Best I Can

Background and Commentary

The band had been playing “Best I Can” in pre-Neil days but waited until Fly By Night to press it into vinyl. To hear how Neil’s highly compositional approach to drumming added dynamism to the song, you just need to compare how Neil opens the song on the album to John Rutsey’s opening, an example of which was recoded at a live 1974 St. Catharines, Ontario, performance.—Rob Freedman, Rush Vault

“Even golden oldie ‘Best I Can’ gets an unexpected bounce from that new drummer there.”—Martin Popoff, Contents Under Pressure

Lyrically, “Best I Can” is a throwback to the band’s days of making up words on the fly. It wouldn’t be too off the mark to say it’s little more than a middle finger directed at snobs. “Bankers and boasters / All the bluffers and posers / I’m not into that scene.”

“This song announces a theme of dreaming of success [in rock and roll as opposed to the corporate suite], which became a Rush staple over the next few albums.”—Robert Telleria, Merely Players

Lyrics

I’ve got a livin’ that’s rough, a future that’s tough
You know what I mean
Bankers and boasters, all the bluffers and posers
I’m not into that scene

You can tell me that I got no class
Look around you’ll see who’s laughin’ last
Don’t give me speeches ’cause they’re oh so droll
Leave me alone, let me rock and roll

Got an itchin’ to rock, a hate for small talk
I’m funny that way
Got my sights on the stars, won’t get that far
But I’ll try anyway
I just like to please, I don’t like to tease
I’m easy like that
Don’t like long rests, I must confess
I’m an impatient guest

I do the best that I can
I’m just what I am
I do the best I can
Well, I know what I am

Rock and rollin’s a scream, makin’ millions my dream
Well, I do that a lot
I’ll just give it a try, won’t let good times pass me by
They’re all I’ve got

Tablature

By Kenneth Dale Harris IV (kenny@kdharris.net)

Excerpted from Ultimate Guitar.

Standard Tuning

Main Riff…………………..|Chorus………….|1st fill |2nd fill
A D A G C G D D | A A G G D D |after chrs|after chrs
e————–|—————-|———–3-3-2-2-|-/-14-14\-|-3-2-0-2-|
B————–|—————-|——-2-2-3-3-3-3-|-/-15-15\-|-3-3-3-3-|
G————–|-7-7————|——-2-2-0-0-2-2-|-/-14-14\-|-2-2-2-2-|
D—7——5—|-7-7————|——-2-2-0-0-0-0-|———-|-0-0-0-0-|
A-7-5-7–5-3-5-|-5-5-8-7-6-5~~~-|——-0-0-2-2—–|———-|———|
E-5—5–3—3-|—————-|-7-6-5—–3-3—–|———-|———|
Right before the solo!
e————————|
B————————|
G————————|
D-[7-7—7–]-9-9-9-9\]–|
A-[5-5-7-5-2]-7-7-7-7\]–|
E—–[5—0]————|

For complete tab, go to Ultimate Guitar.