Songbook - May & June 2023 |
---|
Both Sides Now Joni Mitchell (1967) |
Come A Little Bit Closer Jay and the Americans (Boyce, Hart, Farrell, 1964) |
Dreams Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks, 1976) |
Early Morning Rain Gordon Lightfoot (1966) |
If You Could Read My Mind Gordon Lightfoot (1970) |
I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You Tom Waits (1973) |
The Pony Man Gordon Lightfoot (1970) |
Spirit In the Sky Norman Greenbaum (1969) |
Sultans Of Swing Dire Straits (Mark Knopfler, 1978) |
Sundown Gordon Lightfoot (1974) |
Wildflowers (by Trio) Trio (Dolly Parton, 1988) |
Both Sides Now
Joni Mitchell (1967)





Gentle strumming in 4/4 or
Inside/Outside Fingerpicking Pattern
|----------M-----------M-|
|----I-----------I-------|
|-T-----------T----------|
|-------T-----------T----|
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Intro:
| [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G] Bows and [Am] flows of | [C] angel [G↑] hair
And | [G] ice cream [Gmaj7] castles | [C] in the [G↑] air
And | [G] feather [C] canyons | [Am] everywhere |
| [Am] . I've looked at clouds that | [D] way |
| [G] . But now they [Am] only | [C] block the [G↑] sun
They | [G] rain and [Gmaj7] snow on | [C] every- [G↑] one
So | [G] many [C] things I | [Am] would have done
| [Am] . But clouds got in my | [D] way |
Chorus
| [G] . I've looked at [Am] clouds from | [C] both sides [G↑] now
From | [C] up and [G↑] down, and | [C] still some- [G↑] how
It's | [Gmaj7] clouds il- [C] lusions | [G] I recall
I | [G] really [Gmaj7] don't know | [C] clouds... | [C]
...at | [G↓↓↓] all [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G] Moons and [Am] Junes and | [C] ferris [G↑] wheels
The | [G] dizzy [Gmaj7] dancing | [C] way you [G↑] feel
As | [G] every [C] fairy- | [Am] tale comes real |
| [Am] I've looked at [C] love that | [D] way |
| [G] . But now it's [Am] just a- | [C] nother [G↑] show
You | [G] leave 'em [Gmaj7] laughin' | [C] when you [G↑] go
And | [G] if you [C] care | [Am] don't let them know |
| [Am] Don't give [C] yourself a- | [D] way
Chorus
I've | [G] looked at [Am] love from | [C] both sides [G↑] now
From | [C] give and [G↑] take, and | [C] still some- [G↑] how
It's | [Gmaj7] love's il- [C] lusions | [G] . I recall
I | [G] really [Gmaj7] don't know | [C] love... | [C]
...at | [G↓↓↓] all [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G] Tears and [Am] fears and | [C] feeling [G↑] proud
To | [G] say "I [Gmaj7] love you" | [C] right out [G↑] loud |
| [G] Dreams and [C] schemes | [Am] and circus crowds |
| [Am] I've looked at [C] life that | [D] way |
| . [G] But now old [Am] friends are | [C] acting [G↑] strange
They | [G] shake their [Gmaj7] heads, they | [C] say I've [G↑] changed
Well | [G] something's [C] lost | [Am] . but something's gained |
| [Am] . In living every | [D] day
Chorus
I've | [G] looked at [Am] life from | [C] both sides [G↑] now
From | [C] win and [G↑] lose, and | [C] still some- [G↑] how
It's | [Gmaj7] life's il- [C] lusions | [G] I recall
I | [G] really [Gmaj7] don't know | [C] love... | [C]
...at | [G↓↓↓] all [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] |
| [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] | [G↓↓↓] [C↑↓] | [G↓]
#Capo on 1st fret to play with Judy Collins' version.
#Retune 1/2 step lower to F# to play with Joni Mitchell's original.
