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Louise by Leo Kottke

Louise tab by Leo Kottke

Guitar tabs

The 🏷Legendary Bruce Head of www.guitarmusic.org has here painstakingly
transcribed what is probably Leo's best-known vocal performance: Louise. In
staff except for key nouns and verbs so you can keep your place (about one
per line). If you'd like the full version of this tab, visit Bruce's
www.guitarmusic.org, or email me and I'll be happy to send it to you.

Patrick Schwemmer
pschwemm@hotmail.com


Louise
By Paul Siebel
Arranged by Leo Kottke
🎸
Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -
Transcribed by B.A. Head, 04/02/96

>From *Greenhouse*, *My Feet Are Smiling*, and "Home And Away"
This version transcribed from the "Home And Away" video

======================================================================

One of my favourite of Leo's vocal numbers (hey, who can resist a tune about
a truck-stop whore who kills herself?). IMHO, Leo's solo 12-string
accompaniment, deep resonant vocals, and slide interlude are very effective
at evoking the sadness of this song.

"Louise" was written and originally recorded by Paul Siebel, a songwriter
and folk singer from the 60s (where is he now?). Paul originally recorded
this tune with a backing band, which included a pedal steel. You can find
the original recording on the 1995 compilation of Siebel's works issued by
Rounder Records (Philo CD PH 1161).

I've approximated Leo's picking pattern in this tab. Leo generally moves
between the bottom three strings for the bass (e.g., low D to D, A to D, low
D to D with some variation). Leo also strums the open chords with his thumb
at certain times for emphasis. I've included a couple of these in the tab
(abbreviated as "TS").

The slide solo section alternates between the use of the fingers and the use
of the slide. I've noted this in the tab by using "S" when you sound the
note or chord with the slide, and "F" when you sound the note or chord by
fretting it with your finger. If you don't have a slide handy, you can
finger all the changes. It does sound a whole lot better with slide, though.
Remember to add vibrato on key notes in the solo section.

If you use the slide, put it on your pinky which will free up your other
three fingers for the chords during the verses.

Leo tunes his guitar two whole-steps down for this tune. You may want to
adjust the tuning according to your vocal range.

Bruce
-----cut here----

Louise
by Paul Siebel

arr. by Leo Kottke
transcribed by B.A. Head

12-string guitar
Dropped D tuning (tuned down two whole steps to Bb-F-Bb-Eb-G-C (low to
high))

                           TS
E---||---------|---------------2---------------------0---0------------------
B---||---------|-------3-----------------0-----------0-----------0----------
G---||*---4:---|--------------------2h3----------0---0----------------------
D---||*---4:---|-----------0----------0--------------0---------------0------
A---||---------|-------------------------------------5----------------------
D---||---------|---0--------------0----------5-------5-------5--------------
          D             G

        TS
E---------------2---2-------------------------0---0-------------------------
B---0-------3---3-----------------0-----------0-----------0-------0---1-----
G---------------2-----------2h3-----------0---0-----------------------0-----
D---------------0-------------0---------------0---------------0-------1-----
A---------------0-----------------------------5-----------------------0-----
D-------0---------------0-------------5---------------5---------------------
      D             G

                  1.     said
E---------------------------------------------------2-----------------------
B---/2-------2-------2/3/5~~~--R------------3---------------0---------------
G----0-------------------0-----E--------------------------------------------
D----2---2-------------3-5-----S----------------0---------------0-----------
A----------------0-------0-----T--------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------0---------------0-------------------
   A7                 D

  Louise
E---0-----------------------------------------------0-----------------------
B-----------0-------0-------3-------3-------0---------------0-----0---------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------0---------------0---------------2---------------0h-2--------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------5---------------0---------------2---------------2----------2--------
    G        D        E

                writ-  ten
E-----------0-------------------------------0---------------0---------------
B-------------------0-------0-------0---------------0---------------2-------
G---1-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------2-------------------------------0---------------0-------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------0-----------
D---------------2-------4-------5---------------5---------------------------
                G                A7

        window     shades         TS
E-------0-------------------0---------------2-----------0---2---------------
B-------------------2---------------3---------------3---3-----------3-------
G---------------------------------------2---------------2-------------------
D---2-------------------2-------------------------------0-------------------
A---------------0---------------------------------------0-------------------
D-------------------------------0---------------0-------2-------0-----------
                D

