This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.


From: Andrew Rogers - rogers@hi.com
Written and performed: Curtis Mayfield


People Get Ready

[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
	F# ---------------------|---------------------
	A# -3/5\3---------------|-----------------3---
	F# -2/4\2-----0---------|-0h2p0---------0-0---
	C# -----------2---0---0-|-2-----2-----2-2-2---
	A# -----------0---0-0---|---------1---0-------
	F# ---------------------|-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
	F# -----------------|--------------------
	A# -0h1-0-----------|--------------0-----
	F# -0---0-0---------|-0--0--0--0-2-0-----
	C# -0-----2---2-0-2-|0h2-2-0h2-2-0-------
	A# -------0---------|-1----------------0-
	F# -0---------------|------------2-0-----

	   (D)   (Bm)       (G/D)  (D)
	    v   v   v   v     v   v   v   v
	F# -----------------|-----------------
	A# -1h2-1-----------|-----------------
	F# -1---1-1---------|-1-1---1---------
	C# -1-----3---3-1-3-|-3-3---1-----1---
	A# -------1---------|-2-2---1---1-----
	F# -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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