Video lesson
Sheet music for this song will be returning shortly!
- The sheet music for this song is temporarily unavailable while I move it over to Musicnotes.com, a sheet music service that is providing licensing for my "song" arrangements.
- Want me to priortize this song, so the sheet music is ready sooner? Click the button below and let me know – this helps me know which songs to work on next!
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Video timestamps:
- 0:00 Playthrough & overview
- 2:21 Chord shapes needed
- 7:40 Travis picking 101 (right thumb bass notes)
- 10:29 Intro: understanding the chord progression
- 13:19 Intro: Add simplified melody notes
- 15:59 Intro: Adding “full” melody notes
- 20:29 Verse: how it’s different from the intro
- 23:28 Verse: with lyrics
Intro tab
E —–—–—–—–—–—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–––—3—–—––|–
G —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—––|–
D —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—––|–
A —–—–—0—–—2—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E —3—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—0––—–—0h1—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—1—––||
B –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—1—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—––||
A –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—––||
G C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Verse tab
E ||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B ||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–––—3—–—––|–
G ||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—––|–
D ||—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—––|–
A ||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E ||—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—0––—–—0h1—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
B –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
A –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—0—–—2—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—––||
G F C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Lyrics w/ chords
INTRO
C / F / G / C G
VERSE
C
...Now, he's a wino, tried and true
F
...Done about everything there is to do
G
He worked on freighters, and he worked in bars
F C (walk up)
He worked on farms, and he worked on cars
[ use same progression for all verses ]
It was white port, that put that look in his eye
That grown men get when they need to cry
And he sat down on the curb to rest
His head just fell down on his chest
He said "Every single day it gets
A little bit harder to handle and yet"
And he lost the thread and his mind got cluttered
And the words just rolled off down the gutter
Well he was elevator man in a cheap hotel
In exchange for the rent on a one room cell
He's old in years beyond his time
Thanks to the world, and the white port wine
So he says "Son," he always called me son
He said, "Life for you has just begun"
And he told me a story that I heard before
How he fell in love with a Dallas whore
Well, he could cut through the years to the very night
When it ended in a whore house fight
And she turned his last proposal down
In favor of being a girl about town
Now, it's been seventeen years right in line
And he ain't been straight none of the time
Too many days of fightin' the weather
And too many nights of not being together
So he died... [ Intro x2 ]
When they went through his personal effects
In among the stubs from the welfare checks
Was a crumblin' picture of a girl in a door
An address in Dallas, and nothin' more
The welfare people provided the priest
A couple from the Mission down the street
Sang Amazing Grace, and no one cried
Except some woman in black, way off to the side
We all left and she was standing there
Black veil covering her silver hair
And 'ole One-Eyed John said her name was Alice
And she used to be a whore in Dallas
So let him roar, Lord let him roll
Bet he's gone to Dallas, rest his soul
Just, let him roll... Lord, let him roar
He always said that heaven was just a Dallas whore
[repeat final verse, stop singing on "rest his soul"]
[repeat verse tab w/o singing as desired, end]
Chords shapes needed
Here’s the 3 main chord shapes needed (basically, C F and G). For the F, I’ll sometimes call it “Fadd6” as you’re often going to have your left pinky on the 3rd fret of the B string. If you want to strum, simply use any C F G voicings you prefer - or follow the positions shown here.
E —––—– E —––—–—– E —––—–
B —–1—– B —––3–—– <= left pinky B —–3—– <= left pinky
G —–0—– G —––2–—– <= left middle G —–0—–
D —–2—– D —––3–—– <= left ring D —–0—–
A —–3—– A —––x–—– A —–x—–
E —––—– E —––1–—– <= left thumb OR index E —–3—– <= left ring
C Fadd6 G
When learning the chords, if your goal is to play in Travis picking style – at some point you’ll want to practice going in and out of all of these positions for each chord. This took me a few days to get the hang of - but you’re left hand will need to know this like clockwork before you add the fingerpicking with your right hand.
