Snowman

(Partridge)

English Settlement

Recordings XTCfans interview with Andy Partridge Art Lyrics Chords and Tablature

Recordings

1. Album version, 4'26.
   Released on English Settlement.
   andy-lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, mini-Korg, prophet V
   colin-fretless bass, backing vocals
   dave-semi acoustic electric 12-string guitar, piano, percussion
   terry-drums and drum synth

2. BBC version.
   Recorded 14 January 1982 at BBC Studios.
   Produced by John Sparrow. Engineered by Mike Robinson.
   First broadcast 25 January 1982 on the David Jensen Show.
   Released on 16 November 1998 on Transistor Blast in the U.K.

3. Live version.
   Recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 21 May 1981.
   Engineered by Chris Blake.
   Mixed by XTC.
   Released on 25 March 2002 on Coat of Many Cupboards in the U.K.
   Andy Partridge - Guitar, Keyboard and Vocals
   Colin Moulding - Bass and Vocals
   Dave Gregory - Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
   Terry Chambers - Drums

   Andy: “Even before recording a note of English Settlement we were trying out some of its songs on our live audience, to tighten them up and see what they would register on the clapometer basically. Again, this one was a joy to play live as I always felt borne along by its clattering clockwork. Time to scat and bend notes the more familiar it became. This pre-Settlement outing doesn't sound half bad in a nervous sort of way, we're growing into it. Where's the dip that goes with my carrot nose?”

[Thanks to R. Stevie Moore]

Art

XTC performing “Snowman” on the Oxford Road Show, 1982

nanopicture inspired by "Snowman"

Lyrics

s n o w m a n
 ii t isn't even winter and I'm freezing, freezing,   and this sort
ii of  feeling  isn't  pleasing   and what  I  want  to  know,  man
ii why, oh why   does  she treat me like a snowman?      she's been
ii building me up quite steadily    seems like I've been here years
 ii and years and years and years;          I wait patiently, froze
in history,    all ice-water   is tears and   tears and  tears  and
tears;  she treats   me far too   frosty,  this   hanging  on   has
cost  me dear. it isn't  even winter  and  I'm shivering, shivering
waiting for the love that's not delivering what I want to know, man
why  oh why  does   she  treat me   like  a snowman?  it seems  you
would    say I   was too  soft-hearted,   if you  made  a dunce-cap
I'd don  it! people  will always   be tempted  to  wipe  their feet
on   anything   with  'welcome' written    on it.    it isn't  even
winter  and I'm    freezing,  freezing,  and  this sort  of feeling
isn't  pleasing  and  what  I   want  to  know,  man why,   oh  why
does she treat me like a snowman?

andy-lead and backing vocals, electric guitar, mini-Korg, prophet V
colin-fretless  bass,  backing  vocals  dave-semi acoustic electric
12-string  guitar,  piano,  percussion  terry-drums and  drum synth
composed by a. partridge

© 1982 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
[Thanks to Gary Jedlicka]

Chords and Tablature

Date: Sat, 29 Nov 1997 04:45:10 +0900
From: Masato Mihara <mihara (at) ceres dot dti dot ne dot jp>
Subject: Chords to "SNOWMAN"
Message-Id: <199711281945.EAA01122 (at) mita1 dot mita dot cc dot keio dot ac dot jp>


SNOWMAN [transcribed by Masato Mihara]

A                       Ab-A     Ab-A
It isn't winter and I'm freezing freezing
A                              Ab-A
And this sort of feeling isn't pleaseing
A                  D
And waht I want to know, man
       F  G                          A
Why oh why  dose she treat me like a snowman?

~~~~~
D   A
    She's been building me
D   A
    Up quite steady
D   A
    Seems like I've been
Bb
Here years and years and years and years

~~~~~
Amaj7         Dmaj7
She treats me far too Frosty
D            E              A
This hanging on has cost me dear

~~~~~
Amaj7         Dmaj7
She treats me far too Frosty
D            E
This hanging on has cost me
F#                               B    Db
It seems you would say I was too soft-hearted
F#                      B       Db
If you made a dunce-cap I'd don it!
F#                 B             Db         F#
People will always be tempted to wipe their feet
                            B       Db
On anything with "welcome" written on it
D    Amaj7   D   Amaj7   D    E

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