#Last Updated 01/05/23 JJ
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Come A Little Bit Closer
Jay and the Americans (Boyce, Hart, Farrell, 1964)



A|--8--8--8--8--8-----7-|-3--3-3----------|-----------------|
E|-10-10-10-10-10-----8-|-5--5-5----1-1-1-|-1-3-5-7---------|
C|----------------------|-----------2-2-2-|-2-4-5-7---------|
G|----------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Strum 4/4 | d - R u - u - u |
1 2 & & &
In a | [C] little cafe on the | [F] other side of the | [C] border | [G!] [C]
She was | [C] sitting there giving me | [F] looks that made my mouth | [C] water | [G!] [C]
So I | [F] started walking her | way, she be- | longed to Bad Man Jo- | se
And I | [G] knew, yes I knew, I should | leave, then I heard her | [C] say- [F] ay- | [G] ay
Come a little bit | [C] closer, you're [F] my kind of | [G] man, so big and so | [G] strong
Come a little bit | [C] closer, [F] I'm all a- | [G] lone, and the night is so | [C] long [F] | [G] [F]
So we | [C] started to dance, in my | [F] arms she felt so in- | [C] viting | [G!] [C]
And I just | [C] couldn't resist, a just a | [F] one little kiss so ex- | [C] citing | [G!] [C]
Then I | [F] heard the guitar player | say "Va- | moose , Jose's on his | way"
And I | [G] knew, yes I knew, I should | run, but then I heard her | [C] say- [F] ay- | [G] ay
Come a little bit | [C] closer, you're [F] my kind of | [G] man, so big and so | [G] strong
Come a little bit | [C] closer, [F] I'm all a- | [G] lone, and the night is so | [C] long [F] | [G] [F]
Instrumental
| [C] | [F] [G] | [C] | [F] [G] |
| [C] | [F] [G] | [C] | [F] [G]
Then the | [C!] music [C!] stopped, when I | [F] looked, the cafe was | [C] empty | [G!] [C]
And I | [C] heard Jose say, 'Man, you | [F] know you're in trouble | [C] plenty' | [G!] [C]
So I | [F] dropped my drink from my | hand, | and from the window I | ran
And as | [G] I rode away, I could | hear her say to Jos- | [C] e [F] yay | [G] yay
Come a little bit | [C] closer, you're [F] my kind of | [G] man, so big and so | [G] strong
Come a little bit | [C] closer, [F] I'm all a- | [G] lone, and the night is so | [C] long [F] | [G] [F]
| [C] La lala [F] lalala | [G] la laa |
| [C] La lala [F] lalala | [G] la laa |
| [C] Oh [F] oh | [G] oh |
| [C] La lala [F] lalala | [G] la laa |
#Capo on 3rd fret to play with original.
#Last Updated 08/05/23 JJ
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Dreams
Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks, 1976)






4/4 | D - X u D - X u |
1 2 & 3 4 &
Intro
| [F] | [G] | [F] | [G] |
| [F] | [G] | [F] | [G] |
| [F] .. Now there you | [G] go again,
You say | [F] . you want your free- | [G] dom. |
| [F] .. Well who am | [G] I to keep you down? | [F] | [G] |
| [F] . It's only right | [G] . that you should | [F] play the way you | [G] feel it,
But | [F] listen careful- | [G] ly to the sound | [F] .. of your | [G] loneliness.
