Scarecrow People

(Partridge)

#\#i#/#Oranges & Lemons#\#/i#/#

Oranges & Lemons

Recordings
XTCfans interview with Andy Partridge
Art
Lyrics
Chords and Tablature
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Recordings

  1. Album version, 4'12.
    Released on Oranges & Lemons.
    Andy: “This is my favorite song on the album. Humans are the most deadly, uncaring, devious and destructive creatures on the planet. So I invented a Scarecrow Land and the aliens from there fly in and want to know how we make war and mess things up because humans are so brilliant at it. They admire all the bad things we do and are as dead as we are from the neck up. It's a world-turned-upside-down song. There's an American folk flavor to it also. We had a big sheet of paper tacked to the wall of the studio that said 'needs sense of Idaho'.”
  2. BBC version, 4'11.
    Recorded 16 March 1989 at BBC Studios.
    Produced by Peter Watts. Engineered by Ted De Bono and Tim Durham.
    First broadcast 5 April 1989 on the Richard Skinner Show.
    Released on 5 October 1994 on Drums and Wireless in the U.K.
    Also available on Transistor Blast.
    Andy Partridge - vocals, guitars and keyboards
    Colin Moulding - vocals and bass guitar
    Dave Gregory - guitars, vocals, keyboards and drum programming
    Andy: “[Guitarist] Dave Gregory was in a car crash on the way to London for this session. His amp was all smashed in. The only thing that was undamaged, thankfully, was some funky little Sly & Robbie drum programming he'd done for the sessions. It's always been a favorite song of mine, and this is a pretty immediate version. The funkiness of the programmed drum make it great for inclusion.”
  3. Demo version.
    Released on 25 September 2006 on Fuzzy Warbles Volume Seven in the U.K.
    Also released on the Blu-ray reissue of Oranges & Lemons on 30 October 2015 in the U.K.
    Andy: “Christ it's nearly that ‘Don't Stop the Music’ rhythm again. One of my favourite songs put up for Oranges and Lemons. I have no idea where this funky plough, rake and hoe down came from, other than in my little head. The main verse chord made me think of the land. Big, open, while the trotting feel of the guitar put up a farm or two. Don't let them tell you there's no such thing as Monsanto Claws.”
  4. 2015 stereo mix.
    Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
    Released on the CD/Blu-ray reissue of Oranges & Lemons on 30 October 2015 in the U.K.
  5. 2015 5.1 mix.
    Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
    Released on the Blu-ray reissue of Oranges & Lemons on 30 October 2015 in the U.K.
  6. 2015 instrumental mix.
    Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
    Released on the Blu-ray reissue of Oranges & Lemons on 30 October 2015 in the U.K.

Art

#\#a href="http://youtu.be/vXo31pVOq3U" target="churl"#/#“Scarecrow People” unplugged, #\#i#/#Post Modern MTV#\#/i#/#, May 1989#\#/a#/#

“Scarecrow People” unplugged, Post Modern MTV, May 1989

#\#a href="http://gedatsu-kitteh.deviantart.com/art/Scarecrow-People-258953554" target="churl"#/#Scarecrow People by gedatsu-kitteh#\#/a#/#

Scarecrow People by gedatsu-kitteh

 

Lyrics

  Hope you enjoyed your flight in one of our new straw aeroplanes, you'll find things here are just like what you're used to. There's lots of waste and razor wire and no one gives a damn about the land, we just stand around and stare like you folks do.
  For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow people, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
  Hope you enjoyed your meal it's only gas and chemicals, we thought that you'd prefer something not nature made. Now while you're here, can you advise us on a war we'd like to start, against some scarecrows over there, a different shade?
  For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow people, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
  We don't have no tears here, no one hopes or cares or fears here, for the old, the sick, the poor and them what taint you. We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours, 'cause you're the smartest animals on earth, now ain't you?
  We don't have no love here, there's no need to rise above here, no one wants to write a book or try to paint thee. We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours, 'cause we're all dead from our necks up, now ain't we?
  And we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts, it's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart. We're the scarecrow people, have we got lots in common with you. And if you don't start living well, you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.
  And I ain't got no brains and I ain't got no heart, it's just them other humans tear my soul apart. I'm a scarecrow person, have I got quite some message for you. For if we don't start learning well, we're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too!

