Jason Estes (correction of Harlan’s tab)
jde1979@hotmail.com

FRUIT TREE - Nick Drake

TUNING: D A D G D G (capo 2nd fret) or  C G C F C F (capo 4th fret)


OPENING RIFF:
G -------------------0-----------------------0-------------
D ----------0--3-------3-------------0-4-------4-----------
G --------0------0-------0---------2-----2-------2---------(repeat)
D 0-0-2-3----------3-------3-3-2-0---------0-------0-------
A ---------------------------------------------------------
D ---------------------------------------------------------

RIFF 1:
G -----0---------------0-----------         |------0---2--
D ----0----4-------4-------4-------         |--4----------
G ---0-------2---2---2---2---2---2-(repeat) |----2---2----(last time)
D 0h2------0---0---0---0---0---0---         |--0---0---0--
A ---------------------------------         |-------------
D ---------0-------0-------0-------         |--0-------0--

RIFF 2:
G ------------------------------------------------------------------
D --------0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------
G ------3---3-----3-----3---3-----0-----3---3-----3-----3---3-----0-
D ----0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-----
A ------------------------------------------------------------------
D 0-5-----------5---4-----------4---3-----------3---2-----------2---

RIFF 3 Intro:
G ------0---------------0-----------
D ----4---4-----------4---4--------- 
G --2-------2---2---2-------2---2---
D ------------0---------------0-----         
A ----------------------------------         
D 0---------------0-----------------         

RIFF 3:
G ------7---------------5----------------3---------------0---------
D ----0---0-----0-----0---0------0-----0---0-----0-----4---4-----4-
G --0-------0-------0-------0--------0-------0-------2-------2-----
D -----------------------------------------------------------------
A -----------------------------------------------------------------
D 7-----------7---5------------5---3-----------3---0-----------0---

FINAL SECTION: (played like RIFF 2, but longer between changes):

Dsus4addBb/G:  5 0 0 3 0 0  
Dsus4addBb/F#: 4 0 0 3 0 0  
Dsus4addBb/F:  3 0 0 3 0 0
Dsus4addBb/E:  2 0 0 3 0 0  
Dsus4addBb/Eb: 1 0 0 3 0 0  
Dsus4addBb:    0 0 0 2 0 0


OTHER CHORDS: 

Eb:       1 0 1 0 1 0  
Gmaj9/D:  0 0 0 2 4 0


----------------------------------------------------------------------

SONG STRUCTURE:


OPENING RIFF 

RIFF 1 (x2)

RIFF 2 (x4)
Fame is but a fruit tree, so very unsound
It can never flourish till its stalk is in the ground
Some men of fame can never find a way
Till time has flown far from their dying day  

RIFF 1

RIFF 3 (x2)
Forgotten while you're here, remembered for a while
A much updated ruin, from a much outdated style

RIFF 2 (x4)
Life is but a memory, happened long ago
Theater full of sadness for the long forgotten show
Seems so easy just to let it go on by
Till you stop and wonder why you never wondered why

BRIDGE:
Eb                 Gmaj9/D
Safe in the womb of an everlasting night
Eb                         Gmaj9/D                 
You find the darkness can give the brightest light
Eb                   Gmaj9/D              
Safe in your place deep in the earth
Eb                        Gmaj9/D                    
That's when they'll know what you're really worth

RIFF 3 (x2)
Forgotten while you're here, remembered for a while
A much updated ruin, from a much outdated style

RIFF 2 (x4)
Fame is but a fruit tree, so very unsound
It can never flourish till its stalk is in the ground
Some men of fame can never find a way
Till time has flown far from their dying day  

RIFF 2 (but longer between changes)
Fruit tree, fruit tree
No one knows you but the rain and the air
Don't you worry
They'll stand and stare when you're gone

RIFF 2 (but longer between changes)
Fruit tree, fruit tree
Open your eyes to another year
They'll all know
That you were here when you're gone



(not perfect...but a step closer)

• fruit tree