Pre-Chorus
Like a | [F] heartbeat drives you mad, | [G]
In the | [F] stillness of re- | [G] membering what you ha- | [F] ad |
| [G] .. and what you lo- | [F] ost, |
| [G] .. And what you ha- | [F] ad, |
| [G] .. and what you lo- | [F] ost, | [G]
Chorus
Oh, | [Fmaj7] thunder only | [G7] happens when it's | [Fadd9] raining. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] Players only | [G7] love you when they're | [Fadd9] playing. | [G7]
Say, | [Fmaj7] women, they will | [G7] come and they will | [Fadd9] go. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] When the rain wa- | [G7] shes you clean you'll | [Fadd9] know. | [G7]
You'll | [F] know. | [G] |
Interlude
| [G] | [F] | [Am] | [G] | [G] | [F] |
| [F] . Now here I | [G] go again,
I see | [F] . the crystal vi- | [G] sion. |
| [F] . I keep my | [G] visions to my- | [F] self. | [G] |
| [F] . It's only | [G] me who wants to | [F] wrap around your | [G] dreams and |
| [F] have you any | [G] dreams you'd like to | [F] sell? Dreams of | [G] loneliness
Pre-Chorus
Like a | [F] heartbeat drives you mad, | [G]
In the | [F] stillness of re- | [G] membering what you ha- | [F] ad |
| [G] .. and what you lo- | [F] ost, |
| [G] .. And what you ha- | [F] ad, |
| [G] .. and what you lo- | [F] ost, | [G]
Chorus
Oh, | [Fmaj7] thunder only | [G7] happens when it's | [Fadd9] raining. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] Players only | [G7] love you when they're | [Fadd9] playing. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] Women, they will | [G7] come and they will | [Fadd9] go. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] When the rain wa- | [G7] shes you clean you'll | [Fadd9] know. | [G7]
Oh, | [Fmaj7] thunder only | [G7] happens when it's | [Fadd9] raining. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] Players only | [G7] love you when they're | [Fadd9] playing. | [G7]
They say | [Fmaj7] women, they will | [G7] come and they will | [Fadd9] go. | [G7] |
| [Fmaj7] When the rain wa- | [G7] shes you clean you'll | [Fadd9] know. | [G7]
You'll | [F] know... | [G] .. You will | [F] know... | [G] .. You'll | [Fmaj7!] know
#Play along with original in this key.
#Last Updated 01/05/23 JJ
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Early Morning Rain
Gordon Lightfoot







Generally 2 bars per chord
4/4 | d - D - d u D u |
1 2 3 & 4 &
Intro
| [F] | [F] | [Bb] | [Bb] |
| [C] | [Bb] | [F] | [Bb] |
| [F] ...In the | early morning | [Csus4] rain | [Csus4] |
| [C] ...With a | [Bb] dollar in my | [F] hand | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...With an | aching in my | [Gm7] heart | [Gm7] |
| [Gm7] ...and my | pockets full of | [F] sand | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...I'm a | long way from | [Gm7] home | [Gm7] |
| [C] ...and I | miss my loved ones | [F] so | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...In the | early morning | [Am] rain | [Am] |
| [C] ...With | [Bb] no place to | [F] go | [Bb] |
| [F] ...Out on | runway number | [Csus4] nine | [Csus4] |
| [C] ...big seven o | [Bb] seven set to | [F] go | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...But I'm | stuck here in the | [Gm7] grass | [Gm7] |
| [Gm7] ...With a | pain that ever | [F] grows | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...Now the | liquor tasted | [Gm7] good | [Gm7] |
| [C] ...And the | women all were | [F] fast | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...Well now | there she goes my | [Am] friend | [Am] |
| [C] ...Well she's | [Bb] rolling down at | [F] last | [Bb] |
| [C] | [Bb] | [F] | [Bb] |
| [F] ...Hear the | mighty engines | [Csus4] roar | [Csus4] |
| [C] ...See the | [Bb] silver wing on | [F] high | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...She's a- | way and westward | [Gm7] bound | [Gm7] |
| [Gm7] ...Far a- | bove the clouds she'll | [F] fly | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...Where the | morning rain don't | [Gm7] fall | [Gm7] |
| [C] ...And the | sun always | [F] shines | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...She'll be | flying over my | [Am] home | [Am] |
| [C] ...In a- | [Bb] bout three hours | [F] time
| [Bb] | [C] | [Bb] | [F] | [Bb] |
| [F] ...This old | airport's got me | [Csus4] down | [Csus4] |
| [C] ...It's no | [Bb] earthly good to | [F] me | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...'Cause I'm | stuck here on the | [Gm7] ground | [Gm7] |
| [Gm7] ...As cold and | drunk as I can | [F] be | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...You can't | jump a jet | [Gm7] plane | [Gm7] |
| [C] ...like you | can a freight | [F] train | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...So I'd | best be on my | [Csus4] way | [Csus4] |
| [C] ...in the | [Bb] early morning | [F] rain | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...You can't | jump a jet | [Gm7] plane | [Gm7] |
| [C] ...like you | can a freight | [F] train | [Fsus4] |
| [F] ...So I'd | best be on my | [Csus4] way | [Csus4] |
| [C] ...in the | [Bb] early morning | [F] rain | [Bb] |
| [C] | [Bb] | [F] | [Bb] | [F↓]
#Play with originial in this key.