© 1989 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.


Chords and Tablature

Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:04:33 -0400
From: "J. D. Mack" <jdmack01 (at) verizon dot net>
Subject: Something for the Chalkhills website
Message-id: <6a2b0d1f-9508-602f-eb91-c715a1d83220 (at) verizon dot net>

Attached is a labor of love I've been working on for the past few weeks. It is bass guitar transcriptions for all of the songs on "Oranges and Lemons" - both notation and tab.

Thanks!

J. D.


From: "Lin Sprague" <lsprague (at) channel1 dot com>
Message-Id: <199912272118.QAA01633 (at) chmls05 dot mediaone dot net>
Organization: WhizBang InnerPrizes, Oink!
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 1999 16:20:06 -0500
Subject: Guitar tab for Scarecrow People


Scarecrow People
by Andy Partridge
from the album "Oranges and Lemons"


This is based on a live acoustic version of the song from their radio
promo tour of 1989, rather than the electric studio version. It's
mainly Andy's rhythm part, and it ignores most of Dave Gregory's nice
fills, mainly because I can't do them both at once!

You'll see a chord I've called ChordX - this is because I can't decide
on a name for it that describes it's harmonic function. I hear some sort
of B harmony implied here, probably because of Dave's riff [**6], but
the bass dances between C# and A, avoiding the B note entirely. Also,
the chord itself is too ambiguous in sound to really be called a B with
any conviction. The whole thing looks and is played more like an A, and
the melody is rather A-ish... but my ears just don't hear it that way.
Maybe it really just alternates between C#m and A - if anyone has an
opinion, please let me know. The whole thing is just terribly
confounding and clever to me - I love it! I'm calling it "ChordX" just
to avoid naming it.


==================================================


(Intro [**1]:) A/D  A/C#  F7


(Verse [**2] - see also Dave's Riff [**6])


ChordX (see below)
Hope you enjoyed your flight in one of our new straw aeroplanes,
       D6/9                 G13                   ChordX
you'll find things here are just like what you're used to.
There's lots of waste and razor wire and no one gives a damn about the
land, we just stand around and stare like you folks do.


(Chorus [**3]:)

             D      A                   A      D
For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts,
               D        A                  A    D
it's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart.
          Bsus4                  Aadd9          E/G#        ChordX
We're the scarecrow people, have we got lots in common with you.
           Bsus4
And if you don't start living well, you're
              Aadd9             E/G#             ChordX
              all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.



Hope you enjoyed your meal it's only gas and chemicals,
we thought that you'd prefer something not nature made.
Now while you're here, can you advise us on a war we'd like to start,
against some scarecrows over there, a different shade?


For we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts,
it's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart.
We're the scarecrow people, have we got lots in common with you.
And if you don't start living well,
              you're all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.


(Bridge [**4]:)

G#m
We don't have no tears here, no one hopes or cares or fears here,
        A                                     F#7sus4  F#7
for the old, the sick, the poor and them what taint you.
Fm7                            F#7
We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours,
                  A                              B7sus4  B7
'cause you're the smartest animals on earth, now ain't you?


We don't have no love here, there's no need to rise above here,
no one wants to write a book or try to paint thee.
We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours,
'cause we're all dead from our necks up, now ain't we?


And we ain't got no brains and we ain't got no hearts,
it's just that wild old wind that tears us all apart.
We're the scarecrow people, have we got lots in common with you.
And if you don't start living well, you're
           all gonna wind up scarecrow people too.


