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Mary

by Sublime • Lesson #45 • Feb 9, 2017

Editor’s Notes

Here’s a lesson teaching the song Mary by Sublime. I’ll teach the chords, progression, and include tabs for the small riff heard just before the chorus. Enjoy!

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Chords needed

E –––0––––3––––0––––1––––2––––
B –––1––––0––––1––––1––––3––––
G –––0––––0––––2––––2––––2––––
D –––2––––0––––2––––3––––0––––
A –––3––––2––––0––––3–––––––––
E ––––––––3–––––––––1–––––––––
     C    G    Am   F    D

Chord progressions

This one is pretty straightforward. There’s three main chunks to memorize.

First, the verse. Note that there are a few times in the Sublime version where Bradley slips in an A-minor in place of a G, for some of the chords. This was probably because the song was recorded under what sounds like casual circumstances – some free play is not to be surprising.

"Maybe one breath away..."

C . . . G . . . C . . . G . . .     x2

Second, the start of the chorus (if you can call it that).

"I don't know if I can..."

C . . . Am . . . C . . . Am . . .   x1

Third, the turnaround (end of the chorus). Immediately after this, you’ll begin the next verse (return to C).

"Mary baby, please don't fuss and fight"

F . . . F . . . D . G .

Lyrics with chords

C         G           C                G
Maybe one breath away... I'll find the words to say
C               G               C              G
...I'll sit and light the bong... I'll hold my hit in real long

    C               Am          C       Am            F
    ...I don't know if I can... go up inside of you tonight
       (F)           D            G
    Oh, Mary baby... please don't fuss and fight

C                   Am
...You've heard the line before...
      C                 G
Mary, baby please don't think I'm a whore
C              G                       C
...If you come home to me turn off the lights...
                                 G
And lock up the doors, and start getting busy

    C               Am        C            Am           F
    ...I don't know if I can, go so far up inside you tonight
       (F)        D       G
    Oh, Mary baby I could do it right

C              G           C                   G
...When we got to the pad... Mary baby started calling me her dad
C           Am            C              G
...Yes, she gave me head... we could not find a damn bed

    C                Am            C             Am
    ...Fifteen years old plus one, hotter than a microwave oven
    F                D        G           C
    ...Oh Mary baby, daddy is coming home

Mini verse riff

At the end of the chorus (the final G before you begin the C-Am-C-Am section), you’ll often hear something like this. Here’s how I play it… watch my video for context.

E ––––3––––––––––––––––0–––––
B ––––0––––––––––––––––1–––––
G ––––0––––––––––––––––0–––––
D ––––0––––––––––––0–––2–––––
A ––––2––––––––––2–––––3–––––
E ––––3––––––––3–––––––––––––
      G                C

I hope that helps!

Let me know if you have questions. Are there any other Sublime songs you’d like to see lessons for? Hit me up, and I may add them!

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