              And though
E-------2-----------------------------------2---------------0---------------
B-------------------3-------3-------3---------------3---------------0-------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---0-----------------------------------0---------------0-------------------
A---------------2-------0---------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------0---------------0---------------5-----------
                                G

    little       girl
E-------0---------------0---------------0-----------------------------0-----
B---------------3---------------0---------------0-----0---------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------1-------------
D---0---------------0---------------2---------------0----h2-------2---------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------2---------------2-------------2-----------------
      D        E

      de-   ceiver
E-------------------------------0---------------0---------------0-----------
B-------0-------0-------0---------------0---------------2-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------0---------------0---------------2---------------
A---------------------------------------------------0-----------------------
D---2-------4-------5---------------5---------------------------------------
          G                A7

          trade
E---------------0---------------2---------------2---------------------------
B-------2---------------3---------------3-----------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------0-------0-----------
D-----------2---------------0---------------0-------------------------------
A---0-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------0---------------0---------------2-------4---------------
          D

  Sometimes
E---------------0-------------------------------0---------------0-----------
B-------0---------------0-------0-------2---------------2-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------0---------------2---------------2---------------
A-----------------------------------0---------------0-----------------------
D---5---------------5-------------------------------------------------------
  G                A7               D

  perfume         TS
E---------------2-----------0---2---------------2---------------------------
B-------3---------------3---3-----------3-----------3---2-------0-----------
G---------------------------2-----------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------
A---------------------------0-----------------------------------------------
D---0---------------0-------0-------0---------------0-----------------------


  Flowers
E---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------2-----------
B-------0---------------0---------------2---------------2-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------0---------------2---------------2---------------
A-----------------------------------0---------------0-----------------------
D---5---------------5-------------------------------------------------------
  G                A7               D

  lace
E---------------2-----------------------------------------------------------
B-------3---------------------7~~~-------7-------7-------5-------0----------
G-----------------------2/7----------------------7-------6-------0----------
D-----------0-------------0------------------0---------------0--------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---0---------------0----------------0---------------0---------------5------
                                   G

    Men
E-----------0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------
B-------------------0---------------2---------------2-----------------------
G---0-----------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------0---------------0---------------2---------------2-------------------
A-------------------------------0---------------0---------------------------
D---------------5-----------------------------------------------------------


  trinkets
E---------------2---------------2---------------2---------------0-----------
B-------3---------------3---------------3---------------3-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---0---------------0---------------0---------------0-----------------------
  D                                E

  intentions
E---------------0-----------------------------0-----------------------------
B-------0---------------0-----0-----------------------0-------2-------------
G-------------------------------------1-----------------------0-------------
D-----------2---------------0h----2-------2---------------2---2-------2-----
A-------------------------------------------------------------0-------------
D---2---------------2-------------2---------------2-------------------------
                               A7

                And   every-     bo-   dy
E---------------------------------------------------2-----------------------
B---2-------2---/---3---/---5--R------------3-------------------------------
G-----------0---/---0---/---0--E----------------------------0-------0-------
D-----------2---/---3---/---5--S----------------0---------------------------
A-------0-----------0----------T--------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------0---------------0-------4-----------

                    D
               she cried
E---------------0h2-----------0---------------0-----------------------------
B---------------------3---------------0---------------0-----0---------------
G-------0-----------------------------------------------------------1-------
D-----------0-------------0---------------2---------------0h----2-----------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---5-------------0---------------2---------------2-------------2-----------
  G       D        E

          but   women
E-------0-------------------------------0-----------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------0-------0-------2-----------
G---------------0-------0-------0-------------------------------------------
D---2-------------------------------0---------------0---------------2-------
A-----------------------------------------------------------0---------------
D-----------2-------4-------5---------------5-------------------------------
              G                A7

       get     by
E---0---------------0h2-----------2-----------0---2---------------2---------
B-----------2-------------3---------------3---3-----------3-----------------
G---------------------------------------------2-----------------------------
D---------------2-------------0---------------0---------------0-------------
A-------0-------------------------------------0-----------------------2-----
D---------------------0---------------0-------0-------0---------------------
          D             TS

          S      S           S    S   F
E---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
B---0-------0---|-----------------------------------------------------------
G---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------
D---------------|---2/4~~~-------4\2---0-------0-------2/4~~~---4\2---------
A-------0-------|------------0-------------2--------------------------2-----
D---------------|-----0------------0---------------0---0--------0-----0-----
           F   F   F  F  F  F  F  F    F   F

