Suicide is Painless – MASH Theme
The Brothers Four version

Midi 1 (C120)    Midi 2 (D114)
Midi 3(D120)
Tabbed by Mark Purintun (eons ago...)
Lyrics:  Mike Altman  Music:  Johnny Mandel


 


Verse 1:
    6   -5  5  -5  5   -5 5  -4   5  -4   5  -4    5   -4  4
Through early morning fog I see, visions of the things to be,
 5    -4    4   -4   4  -4   4  -3 -4 4 -3 4   -3 4  -4  5
the pains that are withheld for me,
I realize and I can see...

Refrain:
  6  -6 6-6   6  -6  6      6   -6    6 -6 6  -6  6
That suicide is painless.
  It brings on many changes...
 6  5  6   -6   7   -8   7 -6 6   -6
and I can take or leave it if I please.

Verse 2:
 
 6   -5  5   -5  5  -5   5   -4     5  -4 5   -4  5 -4 4 -3
The game of life is hard to play.
  I'm gonna lose it anyway.
 5   -4 4   -4    4   -4  4   -3   -4   4  -3  4  -3  4  -4  5
The losing card I'll someday lay.  So this is all I have to say...
  (
Refrain....)

Verse 3:
  6    -5   5  -5   5    -5    5   -4     5  -4   5   -4   5  -4  4  -3
The sword of time will pierce our skin.
  It doesn't hurt when it begins.
 5  -4  4   -4   4    -4  4 -3   -4   4    -3     4  -3    4   -4    5
But as it works it's way on in, the pain grows stronger, watch it, grin.
(Refrain....)

Verse 4:
 6  -5   5   -5   5  -5  5 -4  5 -4  5   -4   5    -4   4   -3
A brave man once requested me to answer questions that are key.
  5 -4  4 -4  4  -4  4 -3    -4 4 -3  4    -3  4   -4  5
"Is it to be or not to be", and I replied "Oh why ask me?"   (
Refrain....)

Additional verses and ending:

 
6  -5 5  -5  5  -5  5   -4   5   -4  5  -4   5 -4   4   -3
The only way to win is cheat and lay it down before I'm beat
 5  -4  4 -4 4  -4   4  -3   -4   4     -3 4 -3   4  -4    5
And to another give my seat for that's the only painless feat... 
(Refrain....)

6  -5  5  -5  5  -5  5  -4   5   -4  5 -4   5   -4  4
I try to find a way to make all our little joys relate.
  5  -4   4  -4 4  -4  4   -3   -4  4  -3  4   -3    4   -4   5    5
without that ever-present hate but now I know that it's too late, and..
(Refrain..)

 6  5  6   -6  -7   -8   7 -6 6   -6
and I can take or leave it if I please.
    6   5   6  -6  7   -8    7   -6  6    -6
...and you can do the same thing if you please.

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From June 30, 2006