When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty

(Partridge)

Drums and Wires

Recordings XTCfans interview with Andy Partridge Art Lyrics Chords and Tablature

Recordings

1. Album version, 3'23.
   Released on Drums and Wires.
2. BBC version.
   Recorded 21 May 1979 at BBC Studios.
   Produced by Bill Aitken and Nick Gomm.
   First broadcast 31 May 1979 on the Kid Jensen Show.
   Released on 16 November 1998 on Transistor Blast in the U.K.
3. Demo version, 3'10.
   Not released.
4. Single version, unused.
   Recorded at Townhouse Studios and DJM Studios, London, in June 1979.
   Produced by Steve Lillywhite. Engineered by Hugh Padgham.
   Intended for release as a single, but shelved.
   Released on 25 March 2002 on Coat of Many Cupboards in the U.K.
   Also released on the Blu-ray reissue of Drums and Wires on 27 October 2014 in the U.K.
   Andy Partridge - Guitar, Keyboard and Vocals
   Colin Moulding - Bass and Vocals
   Dave Gregory - Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
   Terry Chambers - Drums

   Andy: “A bit more in tune than the D+W cut with better skank per square inch. Hey daddyo, dig that crazy ending. But would it have made a hit single? Not as long as I've got a hole in my arse.”

5. 2014 stereo mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the DVD and Blu-ray reissue of Drums and Wires on 27 October 2014 in the U.K.
6. 2014 5.1 mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the DVD and Blu-ray reissue of Drums and Wires on 27 October 2014 in the U.K.
7. 2014 instrumental mix.
   Mixed and produced by Steven Wilson from the original multi-track tapes.
   Released on the Blu-ray reissue of Drums and Wires on 27 October 2014 in the U.K.
8. Swindon Town Hall 1 version.
   Recorded in February 1979 at Redbrick Studio, Swindon Town Hall.
   Released on the Blu-ray reissue of Drums and Wires on 27 October 2014 in the U.K.

[Thanks to R. Stevie Moore]

Art

[THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

Lyrics

When you're near me I have difficulty respirating
When you're near me I have difficulty concentrating
When you're near me I have difficulty standing upright
When you're near me I have difficulty sleeping at night

I used to stand proud like a sphinx
In a noble immovable state
Then your heart nailed me under a jinx
Now I'm feeling like a jellyfish
Just a spineless wobbly jellyfish
And it's great, great, so great

I used to stand high like a pine
Just a piece of emotionless wood
When you put your body near mine
Now I'm feeling like a jellyfish
Just a spineless wobbly jellyfish
And it's good, good, so good
I used to be an iceman
Living in iceman town
So I'm warning all you cool cool icemen
You'd better be prepared to be melted right down
down
When you're near me I have difficulty

© 1979 Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.

Chords and Tablature

Date: Wed, 13 Nov 91 12:55:46 PST
From: wilson (at) psylo dot enet dot dec dot com
Subject: "When You're Near Me" Chords


Hi, musical Chalkhillians...this is my feeble attempt to
describe the chords for:

*When You're Near Me I Have Difficulty*

(Strum G chord once, followed by solo in G maj scale)

G-G-D-G A-A-E-A (played as notes on the two lowest bass strings
[E,A], starting on 3rd fret)

(1.)
When you're near me I have difficulty respirating
C           Bmin           G          Amin  C  Bmin  G  Amin

When you're near me I have difficulty concentrating
C           Bmin           G          Amin  C  Bmin  G  Amin

G-G-D-G A-A-E-A

When you're near me I have difficulty standing upright
C           Bmin           G          Amin     C  Bmin  G  Amin

When you're near me I have difficulty sleeping at night
C           Bmin           G          Amin     C  Bmin

(2.)
I used to stand proud like a sphinx
Bflt            F

In a noble, immovable state
Bflt          F

Then your heart nailed me under a jinx
Bflt                      F

Now I feel like a jellyfish
F min (arpeggio style)

Just a spineless, wobbly jellyfish

And it's great...great...so great....
         (some weird [diminished?] chords here; just move
          one finger & see what you get!)

REPEAT (1.), then (2.) "I used to stand tall like a pine," etc.)

I used to be an ice man (ice man), living in an ice man town
F#min                              E

So I'm warning all you cool cool icemen
F#min

Better be prepared to be melted right down
E

Dow-own dow-own down down down down
D   A   G   A   G    D         A

Dow-own dow-own down down down down
D   A   G   A   G    D         A

SOLO,
then final verse simply changes key up one fret
(easier to understand if you play barre chords)

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