Guten Tag

Words and Music: Rhodri James

Based on one of the backup stories in "Classic X-Men" many years ago -- I forget the exact issue number and writer (John Bolton I think). The plot is pretty much as described anyway, and it's a nice little story, but why everyone likes this song is beyond me! This song was also my first commission -- Sue Mason told me that I was going to write something about Nightcrawler (OK, so she actually asked nicely), her favorite comics character. I wasn't about to say "No" to Aunty Sue; I like my anatomy in its current configuration!

A MIDI file (4Kb) and GIF of the manuscript (10Kb) of this song are available.


        	[whistle chorus tune]
        
      C                        G
        We were sitting in the bar one day,
      C      D             G
        Just Wolvie and me.
           C                               G        E
        We talked a lot about the way that I'd come in;
        AM7                   D
        I was in disguise you see.
        C           D       G   C
        How could I come in openly
            G             E
        Without a hue and cry?
             A        D         G       E
        I've got blue fur and a pointed tail;
        AM7                      D
        What could I tell to the passers-by
        	Could I say...
        
              G       C    D          G
        	Guten Tag, how do you do, mein herr?
                C        D      C       D
        	Let me explain --
              G       C        D           B7
        	Never mind the fur and the tail, you see
              C      D            G     C     G
        	Nightcrawler's my name.
        
        
        Wolvie reckoned it was cowardice
        That kept me hiding my face;
        I'd been a circus acrobatic star before,
        Proud to earn my spotlit place.
        He got me to swallow my pride and change
        And walk home plain as day.
        Of course all the people stared at me,
        And I couldn't think of a thing to say
        	Except for...
        
        	Guten Tag, how do you do, mein herr?
        	Let me explain --
        	Never mind the fur and the tail, you see
        	Nightcrawler's my name.
        
        
        All the people seemed to like me then,
        The kids said I was really neat.
        I think I know the reason; if your courteous then
        Fur's got charisma you can't beat!
        So I enjoyed my afternoon,
        And you can have the same great fun
        If you go out for a little stroll
        And talk a lot to everyone.
        	Just tell them...
        
        	Guten Tag, how do you do, mein herr?
        	Let me explain --
        	Never mind the fur and the tail, you see
        	Nightcrawler's my name,
        	Nightcrawler's my name.
        
        	>>BAMF!<<

PMS description

Follow this link for a description of PMS.

        Key G
        Time 6/8

        @ Chorus

        r. g d- | E. | d e- d b`-_ | b` a`- g`. |
        c d- e d-_ | D. | R! | R! |
        r. g d- | e._e e- | d e- d b`-_ | b` #c- #d. |
        r. e. | d b`- a` g`-_ | G`. | R! ||

        @ Verse

        r. e #d- |e #d- e c- | d e-_e d-_ | D. |
        r. e. | d b`- a` b`-_ | B`. | r. r
        d- | e #d- e d- | e #d- e c- | %d #d-_d e-_ | E. |
        e #d- e d- | e. %f #f-_ | F. | r. r
        d- | e. e e- | f. f. | g d-_d e-_ | e. r
        e- | d._d d- | b` d-_d e-_ | E. | r. r
        #d- | e. e. | f. e f- | g d-_d e-_ | E. |
        e. e #d- | e. e %f- | #f. e d-_ | d d- e f- ||

        @ Last Chorus

        r. g d- | E. | d e- d b`-_ | b` a`- g`. |
        c d- e d-_ | D. | R! | R! |
        r. g d- | e._e e- | d e- d b`-_ | b` #c- #d. |
        r. e. | d b`- a` b`-_ | B`. | R! |
        r. e. | d e- f g-_ | G. | R! ||