Counting Out Time


Written by Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford
From Genesis album: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, 1974

Key: A-flat major, Time: 4/4, Tempo: 90

Intro: 
~~~~~
|:Ab/Eb   |Eb    :| (x 3)


Verse 1: (0:15-) {Enters clean rhythm guitar}
~~~~~~~
||Ab   Ab/G             |Fm7
  I'm  counting out time,
        Ab/Eb              |Ab/Db
Got the whole thing down by numbers.
          Ab/C            |Bb
All those numbers! Give me guidance!
  Eb7             ||Ab
O Lord I need that  now.

{Simile}
 The day of judgement's come,
 And you can bet that I've been resting,
 for this testing, digesting every 
 word the experts say.


Chorus 1: (0:39-)
~~~~~~~~
         ||Gb      Db/F  Ab/Eb  |
Erogenous  zones I love  you.
|B                         Gb/Bb       ||
 Without you, what would a poor boy do?

|5/8 N.C.* ||4/4 Ab7      ||5/8 N.C. ||

|:4/4 Ab7                                ||5/8 N.C :|
         Found a girl I wanted to date,
   Thought I'd better get it straight.
   Went to buy a book before it's too late.
   Don't leave nothing to fate.

(* N.C.= C & Db note riff)

Bridge 1: (1:08-) 
~~~~~~~~
 |Ab7/Eb        Bb7        |Db               |
I studied every line, every page in the book,
|D                 /C                  |Bb
 Now, I've got the real thing here, I'm gonna take a look, 
      |Bb                 ||
take a look. This is Rael!


[Verse 2] (1:22-)

 I'm counting out time, 
 hoping it goes like I planned it,
 'cos I understand it. 
 Look! I've found the hotspots, 
 Figs one to nine.

 - still counting out time, 
 got my finger on the button,
 "Don't say nuttin - just lie there still
 And I'll get you turned on just fine."


[Chorus 2] (1:46-)

 Erogenous zones I love you.
 Without you, what would a poor boy do?

 Touch and go with 1-6.
 Bit of trouble in zone No. 7.
 Gotta remember all of my tricks.
 There's heaven ahead in No. 11!


[Bridge 2] (2:15-)

 Getting crucial responses, dilation of the pupils.
 "Honey get hip! It's time to unzip, 
 to unzip, zip, zip-a-zip-a-zip. Whipee!"


[Verse 3] (2:28-) {Instrumental}


[Verse 4] (2:50-)

 I'm counting out time, 
 reaction none to happy,
 Please don't slap me,
 I'm a red blooded male 
 and the book said I could not fail.

 I'm counting out time, 
 I got unexpected distress 
 from my mistress,
 I'll get my money back from 
 the bookstore right away.


Coda: (3:13-)
~~~~
          ||Gb      Db/F        Ab/Eb  |
Erongenous  zones I question you -
|:B                         Gb/Bb       |Ab  :|
  Without you, what would a poor boy do?
  Without you, what would a poor boy do?

|B                    Gb/Bb              ||
 Without you, mankind handkinds thru' the 
|3/8 Ab      |Dbm    ||
     blues...

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