#Last Updated 9/18/17 JJ
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If You Could Read My Mind
Gordon Lightfoot (1970)







Swiss Army Strum
4/4 | d - D u - u d u |
Intro
| [G] | [Gsus2] | [G] | [Gsus2] |
| [G] If you could | read my mind love |
| [F] what a tale my | thoughts could tell |
| [G] Just like an | old time movie |
| [F] about a ghost from a | wishing well |
Pre-Chorus
| [G] In a castle | dark, or a | [C] fortress strong,
with | [D] chains upon my | [Em] feet
you | [C] know that ghost is | [G] me
Chorus
And | [C] I will never | [G] be set free
As | [Am] long as I'm a | [D] ghost that you can't |
| [G] see | [Gsus2] |
| [G] If I could | read your mind love |
| [F] what a tale your | thoughts could tell |
| [G] Just like a | paperback novel |
| [F] the kind that | drugstores sell |
| [G] When you reach the | part
where the | [C] heartaches come
the | [D] hero would be | [Em] me
but | [C] heroes often | [G] fail
Chorus
And | [C] you won't read that | [G] book again
be- | [Am] cause the ending's | [D] just too hard to |
Instrumental Interlude
| [G] take | [Gsus2] | [F] | [F] |
| [G] | [Gsus2] | [F] | [F] |
| [G] I'd walk a- | way like a | [C] movie star,
who gets | [D] burned in a three way | [Em] script
| [C] Enter number | [G] two
Chorus
A | [C] movie queen to | [G] play the scene
Of | [Am] bringing all the | [D] good things out in | [G] me,
but for | [C] now love, let's be | [G] real
I | [C] never thought I could | [G] act this way,
and I've | [Am] got to say that I | [D] just don't get it
| [C] I don't know where | [G] we went wrong,
But the | [Am] feeling's gone and I | [D] just can't get it
| [G] back | [Gsus2] | [G] | [Gsus2] |
| [G] If you could | read my mind love |
| [F] what a tale my | thoughts could tell |
| [G] Just like an | old time movie |
| [F] about a ghost from a | wishing well |
Pre-Chorus
| [G] In a castle | dark or a | [C] fortress strong
with | [D] chains upon my | [Em] feet
But | [C] stories always | [G] end.
Chorus
And | [C] if you read be- | [G] tween the lines
You'll | [Am] know that I'm just | [D] trying to under- | [Em] stand
the | [C] feelings that we | [G] lack
I | [C] never thought I could | [G] feel this way,
and I've | [Am] got to say that I | [D] just don't get it |
| [C] I don't know where | [G] we went wrong | [Am] but the feeling's gone
and I | [D] just can't get it |
| [G] back | [Gsus2] | [G] | [Gsus2] | [G↓]
#Capo on 2nd fret to play with orginal.
#Last Updated 01-29-19 JJ
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I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You
Tom Waits (1973)




A|---------R------
4 E|---------M------ 2 beat FP pattern
4 C|-----I-------I--
G|-T--------------
1 & 2 &
Intro
| [D] [G] | [A] | [A] |
| [D] [G] | [A] | [A]
Well, I | [D] hope that I don't [G] fall in love with | [A] you | [A]
'Cause | [D] falling in [G] love just makes me | [A] blue | [A]
Well the | [G] music plays and [D] you display
Your | [Em] heart for me to [D] see,
I | [G] had a beer and [D] now I hear
You | [1/2Em] calling out for | [A] me | [A] |
And I | [D] hope that I don't [G↓] fall in [A↓] love with | [D] you. | [D]
Well, the | [D] room is crowded, there's [G] people every- | [A] where | [A]
And I | [D] wonder, should I [G] offer you a | [A] chair? | [A]
Well, if | [G] you sit down with [D] this old clown,
I'll | [Em] take that frown and [D] break it,
Be- | [G] fore the evening's [D] gone away,
I | [1/2Em] think that we could | [A] make it, | [A]
And I | [D] hope that I don't [G↓] fall in [A↓] love with | [D] you. | [D]
I can | [D] see that you are [G] lonesome just like | [A] me | [A]
and it | [D] being late, you'd [G] like some compa- | [A] ny | [A]
Well | [G] I've had two, I [D] look at you,
And | [Em] you look back at [D] me
The | [G] guy you're with has [D] up and split,
The | [1/2Em] chair next to you is | [A] free | [A]
And I | [D] hope that you don't [G↓] fall in [A↓] love with | [D] me. | [D] |
Solo (Sing melody with La la la...)
