REELIN' IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan
---------------------------------
From the album 'Alive in America'
Transcribed by Howard Wright
hakwright (at) gmail (dot) com
This is based on the live version of the song, from the 'Alive ...'
release. There are quite a few differences with the original recording -
the chords for the verse have been spiced up a bit, and there are a couple
of new changes thrown in as well. In the chorus, the new version uses
nearly all Gmaj7 and F#m7 chords - the original used Aadd2 chords as
well. But - if you play these chords along with the original track,
most of them should work OK.
For the chorus sequence (which is repeated several times for the solos)
there are only two basic chords - Gmaj7, and F#m7. I've listed the chord
shapes at the end, and I've written out some alternatives for these two
chords. For example, you could play D/G and F#m11 and it will work fine.
Choose the shapes you prefer for these two chords, or mix and match all
the different possible shapes.
/ indicates another beat on the same chord. This does not indicate the strumming
pattern - it just shows roughly how long you stick with each chord. Listen to the
track to get the strumming patterns - as a rough guide, for the verses you change
to each chord just before the beat. For the choruses you play more on the beat,
with a triplet feel.
INTRO :
--------
Aadd2
Gmaj7 / / / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 /
Rest of the band come in here
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / Asus2/C#
VERSE 1:
---------
The way I've written the words under the chords here is only an approximation
of the way it actually sounds on the live version. Donald really rushes
through some of the lines - so I've put the chord changes to correspond
more closely with the changes in the original version.
D Asus2/C# Bm11 F#m11
You're everlasting summer you can see it fading fast
D Asus2/C# A/B E/F#
So you grab a piece of something that you think is gonna last
Em7 Bsus2/D# Dm7 Asus2/C#
Well you wouldn't know a diamond if you held it in your hand
D Asus2/C# D/E
The things you think are precious I can't understand
CHORUS 1:
----------
A / Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Are you reelin' in the years stowin' away the time are you gatherin' up the
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / Asus2/C#
tears have you had enough of mine
VERSE 2:
---------
(Chords are the same as verse 1)
You've been telling me you're a genius since you were 17
In all the years I've known you I still don't know what you mean
The weekend in the college didn't turn out like you planned
The things that pass for knowledge I can't understand
CHORUS 2:
----------
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
SOLO 1 (Guitar - Walter)
-------------------------
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
SOLO 2 (Sax)
-------------
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / Dsus2/C#
VERSE 3:
---------
I've spent a lot of money and I've spent a lot of time
The trip we made to Hollywood is etched upon my mind
After all the things we've done and said you find a nother man
The things you think are useless I can't understand
CHORUS:
--------
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
RIFF
-----
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
SOLO 3 (Guitar - Wadenius)
---------------------------
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
CHORUS (with guitar solo continuing)
-------------------------------------
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
Gmaj7 / / / F#m7 / / /
OUTTRO:
--------
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
Gmaj7 / / / B/A / / /
B/A / / / B/A /
Chord Shapes:
-------------
Try out any of these G-type and F#m-type chords for the chorus/solo sequences.
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE E A D G B E E A D G B E
x07600 3x443x 3xx232 3x5432 x 10 12 11 12 10 x 10 9 11 10 0
Aadd2 Gmaj7 D/G Gmaj7 Gmaj7 Gmaj9add6
EADGBE E A D G B E
355400 x 10 9 7 0 0
G6 G6
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE E A D G B E EADGBE
242222 242252 244200 2x2200 x 9 11 9 10 9 x97500
F#m7 F#m7 F#m11 F#m11 F#m7 F#m7
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x02220 x5777x x4x455 x2x230
A D Asus2/C# Bm11
E A D G B E EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x x 9 9 10 9 x9x997 x79787 x6x677
A/B E/F# Em7 Bsus2/C#
EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE EADGBE
x57565 x7777x 5x444x x0444x
Dm7 D/E B/A B/A
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Last updated: July 2020
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