Elliott Brood – The Valley Town (Tab)

Elliott Brood’s Tin Type EP has to be one of my favourite EPs of all time. So it’s very gratifying to see them picking up ukuleles for this song. Not that using ukuleles has changed their style. It’s all footstomping, drones and field hollers.

First things first, they’re tuned down a semitone to F#BD#G#.

Although it’s mostly chords, I’ve chosen to tab it rather than write up the chord sheet. The chord changes come in fast in some parts and they have names like Fsus4add9. Making fitting it with the lyrics very tricky. But I have included chord diagrams with the tab, so you should be able to work it out if you’re not tab-literate.

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39 Comments

SomeWhatEpic June 25th, 2009 6:17 pm

Instantly one of my favorite tabs you have ever put on this site. I’ve never heard of them before but I love foot stompin’ country music. It’s making me want to play some Avett Brothers now too.
Woodshed June 25th, 2009 7:14 pm

SomeWhatEpic: They are great. Make sure you check out the Tin Type EP.
Richard June 25th, 2009 11:05 pm

Great to see you promote a great Canadian band. I had the pleasure of seeing them do this song at our local Music festival here in Ottawa and it was awesome. Check out anybody on their label, Six Shooter Records. It’s all good.
todd June 26th, 2009 6:00 am

man o man,

it’s hard for me to describe how much I just enjoyed watching that video…..

off to itunes now to check out more!

thanks AL….

Todd
William L June 26th, 2009 3:43 pm

Great tab and song. Where can I find the lyrics?
Nick Bardy-Chivor June 26th, 2009 8:25 pm

Al thanks for turning me on to Elliot Brood…real life affirming stuff…They’d passed right under my radar…real quality…made be put on some Fleet foxes…Avett bros’…Lambchop and Teenage fanclub…all washed down with lovely BeeeeR!!
Woodshed June 28th, 2009 8:24 pm

Richard: I take it you don’t rate the other Canadian acts I’ve featured.

todd: I thought you might like them.

Nick: Glad you like them.
Lise July 25th, 2009 4:04 am

Likewise! I really appreciate the work you put into this site, it’s a staple for any uke lover/player.
Joseph Hoh August 2nd, 2009 6:00 am

Lyrics? Not sure about the Big glasses…but it’s the best I could figure out.

When the wind hits the trees
And them clouds, pushin’ East
Come on inside
Dry your clothes, warm your bones
Big glasses, set yourself at ease.

When the dust in your room
Covers all that you do
Get yourself outside
Morning train pulling away
At Westphalia set yourself at ease.

All right X2

There’s a house by the hill
Come along for it’s still
My home sweet home
Home sweet home

Home…
Woodshed August 2nd, 2009 7:47 am

Joseph: Thanks very much for putting the lyrics together.
William L August 2nd, 2009 3:58 pm

Joseph: Ditto
Thomas August 26th, 2009 10:59 am

I’ve seen these guys play live in Deventer (Netherlands), they’re great. Loved this song from the start. At the time, I was playing uke for, erm, 2 days, and a crappy one at that. Only today discovered this tab, and I will be playing it to friends, neighbors, family and everybody till they slap me.

Groeten!
Thomas
Joseph Hoh August 27th, 2009 6:15 am

Changes to the lyrics.
Dump the Big glasses (which never made sense to me anyway)

Fill your glasses, set yourself at ease.
SamD August 27th, 2009 1:37 pm

I emailed them to ask for the lyrics – the response was;

When the wind bends the trees
And them clouds are pushin’ East
Come on inside
Dry your clothes, warm your bones
Fill your glass and set yourself at ease.

When the dust in your room
Covers all that you do
Get yourself outside
Morning train is pulling away
Hear the whistle fade and set yourself at ease.

All right X2

There’s a house by the hill
How I long for her still
My home sweet home
Home sweet home
Home…
Woodshed August 27th, 2009 3:49 pm

SamD: Thanks very much for those.
MikeB October 29th, 2009 8:49 pm

This is awesome!!! I love these guys!! They’re playing in here in Ottawa next Thursday gonna be wicked!! Thanks for the post
Woodshed October 29th, 2009 10:21 pm

MikeB: Have a great time!
Leroy July 26th, 2010 10:12 pm

Just lost two family members in two days and found this song.
Downloaded it and started sippin’ a glass of wine in the sunshine. Ya know… it almost made life not seem so sad… almost.
Great song. Great site.
Thanks.