E —––—–––—––0—––3—– E —––—–—––—–—––—–—– E —––—––—0—–––1—–
B —–1—––3—––1—––1—– B —––1–—––3–—––3–—– B —–3—––—3—–––3—–
G —–0—––0—––0—––0—– G —––2–—––2–—––0–—– G —–0—––—0—–––0—–
D —–2—––2—––2—––2—– D —––3–—––3–—––3–—– D —–0—––—0—–––0—–
A —–3—––3—––3—––3—– A —––x–—––x–—––x–—– A —–x—––—x—–––x—–
E —––—–––—–––—–––—– E —––1–—––1–—––1–—– E —–3—––—3—–––3—–
C Fadd6 G
Learning how to Travis Pick this song
If you want to learn this song the way I perform it in my video, and especially if Travis Picking isn’t something you’ve mastered – I recommend the following steps. It took me ~2 weeks of practice to get a hang of this, with about ~15 minutes of practice per day on average. Progress was slow, and sometimes felt impossible, but slowly it got easier and easier. Here’s the steps I followed (spent a few days on each).
Learn the alternating bass notes
After you learn the chord shapes (or while you’re learning them), I recommend being able to get your right thumb to play these alternating bass note patterns to the point where you can do it without too much conscious thought. It gets a lot tricker once you had the melody notes, so learn this good!
E —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– E —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– E —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– E —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—–
B —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– B —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– B —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– B —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—–
G —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– G —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– G —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– G —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—–
D —––—–—2—–—–—–—2—– D —––—–—3—–—–—–—3—– D —––—–—0—–—–—–—0—– D —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—–
A —–3—–—–—–—–—–—–—– A —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– A —––—–—–—–—–—–—–—– A —(3)–—–—–—0—–—2—–
E —––—–—–—–—3—–—–—– E —–1—–—–—–—1—–—–—– E —–3—–—–—–—3—–—–—– E —––—–—3—–—–—–—–—–
C Fadd6 G walk-up turnaround
Learn the chord progression
Next, let’s take a quick moment to learn the progression. The idea here is to memorize how long you stay on each chord. Note that this is the intro progression, which is slightly different than the verse progression (only slightly).
E ||–3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B ||–1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
G ||–0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—2—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
D ||–2—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
A ||–3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—x—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E ||––—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
B –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|—2—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
A –|—x—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—x—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Playing the right-thumb part only
Once you understand the timing, start by only playing the alternating bass notes - but follow this progression and stay in time.
E —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
G —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
D —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—|—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—––|–
A —–—–—0—–—2—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E —3—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—|—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
B –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—|—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—––||
A –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—––||
G C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Add simplified melody notes
This is the tricky part – adding the right hand melody notes. Start off slow, by adding some of the distinctive notes like I show in this tab. This keeps it a bit easier than the final version, and helps you get used to some of the broad strokes before worrying about details. I spent a few days on this part, adding melody notes slowly, until it became easier for me (which it did).
E —–—–—–—–—–—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—––3—–—–—–––—–—–—–—3––—–—––|–
G —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—2—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
D —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—|—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—––|–
A —–—–—0—–—2—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E —3—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—|—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—1—––||
B –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3––—–—–—|—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—|—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—––||
A –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—|—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—––||
G C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Add the “normal” complex melody notes
Finally, you can add the melody notes in the exact timing he plays. This too took me several days! The F hammer-on part was one of the last things I was able to master, which I didn’t think would happen.
E —–—–—–—–—–—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–––—3—–—––|–
G —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—––|–
D —–—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—––|–
A —–—–—0—–—2—–||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E —3—–—–—–—–—–||—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—0––—–—0h1—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—1—––||
B –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—1—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—––||
A –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—––||
G C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Next, learn the verse
The verse tab is slightly different. The only change is that you return to an F chord after the G, before going back to a C. It’s one measure longer than the intro. But again, very similar.
E ||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
B ||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–––—3—–—––|–
G ||—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—0h2—–—–—––|–
D ||—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—––|–
A ||—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––|–
E ||—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—––|–
C Fadd6
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E –|—–—–—–—–—–—0––—–—0h1—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
B –|—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
G –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
D –|—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—0—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—2—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—––||
A –|—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—0—–—2—––||
E –|—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—1—–—–—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—–—3—–—–—–—–—––||
G F C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Good luck!
I hope this helps, and as always let me know if you have any questions.
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