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Darius Rucker - It Won't Be Like This For Long
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Tabbed by: Matt Benecke
Email: lpwjbklyn@gmail.com
This is a great tune off of Darius Rucker's debut country album. With a two
year old son and a daughter on the way, I find this song to be both
poignant and achingly apt. I wanted to learn to play it and so I finally
sat down to sort it out. This version is in the original key and is
accurate with regard to both the original recording as well as any number
of cover versions that can be found on Youtube. Feel free to hit me up
with any corrections or comments!
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
Intro (0:00 - 0:13)
Guitar 1 (Acoustic) Plays Riff 1 1x
Riff 1
e|--0---0---------------------------0---0------------------------------------|
B|--4/5-4---------------------------4/5-4------------------------------------|
G|--------4/6--4--------------------------4/6--4-----------------------------|
D|---------------6--6/7\6-4-2-4/6----------------6--6/7\6-4-2-2--------------|
A|--------0---------------2---------------0---------------2---2--------------|
E|---------------0--0---------0------------------0------------0--------------|
NOTE: For remainder of song, unless otherwise specified, Guitar 1 plays only
the chords listed above the lyrics.
Chords Used:
A x02220
E 022100
B x24400
C#m x46650
C5 x35500
[G#m] [466444]
[F#m] [244222]
E/G# 4x2100
Verse 1 (0:14 - 0:39)
He [A]didn't have to [E]wake up[B]
He'd been up all [E]night
Lyin' [A]there in bed l[E]istenin'
To his [B]new born baby [C#m]cry[B]
He [A]makes a pot of [E]coffee
He splashes[B] water on his [C#m]face
His [A]wife gives him a [E]kiss and says
It's gonna[B] be ok[E]ay
Chorus 1 (0:40 - 1:03)
NOTE: Anywhere you see E be sure to hammer onto the A note from the G# and
then off again when you strum the chord.
A B E E
It won't be like this for long
One [A]day we'll look back [B]laughin'
At the [G#m]week we brought her [C#m]home[B]
This [A]phase is gonna fly [E]by [B]
So baby j[C]ust hold [C#m]on[B][A]
B Interlude begins
It won't be like this for long
Interlude (1:04 - 1:09)
Guitar 1 plays the second half of Riff 1 1x
Verse 2 (1:10 - 1:36)
Four years [A]later 'bout four-[E]thirty
She's[B] crawlin' in their [E]bed
And when he [A]drops her off at [E]preschool
She's[B] clinging to his [C#m]leg[B]
The [A]teacher peels her [E]off of him
He [B]says, "What can I [C#m]do?"
She [A]says, "Now don't you [E]worry,
This'll only [B]last a week or [E]two."
Chorus 2 (1:37 - 2:03)
A B E E
It won't be like this for long
One day [A]soon you'll drop her o[B]ff
And she won't [G#m]even know you're [C#m]gone[B]
This [A]phase is gonna fly [E]by [B]
If you can [C]just hold [C#m]on[B][A]
B Walkdown begins
It won't be like this for long
Walkdown
e|-----------0--0-0-0-0--|
B|-----------0--0-0-0-0--|
G|-----------1--1-1-1-1--|
D|-----------2--2-2-2-2--|
A|-----------2--2-2-2-2--|
E|--5--4--2--0--0-0-0-0--|
Bridge (2:04 - 2:30)
[(E)]Some day [F#m]soon she'll be a teenager
And at [G#m]times he'll think she hates him
Then he'll [A]walk her down the aisle[G#m]
And raise her [B]veil[C]
But right [C#m]now she's up and cryin'
And the [B]truth is that he don't mind
As he [A]kisses her good night[E/G#]
And she says her [B]prayers
Verse 3 (2:31 - 2:42)
NOTE: Strum each chord once for the entirety of the verse
He [A]lays down there be[E]side her
'Til her [B]eyes are finally [C#m]closed
And just [A]watchin' her it [E]breaks his heart
'Cause [B]he already knows
Chorus 3 (2:43 - 3:13)
A B E E
It won't be like this for long
One day [A]soon that little girl is [B]gonna be
[G#m]All grown up and [C#m]gone[B]
Yeah, this [A]phase is gonna fly [E]by
So,[B] he's tr[C]yin' [C#m]to hold[B] on[A]
'Cause it won't [B]be like this for [C#m]long[B]
It won't [A]be like this for [B]long
Outro (3:14 - 3:28)
Guitar 1 Plays Riff 1 1x but with the two sections inverted
(the second half is played first)
Tab Legend
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
Darius Ruck - It Won't Be Like This For Long
He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Lyin' there in bed listenin'
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It's gonna be okay
It won't be like this for long
One day we'll look back laughin'
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
It won't be like this for long
Four years later 'bout four-thirty
She's crawlin' in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says, "What can I do?"
She says, "Now don't you worry,
This'll only last a week or two."
It won't be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won't even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won't be like this for long
Some day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times he'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the aisle
And raise her veil
But right now she's up and cryin'
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
'Til her eyes are finally closed
And just watchin' her it breaks his heart
'Cause he already knows
It won't be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by
So, he's tryin' to hold on
Cause it won't be like this for long
It won't be like this for long
