The Thing

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Diatonic

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How to read this tab — notation key

+: Blow note
−: Draw note
b or ': Half-step bend
bb or '': Two half-step bend
bbb or ''': Three half-step bend
(###): Chord — relevant hole numbers in parentheses
< or *: Push the button in (chromatic harmonica)

Full reference and posting tips in the tab guide.

Tab

 words and music by Charles Green
 (Arthur Godfrey also had a hit with this song)
 
 6    4  4   4  5    6    6     6   
While I was walking down the beach 

 6   -6    -7   7 -6  6
one bright and sunny day,

6  4  4   4    5   6  6   6  
I saw a great big wooden box 

6   6 -4   -4  5  -4
a-floating in the bay.

6   4    4  4   5  6  6   6  6 
I pulled it in and opened it up 

 6  -6   -7 7  -6  -7
and much to my surprise;

 6  7  7  7 -7  -6  6 6 6 
Oh, I discovered a  - - -,  

 7     7 -8  -7  7
right before my eyes!

 6  7  7  7 -7  -6  6 6 6  
Oh, I discovered a  - - -,  

 7     7 -8  -7   7
right before my eyes!

I picked it up and ran to town
as happy as a king,
I took it to a guy I knew
who'd buy most anything.
But his is what he holered at me
as I walked in his shop;
Oh, get out of here with that  - - -,
before I call a cop.
Oh, get out of here with that  - - -,
before I call a cop.

I turned around ang got right out,
a-running for my life,
And then I took it home with me
to give it to my wife.
But this is what she holldered at me
as I walked in the door;
Oh, get out of here with that  - - -,
and don't come back no more.
Oh, get out of here with that  - - -,
and don't come back no more.

I wandered all around the town
until I chanced to meet,
A hobo who was looking for 
a handout on the street.
He said he'd take most any old thing,
he was a desperate man;
But when I showed him the  - - -,
he turned around and ran.
But when I showed him the  - - -,
he turned around and ran.

I wandered on for many years, 
a victim of my fate.
Until one day I came upon 
St. Peter at the gate.
And when I tried to take it inside,
he told me where to go;
Get out of here with that  - - -,
and take it down below.
Get out of here with that  - - -,
and take it down below.

The moral of this story is;
If you're out on the beach,
and you should see a great big box,
and it's within your reach,
Don't ever stop and open it up,
that's my advice to you.
'Cause you'll never get rid of the  - - -,
no matter what you do.
Oh, you'll never get rid of the  - - -,
no matter what you do.

Play on a harmonica— watch which holes to blow & draw, with sound