  F      S      F    F    F    S    S  S  S
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------------1--------------------------------5------
D---0-------2---4---\---0---2---------------2-------3/5~~~-------5----------
A-----------2---4---\---0-------2---------------2---3-5------5--------------
D-------0---2---4---\---0---2-----------2-----------3-5--------------5------
    F  F        F  F    F    F

      S    S  S  S    F  F    F    F  F   F
E-----------------------------------------------0---------------------------
B-------------------------------0---3-----------3-----------------2---------
G---\3\0--------------------7\5\--------0---------------0-------------------
D----------5/7~~~-------7-----------4-------4---------------4\2-------2-----
A----------5-7------7-----------------------------------------0-------------
D----------5-7--------------7-------0---------------0-----------------------
    F  S        S  F  F    F    F     F    F

  F    F        S      S           S
E---0-------------------|---------------------------------------------------
B-----------2-----------|---------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------
D---------------2-------|---2/4~~~-------4\2---0-------0-------2/4----------
A-------0---------------|------------0-------------2------------------------
D-----------------------|-----0------------0---------------0---0------------
    F    F       F   F   F  F  F  F  F  F

     S   F  F      S      F    F    F    S
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------1-----------------------
D---~~~---4\2-------0-------2---4---\---0---2---------------2-------3-------
A---------------2-----------2---4---\---0-------2---------------2---3-------
D---------0-----0-------0---2---4---\---0---2-----------2-----------3-------
     F   F    F  F        F  F    F    F

      S  S  S    S    S  S  S  F    F  F    F
E--------------------------------------------------------------------0------
B------------------------------------------------0-------3-----------3------
G-------------------5\3\0--------------------7\5\------------0--------------
D---/5~~~-------5-----------5/7~~~-------7---------------4-------4----------
A----5------5---------------5-7------7--------------------------------------
D----5--------------5-------5-7--------------7-----------0------------------
            F  S        S      F    F

    F      2.     every-       body
E---------------|---------------------------2---------------0---------------
B-------3/5\2---|-------------------3---------------0---------------0-------
G-----------0---|-----------------------------------------------------------
D---------5-2---|-----------------------0---------------0-------------------
A-----------0---|-----------------------------------------------------------
D---0-----------|---------------0---------------0---------------5-----------
  F   F F          D                G

              sad
E---------------------------------------0-----------------------------0-----
B-------0-------3-------3-------0---------------0-----0---------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------------1-------------
D---0---------------0---------------2---------------0h----2-------2---------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------2---------------2-------------2-----------------
      D        E

      they  found
E-------------------------------0---------------0---------------0-----------
B-------0-------0-------0---------------0---------------2-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------0---------------2---------------
A---------------------------5-----------------------0-----------------------
D---2-------4-------5---------------5---------------------------------------
          G                A7

          room
E---------------0---------------2-----------0---2---------------2-----------
B-------2---------------3---------------3---3-----------3-------------------
G---------------------------2---------------2-------------------------------
D-----------2-------------------------------0---------------0---------------
A---0---------------------------------------0-------------------------------
D-------------------0---------------0-------2-------0-----------------------


        They'd always
E-------------------------------2---------------0---------------0-----------
B-------3-------3-------3---------------3---------------0-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------------------0---------------0---------------0---------------
A---2-------0---------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------0---------------0---------------5---------------0-------
                          G        D

        kind
E-----------0---------------0-----------------------------0-----------------
B---3---------------0---------------0-----0-----------------------0---------
G-------------------------------------------------1-------------------------
D-------0---------------2---------------0h----2-------2---------------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------2---------------2-------------2---------------2-------------
        E

      cried
E-----------------------0---------------0---------------0-------------------
B-------0-------0---------------0---------------2---------------2-----------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------0---------------0---------------2-----------------------
A-------------------------------------------0---------------0---------------
D---4-------5---------------5-----------------------------------------------
      G                A7

  afternoon                        TS
E-------0---------------2---------------2-------------------0---------------
B---------------3---------------3---------------------------0---------------
G-----------------------------------------------0-------0---0---------------
D---2---------------0---------------0-----------------------0---------------
A-----------------------------------------------------------5---------------
D-----------0---------------0---------------2-------4-------5---------------
      D                        G

  Louise   rode
E---------------------------0-----------------------------------2-----------
B---------------------------2---------------------------3-------------------
G---------------------------0-----------------------------------------------
D---------------------------2-------------------------------0---------------
A---------------------------0-----------------------------------------------
D---------------------------------------------------0---------------0-------
              A7           D