Leroy
Woodshed July 28th, 2010 8:55 pm

Leroy: Very glad I could play a small part in that.

Thanks very much for the kind words.
Kate Cash August 12th, 2010 4:22 am

Can you put up something with the lyrics combined with tabs? I just keep getting lost since I can’t see his fingers very well
Thanks!
Russ October 11th, 2010 8:51 pm

my favourite band, you cease to amaze me
Woodshed October 12th, 2010 9:04 pm

Russ: Oh well, at least I amazed you at some point.
Russ October 12th, 2010 11:09 pm

Hahaha oh man. I’m sorry

Correction**

You never cease to amazing.

I’m a good guy don’t get the wrong idea over a type-oh. In the mean time, I will work on my grahmer: and speeleng…
Russ October 12th, 2010 11:10 pm

Correction #2

You never cease to amaze ME.

I think I finally got it the way I want. Ok.
Woodshed October 13th, 2010 11:26 am

Russ: Ha ha ha. If only there was an edit feature in the comments.
ErinRed July 1st, 2011 9:21 pm

Thanks so much for putting these up! I didn’t realize this song was on ukulele until I saw them play it live last weekend at Bluesfest (and immediately turned to my friend and shouted “I must find the tabs for this!!!”) I’m just a beginner so I didn’t think of tuning it down a semitone- once I did it went a whole lot better…! LOVE this song.
Jeff July 11th, 2011 12:29 pm

This is the very song which convinced me to buy a uke in the first place. I’m so grateful to you. Also, I’m relieved to find that it’s not too hard!
Woodshed July 14th, 2011 7:14 am

ErinRed: I’m jealous. I wish they’d play over here!

Jeff: You’re welcome.
Greg August 3rd, 2011 5:53 pm

I just saw them perform this in Nelson BC last night. They had a packed house eating out of their hands and it was epic. Just got my first uke in Vancouver a couple weeks ago and am stoked. Thanks for this outstanding site!!
Woodshed August 4th, 2011 7:53 am

Greg: Thanks, they are a great band.
Nate September 4th, 2011 6:38 am

this is one of the most epic songs i have heard i have no clue how it took me this long to find it on here
Woodshed September 4th, 2011 11:33 am

Nate: Glad you found it eventually!
Lars A. Mard November 15th, 2011 6:19 pm

the picking at the very beginning, can somebody show me that
Melanie February 7th, 2012 7:27 am

I adore this song. It’s always my first go-to when I’m in a good warm weather mood or if I need a little pick-me-up.
So I borrowed my friend’s uke last night and to my excitedly started learning the tabs for this. In the linked live video it sounds like the guy in the middle is playing something slightly different. Am I just hearing things or is there a second uke part(and how would you play it)?
ErinRed February 7th, 2012 3:35 pm

Melanie, I actually saw them last week and they were saying they have two ukes because they both wanted to play them and they were so cheap that they just bought two :o)
I’m pretty sure Mark (middle guy) *mostly* plays the main chord (at the beginning of each chord change) along with Casey- though there are a few places where he stays on the same chord when the other uke changes… although to be honest, when I see them play it live I am usually too busy dancing to pay close attention to the chords!
DC uke October 21st, 2012 8:38 pm

Unfortunately the tab isn’t working :(
Great song, great band they’ve been one of my favs since i first saw them about 6 yrs ago
Woodshed October 22nd, 2012 7:56 am

DC uke: Seems to be working fine for me. Anyone else having a problem?
Janine January 19th, 2013 1:08 am

Can anyone help with the strumming for this? I’m totally lost when it comes to standard notation.
Amanda October 20th, 2017 3:36 pm

Can’t believe it’s taken me this long to find this tab on your site. Happy to see this Canadian band is being appreciated here in the U.K., they’ll be playing in Newcastle in December! Any help with the strum pattern? Can’t quite work it out ? Cheers

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Elliott Brood – The Valley Town (Tab)