THE FASTEST WAY - Howlin’ Whale | Original

4/4 KEY: G
HARP: C
Rock n Roll, Blues

INTRO - INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS
(2x Chorus Bass: G D E D G , D E E G(high) E G )

CHORUS 1
G
You used to say, you used to say
G
The fastest way, the fastest way
G
The fastest way, the fastest way, the fastest way!!!

(Guitar riff - C# D )

VERSE 1 (Verse Guitar groove - A G A E Eb D , D C D A Ab G )
G
Now all I’m asking you friend
G
Now, now, now, now I’m in the hole
G
I’ve got one question for you friend
G
And that’s, uh, where did you go?

VERSE 2
C
First you said it was your mind honey
C
Said somehow you had no memory
G
So I said, “But you wrote and spoke it to me, baby,
G
So tell me...how could this be?”

VERSE 3
G
Next you said it was your job lately
G
Blaming your boss and your team
G
Claiming they take no good care of you baby
G
Well trust me, I know what you mean

VERSE 4
C
Next you said it was your back
C
All that pain and that injury
G
Couldn’t walk, couldn’t talk, couldn’t jerk your own cock
G
Oh baby, you sure coulda fooled me!

(Guitar riff - C Bb F G )

CHORUS 2
G
You used to say, you used to say
G
The fastest way, the fastest way
G
To lose a friend… is lend ‘em money!

(2x Guitar riff - G F# F )

VERSE 5
G
Thankfully I spoke with a lady
G
Told her you’d fallen on your own tailbone, what a pity
G
She said, “Oh that’s happened twice to me, but it wasn’t so bad, didn’t hurt much…”
G
Oh baby, that lady was seventy!

VERSE 6
C
And next you said it was your neighbor
C
Acting crazy, that old hillbilly
G
Somehow it’s that neighbor why you can’t pay your debt
G
Just ask, who sounds crazy to me?

VERSE 7
G
And then you said, “It’s awful, two people were killed on this island recently…
C
It’s a nightmare, I’m on a tropical island paradise nightmare
C
And that’s why I’m just too upset to pay!”

BRIDGE (All instruments drop out except organ on “STOP!!!”)
STOP!!! Wait a minute

(Instruments back in, ambient psychedelia)

Em
It’s sad people die, your words of compassion are lofty
D
But when I face the facts, it’s your compassion I see denied me
Em
Your horror-story excuse is misuse of basic humanity
D
Do not scapegoat Holy Death just to avoid yourself feeling guilty

(Guitar riff - C Bb F G )

CHORUS 3
G
You used to say, you used to say
G
The fastest way, the fastest way
G
To lose a friend… is lend ‘em money!

(2x Guitar riff - G F# F )

VERSE 8 (Chunky riffs and drop out)
G
So finally I’ve had it
G
I said “Please don’t say no more.
G
Actions speak louder, and louder, and louder,
G
Come friend, and pay what you owe!”

HARMONICA SOLO (Verse groove kicks back in - 4 bars)
G G C C

VERSE 9
G
I’m still surprised I haven’t heard a word since
G
Five years, five years we’ve been in this
G
Not a dime’s come my way, not a happy birthday
G
Only the grapevine told me you bought a new puppy
C
With the money you owe me
C
Well I hope you treat that puppy right, give it a home, ‘cause you took mine
G
Well I hope you put a lot of island bones in your dog chow
G
‘Cause you ain’t nothin but a… (All instruments drop out)

And only a dog could love you now!

(Instruments back in for slow down bluesy ending - C Bb F )