    TS                       Some  where
E-------0---2---------------2-------------------------------0---------------
B---3---3-----------3-----------3---2-------0-------0---------------0-------
G-------2-------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------0---------------0---------------0-----------------------------------
A-------0-----------------------------------------------5-------------------
D-------0-------0---------------0---------------5---------------5-----------
                        G

      south
E-------0---------------0---------------2---------------2-------------------
B---------------2---------------2---------------3---------------------7-----
G---------------------------------------------------------------2/7---------
D---0---------------2---------------2---------------0-------------0---------
A-----------0---------------0-----------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------0---------------0---------------
      A7               D

                         Too   bad
E-----------------------------------------------------0---------------------
B---~~~-------7-------7---5-----------0-----------------------0-------------
G---------------------7---6-----------0-------0-----------------------------
D-----------------0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------0-----------0-------------------5---------------5-----------------
                     G


  ended
E---0---------------0---------------0---------------2---------------2-------
B-----------2---------------2---------------3---------------3---------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---------------2---------------2---------------4---------------4-----------
A-------0---------------0---------------2---------------2-------------------
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    A7               Bm

              Too   bad
E---------------2---------------2---------------0---------------------------
B-------3---------------3---------------0---------------0-----0-------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------4---------------4---------------2---------------0h----2---------
A---2---------------2-------------------------------------------------------
D-----------------------------------2---------------2-------------2---------
                  E

          this  way
E-----------0---------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------0-------2-------2-------2---/---3---/---5---------------
G---1-----------------------0---------------0---/---0---/---0---------------
D-------2---------------2---2---2-----------2---/---3---/---5---------------
A---------------------------0-----------0-----------0-----------------------
D---------------2-----------------------------------------------------------
              A7

  the   wind
E-------------------2-------------------------------------------------------
B-----------3-------------------------------------------------------0-------
G---------------------------0-------0-------0-----------2-------------------
D---------------0-------------------------------0-----------0---------------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-------0---------------0-------4-------5-----------0-----------2-----------
    D                G      D      E

                         good  night
E-------0-----------------------------0-------------------------------0-----
B---------------0-----0-----------------------------------------------------
G-----------------------------1---------------0-------0-------0-------------
D---2---------------0h----2-------2-------------------------------0---------
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------2-------------2---------------2-------4-------5-----------------
                             G

      Lou-  ise,
E-------------------------------0---------------2---------------2-----------
B-------0-------0-------2---------------2---------------3-------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D-----------0---------------2---------------2---------------0---------------
A-------------------0---------------0---------------------------------------
D---5-----------------------------------------------0---------------0-------
          A7             D

                          S      S
E-------0---2---------------2-------------------|---------------------------
B---3---3-----------3---------------0-------0---|---------------------------
G-------2---------------------------------------|---------------------------
D-------0---------------0-----------------------|---2/4~~~-------4\2--------
A-------0-----------------------2-------0-------|------------0--------------
D-------0-------0-------------------------------|-----0------------0--------
    TS                      F   F   F

          S    S   F  F      S      F
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------
G---------------------------------------------------------------------------
D---0-------0-------2/4~~~---4\2-------0-------2---4---\---0---2------------
A-------2--------------------------2-----------2---4---\---0-------2--------
D---------------0---0--------0-----0-------0---2---4---\---0---2------------
  F  F  F  F  F    F   F    F  F        F  F

  F      S    S  S  S    S    S  S  S    F  F
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------------0---3---------
G---1----------------------------5\3\0--------------------7\5\--------0-----
D---------------3/5~~~-------5-----------5/7~~~-------7-----------4---------
A-----------2---3-5------5---------------5-7------7-------------------------
D-------2-------3-5--------------5-------5-7--------------7-------0---------
    F              F  S        S  F  F

    F    F  F         [Slow slide, lots of vibrato]
E-------0-----------------0-------|---5---/---7~~~--------------------------
B-------3-----------------2-------|---5---/---7-----------------------------
G---------------0---------0-------|---5---/---7-----------------------------
D---4---------------4\2---2-------|---5---/---7-----------------------------
A---------------------0---0-------|---5---/---7-----------------------------
D-----------0-------------0-------|---5---/---7-----------------------------
  F    F     F  F      S    S

****************************************************
* The trouble isn't that there are too many fools, *
* but that the lightning isn't distributed right. *
*                         *
* - Mark Twain                   *
****************************************************

Louise tab

Leo Kottke tabs for Louise

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Louise by Leo Kottke guitar tabs playing instructions.

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