| [D] [G] | [A] | [A] |
| [D] [G] | [A] | [A] |
| [G] [D] | [Em] [D] |
| [G] [D] | [1/2Em] | [A] | [A] |
| [D] [G↓] [A↓] | [D] | [D]
Now the | [D] night does funny [G] things inside a | [A] man | [A]
These old | [D] tomcat feelings [G] you don't under- | [A] stand | [A]
I | [G] turn around and [D] look at you, you | [Em] light a cigar- [D] ette
I | [G] wish I had the [D] guts to bum one, | [1/2Em] but we've never | [A] met | [A]
And I | [D] hope that I don't [G↓] fall in [A↓] love with | [D] you. | [D]
Now it's | [D] closing time, the [G] music's fading | [A] out | [A]
Last | [D] call for drinks I'll [G] have another | [A] stout | [A]
I | [G] turn around and [D] look at you, you're | [Em] nowhere to be [D] found
I | [G] search the place for [D] your lost face,
I | [1/2Em] guess I'll have another | [A] round | [A]
And I | [D] think that I just [G↓] fell in [A↓] love with | [D] you | [D]
#Play along with original in this key.
#Good fingerpicking song with plenty of suspended chord decoration opportunities (not in chart).
#Last Updated 9-02-18 JJ
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The Pony Man
Gordon Lightfoot (1970)



Carter Picking
4/4 | T3 - D u T4 - D u |
1 2 & 3 4 &
| [A] | [A] | [A] | [A] |
| [A] | [A]
When it's | [A] midnight on the | meadow and the | [D] cats are in the | [A] shed | [A]
And the | [A] river tells a | [D] story at the | [E7] window by my | bed | [E7]
If you | [A] listen very | closely, be as | [D] quiet as you | [A] can | [A]
| [A] In the yard you'll | [D] hear him, it | [E7] is the pony | [A] man | [A]
We're | [A] always there to | greet him when he | [D] tumbles into | [A] town | [A]
He | [A] leads a string of | [D] ponies, some are | [E7] white and some are | brown | [E7]
And they | [A] never seem to | kick or bite, they | [D] only want to | [A] play | [A]
And they | [A] live on candy | [D] apples in- | [E7] stead of oats and | [A] hay | [A]
And | [A] when we're all as- | sembled he | [D] gives a soft com- | [A] mand | [A]
And we | [A] climb aboard our | [D] ponies as | [E7] in a row they | stand | [E7]
Then | [A] down the road we | gallop and a- | [D] cross the fields we | [A] fly | [A]
And | [A] soon we all go | [D] sailing off in- | [E7] to the midnight | [A] sky | [A] | [A] | [A]
And | [A] as we gaily | rock along be- | [D] side a ripplin' | [A] sea | [A]
There's | [A] Tom 'n Dick 'n | [D] Sally and | [E7] Mary Joe and | me | [E7]
And the | [A] pony man is | leading 'cause he's | [D] travelled here be- | [A] fore | [A]
And he | [A] gives a whoop and a | [D] holler at | [E7] Mr. Moon's front | [A] door | [A]
| [A] | [A] | [D] | [A] | [A] |
| [A] | [D] | [E7] | [A] | [A]
And | [A] then we stop to | rest a while where the | [D] soda river | [A] glides | [A]
Up | [A] to the slip comes a | [D] pirate ship to | [E7] take us for a | ride | [E7]
And the | [A] pony man's the | captain and the | [D] children are the | [A] crew | [A]
And we | [A] go in search of | [D] treasure and | [E7] laugh the whole night | [A] through | [A]
And | [A] when the hold is | filled with gold and the | [D] sails begin to | [A] strain | [A]
And the | [A] deck's piled high with | [D] apple pie we | [E7] head for port a- | gain | [E7]
Then | [A] down the whirling | staircase so | [D] swift our ponies | [A] fly | [A]
And we're | [A] safely in our | [D] beds again when the | [E7] sunbeams kiss the | [A] sky | [A]
| [A] | [A] | [D] | [A] | [A] |
| [A] | [D] | [E7] | [A] | [A]
When it's | [A] midnight on the | meadow and the | [D] cats are in the | [A] shed | [A]
And the | [A] river tells a | [D] story at the | [E7] window by my | bed | [E7]
If you | [A] listen very | closely, be as | [D] quiet as you | [A] can | [A]
| [A] In the yard you'll | [D] hear him, it | [E7] is the pony | [A!] man
#Play along with Gordon Lightfoot in this key.
