War Paint

Background and Commentary

“War paint” refers to cosmetic makeup and the psychological masks of youth, but the beat has a powwow kind of tribal beat to it. ‘The mirror always lies’ is a generality and Neil has always said ‘all generalities are false, including this one.—Robert Telleria, Merely Players

The Police-like War Paint was one of only five songs from Presto that would be played on the Presto tour.—Martin Popoff, Contents Under Pressure

Lyrics

Girl before the mirror
Appraises her disguise
Child become a mother
Tries to fix her eyes
No more of his excuses
It has to be today
She can keep her fantasy
If she can get away

Paint her name on a one-way street
Painted cheeks with angry heat
Wounded pride on painted eyes
Paint the night with battle cries

All puffed up with vanity
We see what we want to see
To the beautiful and the wise
The mirror always lies

Boy before the mirror
Checks his camouflage
Polishes his armor
And the charger in the garage
No more lame excuses
It has to be tonight
He can take the princess
If he can take the fight

Pound the drums with martial beat
Pound the streets with marching feet
Wounded pride, distorted eyes
Paint the night with battle cries

All puffed up with vanity
We see what we want to see
To the powerful and the wise
The mirror always lies

Boys and girls together
Mistake conceit for pride
Ambition for illusion
Dreams for self-delusion
Girls and boys together
See what it is we lack
Boys and girls together
Let’s paint the mirror black
Paint it black

Tablature

By Tony Zimmermann (7445@ef.gc.maricopa.edu)

Excerpted from Fretplay.

Electric Guitar 4 x
—3—-3———3—-3———-2—-2———–||—–3———–
—3—-3———3—-3———-3—-3———–||—–3———–
—0—-0———0—-0———-2—-2———*-||—–0———–
—0—-0———2—-2———-0—-0———*-||—–2———–
—2—-2———3—-3—————————||—–3———–
—3—-3——————————————||—————–
G Cadd9 D Cadd9

(Cadd9)
Girl before …

appraises her ….

G
child become …

tries to fix …

Cadd9
no more of …

Cadd9
it has to be …

G
she can keep …

if she can …

Paint her name….
———————————————————————-
———————————————————-0———–
———0–2—-0————-0–2—-0————–5——-5——-
——4————-4——-4————-4———5—5—5—–3—
—5——————-5———————5—-3—————3-%-
——————————————————————1—

Wounded pride….
———————————————————————-
———————–0————————————0———
———0–2—-0—————-0–2—-0————-5——-5—–
——4————-4———-4————-4——–5—5—5—3—
—5————————5——————-5—3————-3-%-
——————————————————————1—

All puffed up with vanity…
———————————————————————-
———————————————————————-
———–0——————0—————–0————–0——
——–5——5———–3—–3————3—3———-5—5—-
—–5————5—–3———–3——-5——-5——7——-7–
–3——————1—————–1–6———–6–8———–8

For complete tab, go to Fretplay.