And I ain't got no brains and I ain't got no heart,
it's just them other humans tear my soul apart.
I'm a scarecrow person, have I got quite some message for you.
For if we don't start learning well, we're
           all gonna wind up scarecrow people too!


(Outro [**5]: similar to Intro, but ends on C#m9)


===============================================================


[**1] Intro:

     A/D A    F7

 e--|5---5---|5-------|--------|-
 B--|2---2---|4-------|--------|-
 G--|2---2---|2-------|- same -|-
 D--|2---2---|3-------|--------|-
 A--|5---4---|--------|--------|-
 E--|--------|--------|--------|-


[**2] Verse: ("ChordX" is the first bar)

     Hope you enjoyed...

 e--|-0-0-0-0|-0-0-0-0|--------|-0-0-0-0|-0-0-0-0|-
 B--|-0-0-0-0|-0-0-0-0|5---5---|-0-0-0-0|-0-0-0-0|-
 G--|-3-3-3-3|-3-3-3-3|4---4---|-3-3-3-3|-3-3-3-3|-
 D--|-2-2-2-2|-2-2-2-2|4---3---|-2-2-2-2|-2-2-2-2|-
 A--|3-0-3-0-|3-0-3-0-|5---5---|3-0-3-0-|3-0-3-0-|-
 E--|--------|--------|----3---|--------|--------|-



[**3] Chorus:

 For we ain't got no brains...

              D   A

 e--|--------|0-0-----|--------|--------|--------|-
 B--|--------|3-3-----|--------|--------|--------|-
 G--|--------|2-2-----|- same -|--same -|- same -|-
 D--|--------|0-4-----|--------|--------|--------|-
 A--|-----024|------04|--------|--------|--------|-
 E--|--------|----02--|--------|--------|--------|-


We're the scarecrow people...

          Bsus4    Aadd9
                       E/G#  ChordX

      e--|0-------|0-------|-0-0-0-0|--------|-
      B--|0-------|0---5---|-0-0-0-0|--------|-
      G--|4-------|2---4---|-3-3-3-3|- same -|-
      D--|4-------|2---2---|-2-2-2-2|--------|-
      A--|2-------|0-------|3-0-3-0-|--------|-
      E--|--------|----4---|--------|--------|-



[**4] Bridge:

     We don't have no tears here...,

     G#m               A      F7sus4 F7

 e--|4-------|--------|--------|2---2---|-
 B--|4-------|--------|2-------|2---2---|-
 G--|4-------|- same -|2-------|4---3---|-
 D--|6-------|--------|2-------|4---4---|-
 A--|6-------|--------|0-------|4---4---|-
 E--|4-------|--------|--------|2---2---|-


     We thought we'd base our civilization upon yours...

     Fm7      F7       A        B7sus4   B7

 e--|2-------|2-------|0-------|2-------|2-------|-
 B--|2-------|2-------|2-------|5-------|4-------|-
 G--|2-------|3-------|2-------|4-------|4-------|-
 D--|2-------|2-------|2-------|4-------|4-------|-
 A--|4-------|4-------|0-------|2-------|2-------|-
 E--|2-------|2-------|--------|--------|--------|-



[**5] Outro:

     A/D A    F7                C#m9

 e--|5---5---|5-------|--------|4-------|-
 B--|2---2---|4-------|--------|4-------|-
 G--|2---2---|2-------|- same -|4-------|-
 D--|2---2---|3-------|--------|2-------|-
 A--|5---4---|--------|--------|4-------|-
 E--|--------|--------|--------|--------|-


[**6] Dave's Riff:

 e--|- - - - - - - - |- - - - 7 - - - |-
 B--|- - - - 7 - - - |- - - - -7- - - |-
 G--|7 - - - -7- - - |7 7 - - - 7 - - |-
 D--|- - 9 - - - 9 - |- - 9 - - - 9 - |-
 A--|- - - - - - - - |- - - - - - - - |-
 E--|- - - - - - - - |- - - - - - - - |-

==============================================


About my tab style:

This message should be displayed in a mono-spaced font, or the chord
diagrams and tablatures will look unaligned.

