-3--------------------|--------------------|---------------2----|---------2----|
E|----------------------|--------------------|---------------0----|--------------|


D:Third Verse:

I sing the song because I love the man  I know that some of you don't understand
E|---2---2---2---0-|--------0---------0-|--------------------|------------------0-|
B|---3---3---3---3-|----3---3-----3---3-|----3---3---3-----3-|-----3---3--3--3--0-|
G|-----2---2---2---|------2---------2---|------0-0---0-----0-|---0-0---0--0--0----|
D|-0---0---0---0---|-0---------0--------|-0----0---0---------|-0---0---0-----0----|
A|-----------------|-3----3----3----3---|-2----2---2----2----|-1---1---1-----1----|
E|-----------------|--------------------|------3--------3----|--------------------|

      milk         blood to keep from     runnin' out
E|-------0---------|-------1---------|-----------------|----------------------|
B|---1---1---1---1-|---x-1-1---1---0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0-----0-----0----0-|
G|-0---0-----0---0-|-2-------2---2-0-|---2---2---2---2-|---1----(1)----0---(0)|
D|-2---2---2---2---|-3-------3---3---|-----2-----------|-----------2h4---2--0-|
A|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|-2---2---2---2---|-2---0h2--------------|
E|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0---0---|-0--------------------|


E:Fourth Verse:

I've seen the needle and the damage  done.        A little part of it in ev'ryon
E|----2-----------2-------|---------0-----0-----0-|---------0-----------|--------|
B|----3-----3-----3-----3-|---------3-----3-----3-|---3-----3-----3-----|--------|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2----|---2---2-2-----2-----2-|-0-------------0-----|--------|
D|-0-----0-----0-----0----|---0---0---------------|-0-------------------|--------|
A|------------------------|-3---3------3-----3----|-2----2-----2----2---|--------|
E|------------------------|-----------------------|------3----------3---|--------|

 But ev'ry junkie's like a setting sun.
E|---------0-----------0-|--------1-------0-|-------0----0---0-|----0-----------0-|
B|----1----------1-----1-|----1---1---1---0-|---0---0----0---0-|----0-----0-----0-|
G|------0-----------0----|------2---2---2---|---2---2----2---2-|----------1-----0-|
D|------2-----2-----2----|-3----3---3---3---|-2---2---(2)--2---|-2----------2h4---|
A|-3----3-----3-----3----|-3----------------|-2--(2)---2---2---|-2----0h2---------|
E|-----------------------|------------------|-0------------0---|-0----------------|

F.Outro
E|----2-----0--------2--0-|----------0-----0--0--0-|-------0--------0-|----0-----|
B|----3--3--3-----3--3--3-|----3--3--3-----3--3--3-|---3-3-3----3-3-3-|----3-----|
G|-2-----2-----2--2--2--2-|----2--2--2-----2--2--2-|---0-0-0----0-0-0-|----0-----|
D|-0-----0-----0--0--0--0-|-------0-----------0----|-0---0----0---0---|-0-----0--|
A|------------------------|-3-----3-----3-----3----|-2---2----2---2---|-1-----1--|
E|------------------------|------------------------|------------------|----------|

Needle and the damage done (2)
E|------------------------------|


One of the first songs I ever learned on guitar!

This is not identical to what Neil plays on the record (his C/F
section is very slightly different) but your audience won't pick it.
Especially with your wailing emotional vocal over the top (so to speak).


(^H means hammer-on where indicated)

E|--------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|
B|----3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|
G|----2-------2---2-|---2-------2---2-|---0-------0---0-|---0-------0---0-|
D|--0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|------------------|-3---3---3---3---|-2---2---2---2---|-1---1---1---1---|
E|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

E|----0----0---0----0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
B|----1----1---1----1-|---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
G|-----------0---02---|-3---2---0-------|-2---------------|-1---------------|
D|------02------------|-------------3---|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|
A|--3-----------------|-----------------|---------2-------|---------2-------|
E|--------------------|-----------------|-------------0---|-------------0---|
       ^H       ^H


E|--------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|
B|----3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|
G|----2-------2---2-|---2-------2---2-|---0-------0---0-|---0-------0---0-|
D|--0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|------------------|-3---3---3---3---|-2---2---2---2---|-1---1---1---1---|
E|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

E|----0----0---0----0-|---1----1---1-----1-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0----0-|
B|----1----1---1----1-|---1----1---1-----1-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0----0-|
G|--------------------|-----02--------02---|-2---------------|-1----------------|
D|------02-------02---|-3--------3---------|-----2-----------|-----2------------|
A|--3--------3--------|--------------------|---------2-------|---------2---02---|
E|--------------------|--------------------|-------------0---|------------------|
       ^H       ^H         ^H        ^H                                   ^H


