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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!
Free Video Lesson
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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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