The letter to the left of the slash in chord names like "A/D" refers to
a triad, and the letter to the right refers to the bass note only.

Each horizontal dashes in the tablature diagram corresponds to an 8th
note. The song remains in 4/4 time throughout.

If you see any mistakes, or have any corrections or alternate ways of
playing any of my tabs, I'd love to hear from you. Please email me at
lsprague@channel1.com or lin.sprague (at) bull dot com

Check out the rest of my guitar tabs at
http://www.channel1.com/users/lsprague/


Last revised  3:27pm Monday, December 27, 1999

Date: Sun, 07 Jan 2007 10:43:23 -0800
From: "Darrell C. Harvey" <Darrell (at) theharveys dot net>
Subject: Scarecrow people (hopefully) without stupid mistakes
Message-ID: <20070107104323.78mxjzbs4kis4swc (at) webmail dot theharveys dot net>


SCARECROW PEOPLE by Andy Partridge
© 1989 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
Transcribed for the XTC Forum by Jeff Truzzi


INTRO (& Outro)********

Asus4
xx0x55

A
x4xx55

F7
xx3545

VERSES********

C#m9
x464xx

(picked like:
x4xxxx
xx64xx


Amaj9
x064xx

(picked like:
x0xxxx
xx64xx

(play 4 times - 2nd & 4th times Bass plays C#, A, F#, A)

F#5
x446xx  (Bass F#, B)

(picked like:
xx4xxx (Bass F#)
xxx6xx
xxx6xx (Bass B)
xx4xxx
x4xxxx


G7
x234xx  (Bass G, F)

(picked like:
n/c---  (Bass G)
xxx4xx
xxx4xx (Bass F)
xx3xxx
x2xxxx

Back to Verse Pattern, and repeat

PRE-CHORUS******

pick up notes: A, B, C#

D, D/F#

(picked like:
xx0xxx  (Bass D)
xxxx3x
xxxx3x  (Bass F#)
xxx2xx
xx0xxx

A/E

(picked like:
0xxxxx  (Bass E)
xxxx2x  (Bass F#)
xxxx2x  (Bass A)
xxx2xx
xx2xxx  (Bass C#)

(Play 4 times)


CHORUS*******

Bsus4  (Bass B, D#, E, F#)
7999xx

Asus4  (Bass G, F#)
x777xx

E5  (Bass G#, B) (2nd time E, D)
x224xx

Play Verse vamp 4 times, then repeat Chorus

BRIDGE********

B6
x24444

A
577655

F#7sus4
242422

F#7
242322

Amaj7
x02224

A6
x02222

A
x02220

F#7/A#
x14320

A

B

GUITAR SOLO (Over Verse)*******

All of the notes are 16th notes except the 'double stops' which are 8ths.
The first note is on the "and" of beat 3.


D#    xxxx4x
E      xxxxx0
D#    xxxx4x
C#    xxx6xx
B      xxxx0x
G#    xxx1xx
A      xxx2xx
B      xxxx0x
G#    xxxxx4
B      xxxx0x
A      xxx2xx
E      xxxxx0
B      xxxx0x
A      xxx2xx
F#    xxxxx2
A      xxx2xx
[repeat]

D#    xxxx4x
E      xxxxx0
D#    xxxx4x
C#    xxx6xx
B       xxxx0x
G#    xx6xxx
A      xx7xxx
C#    xxx6xx
F#     xxxx7x
A       xxxxx5
B G#  xxx4x4
B F#  xxx4x2
A E    xxx2x0
A D    xxx23x
G C#  xxx02x
G B    xxx00x

********
then to 2nd BRIDGE, Final CHORUS, and OUTRO (like Intro)

Andy's Last Chord:

B(add4)/C#
x44440

Dave's Last Chord (you can hear him play strings from high to low at end):
222440

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