                     The Needle and the Damage Done
                    by Neil Young, on Harvest (1972)


 Intro and half-way interlude without vocals:
 [I play this as an extremely regular alternate bass/high picking with
  either a flat pick or two fingers; all notes (or pairs of notes in the
  hammer-ons and slides) in what I outline here should have the same
  duration]

    D               D/C             D/B             D/Bb
  e---2---0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
  b-----------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---0-------|
  gE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|
  d-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0-------------|
  a-----------------3---------------2---------------1-----------0---------|
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|

    C               F               Esus4           E
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|
  b---1---1---1---1---1---1---1---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------|
  g---------0--0h2--3---2---0-------2---------------1---------------------|
  d----0h2----------------------3-------2-------2-------2-----------------|
  a-3E|------------------------------|---------2---------------2---0---------|
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|

 Verses:
 [Note how the first strip of tab is identical; what changes is the way
  the C and F chords are played (simplified) and the passage from the
  concluding E chord to the D chord that starts off the next verse.]

    D               D/C             D/B             D/Bb
  e---2---0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
  b-----------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---0-------|
  gE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|
  d-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0-------------|
  a-----------------3---------------2---------------1-----------0---------|
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|

    C               F               Esus4           E
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|
  b---1---1---1---1---1---1---1---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------|
  g---------0---------------2------0h2--------------1---------------------|
  d----0h2------2-------3-------3-------2-------2----------2\4--2---------|
  a-3---------------3-----------------------2----------0h2----------------|
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|

 Conclusion:
 [This is just the intro but truncated early]

    D               D/C             D/B             D/Bb
  e---2---0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
  b-----------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------------------|
  gE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|
  d-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0-----------------|
  a-----------------3----------------2--------------1---------------------|
  eE|E|------------------------------|E|------------------------------|------|-----|

 Lyrics:
 [I couldn't fit these too well under the tab, but knowing how to play
  the tab and knowing the song well should allow you to sing while
  playing.  To synchronize the lyrics and tab I have placed the approximate
  chords on the text.  But C  NOT try to just strum these chords; that
  idea just does not work with this song: you must pick it!]

     D                           D/C
     I caught you knocking at my cellar door

     D/B                    D/Bb
     I love you baby, can I have some more

     C   F              Esus4   E
     Ooo ooo the damage done


     D                    D/C
     I hit the city and I lost my band

     D/B                         D/Bb
     I watched the needle take another man

     C     F                Esus4   E
     Gone, gone, the damage done

     [repeat the intro without words]


     D                         D/C
     I sing the song because I loved the man
     D/B                           D/Bb
     I know that some of you won't understand
     C     F                  Esus4   E
     Milk, blood to keep from running out


     D                            D/C
     I've seen the needle and the damage done
     D/B                    D/Bb
     A little part of it in everyone
     C                         F            Esus4   E
     But every junkie's like a setting sun

+++++++++
 lyrics: audio
 chords: audio
 corrections/additions welcome
 rcwoods|famoore@unix1.tcd.ie
E|-----------------|

 The Needle and the Damage Done : Harvest


 E --- -2- --- -0- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- ---
 B --- --- --- --- --- -3- --- -3-  --- -3- --- --- --- -3- --- -3-
 G --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 D -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 A --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  -3- --- -3- --- -3- --- -3- ---
 E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

 E --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- ---
 B --- -3- --- --- --- -3- --- -3-  --- -3- --- --- --- -3- --- -0-
 G --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 D --- --- -0- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- -0- --- --- --- --- ---
 A -2- --- --- --- -2- --- -2- ---  -1- --- --- --- -1- --- -1- ---
 E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

 note: the very last note is an open b, as the chord changes to a C.

 E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 B --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1-  --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1-
 G --- --- --- --- -0- --- -2- ---  2H3 --- -2- --- -0- --- --- ---
 D --- --- 0H2 --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- -3- ---
 A -3- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

 E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 B --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0-  --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- ---
 G -2- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  -1- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
 A --- --- -2- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- -2- --- --- --- --- ---
 D --- --- --- --- -2- --- -0- ---  --- --- --- --- -2- --- -0- ---
 E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---  --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

 I caught you knocking at my cellar door,
 I love you baby can i have some more
 Oh-oh the damage done

 I hit the city and i lost my van
 I watched the needle take another man
 Gone, gone, the damage done

 I sing the song because i love the man
 I know that some of you don't understand
 Milk blood to keep from running out

 I've seen the needle and the damage down
 A little part of it in everyone
 Every junky's like a setting sun