Ball Of Confusion
Temptations
(Norman Whitfield - Barrett Strong)
Intro:
bass [2X; continue through song except for breaks]:
v v v v
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-----|-----------------------------1---
---1-|-3-3---1-3-3---1-3---1---3-----1-
-3---|---------------------------------
v v v v
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|-3-3---1-3-3---1-3---1---3-----1-
|-----------------------------3---
["psychedelic" guitars enter 2nd time]
Verse 1:
C
People movin' out, people movin' in
Why? Because of the color of their skin
Run, run, run, but you sure can't hide
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
"Vote for me and I'll set you free"
Rap on, brother, rap on
Well, the only person talkin' 'bout "love thy brother"
is the preacher
And it seems
Nobody's interested in learnin' but the teacher
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration
Aggravation, humilation, obligation to our nation
Chorus 1:
C
Ball of confusion
That's what the world is today
Hey, hey
Verse 2:
The sale of pills are at an all-time high
Young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky
Cities aflame in the summertime
And ohhh, the beat goes on
Evolution, revolution
Gun control, the sound of soul
Shootin' rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon
Politicans say more taxes will solve everything
And the band played on
So, around and around and around we go
Where the world's headed, said nobody knows
Break:
bass (doubled w/horns; harmonica enters 2nd measure of each chord)
C
v v v v v v v v
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----2--5---------|-----------------
-3---------------|-----------------
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^^^^^^^ triplet
F
v v v v v v v v
----2--5---------|-----------------
-3---------------|-----------------
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^^^^^^^ triplet
G
v v v v v v v v
----4--7---------|-----------------
-5---------------|-----------------
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^^^^^^^ triplet
F
[1: Ahhhh] Great googabooga can't you hear me talkin' to you
Chorus 2:
Just a ball of confusion
That's what the world is today yeah, yeah
Verse 3:
Fear everywhere, tension in the air
Unemployment risin' fast, the Beatles' new record's a gas
And the only safe place to live
Is on a Indian reservation
And the band played on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction
City inspectors, bill collectors
Solid gold [?] in demand, population out of hand
Suicide, too many bills, hippies movin' to the hills
People all over the world are shoutin' "end the war"
And the band played on
[repeat break]
Coda:
C
It's just a ball of confusion
That's what the world is today yeah, yeah
Let me hear you, let me hear you, let me hear you
Ball of confusion
That's what the world is today yeah, yeah [fade]
source: Andrew Rogers
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