Chord/Tab song: Can't Erase It

Can't Erase It
"If I Left the Zoo"
Written by Jars of Clay, tabbed by David Schroder

NOTES ABOUT SONG: Pretty basic song with simple guitar parts. Listen to
the acoustic strumming on the verses to get the timing down; it's mostly a
simple muting after each chord. The acoustic riff is mostly an optional
thing and sounds best when played without an additional electric guitar.
If you don't wanna use the riff, play Em and G for those parts. Also, make
sure to check out the instrument listing in the CD jacket to figure out who
plays what percussion; definitely some Dennis Herring influence in there.

INTRO
(with percussion, acoustic one strum each chord)
[A](str[D]ummi[A]ng h[D7]ard several times)
[B7](acoustic riff and electric main riff 4x)

Acoustic riff: strum the Em and G then add the bass line

|-0-------|-3-|
|-0-------|-3-|
|-0-------|-0-|
|-2-------|-0-|
|-2-------|-2-|
|-0---2-3-|-3-|

[Em] [G]

VERSE ONE
[A]Follow the[G] cr[A]owd and love[G] everybody now
A G (acoustic riff 1x)
'Cause love is the best thing for you now
[A]But you changed y[G]our[A] mind, you l[G]et everybody down
[A]But down is th[G]e best place for you
(electric main riff)
It's[Em] easier th[G]at way, you know it's

CHORUS (one soft acoustic strum for the first two lines)
[D]So wrong[A], can't embrace it
Am B (short, hard strums)
Wish sometimes for any other you
(acoustic riff, electric main riff 2x)
But you can't erase it and you won't escape it

VERSE TWO (electric verse riff 3x)
[A]Don't waste yo[G]ur [A]time, your word[G]s only confine you
A G (acoustic riff, electric main riff)
To all of the things you've buried now
(electric riff 3x)
[A]Don't ask th[G]em [A]why, their wisdom wil[G]l leave you blind
[A]But blind is t[G]he best place for you
(electric main riff)
It's[Em] easier [G]I know, you know it's

CHORUS (strum first two lines like above chorus)
[D]So wrong[A], can't embrace it
[Am]Wish sometimes f[B]or any other you
(acoustic riff, electric main riff x2)
But you can't erase it and you won't escape it
(back to normal strumming with chorus riff)
[D]How long[A] will you face it
[Am]Till the wait co[B]mes crashing down on you
(acoustic riff, electric main riff 2x)
'Cause you can't erase it and you won't escape it
(acoustic riff, electric main riff 2x) F#
No you can't erase it and you won't escape it

INSTRUMENTAL BRIDGE
Percussion stuff then
Acoustic riff x2 and electric pre-chorus riff

CHORUS
First two lines a capella
Second half of chorus normal strumming with electric chorus riff

REPEAT CHORUS
Only first three lines with normal strumming and electric final
chorus riff.
After, end on:
(acoustic riff and electric main riff x2)
But you can't erase it and you won't erase it

GUITAR CHORDS:
A x02220
D x00232
D7 x00212
Em 022000
G 320033
[B7] [224242]
[B]Am [224442]x02210

ELECTRIC TABS: These are all pretty easy and somewhat repetitive. Listen for
the variations in the main riff.

Main riff:
Standard: Variations (on the G chord):

|----------|----------||---------|-----------|-----------|
|----------|----------||---------|-----------|-----------|
|----------|----------||---------|-----------|-----------|
|----------|----------||-------0-|-------0-2-|-------5-4-|
|----------|----------||-----0---|-----0-----|-----------|
|-0--0-2-3-|-0--0-2-3-||-3-------|-3---------|-3---------|

[Em] [G] [Em] [G] [(1)] [(2)] [(3)]
Verse riff:

|-------------|------------|
|-------------|------------|
|-------------|------------|
|------2-4----|------2-4---|
|-0--4--------|-0--4-------|
|----------3--|----------3-|

[A] [G] [A] [G]
Chorus riff: Pre-chorus riff:

|---------------------|----------------------|
|---------------------|----------------------|
|---------------------|--------2-4---2-2-2-2-|
|-0-------2-----------|-5-4-5----------------|
|-----4-----------0---|----------------------|
|-------------0-2---3-|----------------------|

[D] [A] [Am] [B] [G]
Final chorus riff

|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------|
|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------------------------------------------|
|---------------4-4-4-4-4-4-4-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-2----|
|--------------------------------------------------------|

[D] [A] [Am] [B]
Questions/comments email me at [email protected].

c1999 Bridge Building Music, Inc./Pogostick Music/BMI. All rights
administered by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Send any requests to