#Last Updated 15/05/23 JJ
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Spirit in the Sky
Norman Greenbaum (1969)





Offbeat Strumming Rhythm
4/4 | D u - u - u - u | - u - u - u - u |
1 & & & & & & & &
Intro
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] When I die and they | lay me to rest, |
| [A] gonna go to the | [D] place that's the best |
| [D] When they lay me | [A] down to die,
going | [E7] up to the spirit in the | [E7] sky [A] |
| [A] Going up to the | spirit in the sky, (spirit in the sky) |
| [A] that's where I'm gonna go | [D] when I die (when I die) |
| [D] When I die and they | [A] lay me to rest,
I'm gonna | [E7] go to the place that's the | [E7] best [A] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] Prepare yourself, you | know it's a must, |
| [A] got to have a friend in | [D] Jesus |
| [D] So you know that | [A] when you die,
He's | [E7] gonna recommend you to the | [E7] spirit in the [A] sky (spirit in the sky) |
| [A] Oh, recommend you to the | spirit in the sky, |
| [A] that's where you're gonna go | [D] when you die (when you die) |
| [D] When you die and they | [A] lay you to rest,
you're gonna | [E7] go to the place that's the | [A] best |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
Solo
| [A] | [G] | [A] | [C] |
| [A] | [G] | [A] | [C] [D] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] Never been a sinner, | I've never sinned, |
| [A] I've got a friend in | [D] Jesus |
| [D] So you know that | [A] when I die,
He's | [E7] gonna set me up with the | [E7] spirit in the [A] sky |
| [A] Oh, set me up with the | spirit in the sky, (spirit in the sky) |
| [A] that's where I'm gonna go | [D] when I die (when I die) |
| [D] When I die and they | [A] lay me to rest,
I'm gonna | [E7] go to the place that's the | [A] best |
| [E7] Go to the place that's the | [A] best |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] |
| [A] | [A] [D↓][C↓] | [A] | [A] [C↓][D↓] | [A↓]
#Play along with original in this key.
#Last Updated 07/13/20 JJ
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Sultans Of Swing
Dire Straits (Mark Knopfler, 1978)





4/4 | D - X u D - X u |
1 2 & 3 4 &
Instrumental Hook
Dm C Bb Dm C
4/4 | D - X u D U - U | d - d - d - D - | D U - U - - - - | D - X u D - X u |
1 2 & 3 & & 1 2 3 4 1 & &(3) (4) 1 2 & 3 4 &
Intro
| [Dm] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] |
| [Dm] | [Dm] |
| [Dm] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] |
| [Dm] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] |
You get a | [Dm] shiver in the dark, it's | [C] raining in the [Bb] park but | [A] meantime | [A] |
| [Dm] . South of the river you | [C] stop and you [Bb] hold every- | [A] thing | [A] |
| [F] . A band is blowing | Dixie double | [C] four time | [C] |
| [Bb] . You feel alright | when you hear that music | [Dm] ring | [Dm↓] [Bb↑↑] | [C] | [C]
Well now, you | [Dm] step inside but you | [C] don't see [Bb] too many | [A] faces | [A] |
| [Dm] . Coming in out of the | [C] rain to hear the [Bb] jazz go | [A] down | [A] |
| [F] ... Compe- | tition in other | [C] places | [C] |
| [Bb] ... Uh, but the | horns they blowin' that | [Dm] sound | [Dm] [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] ... way on | down south [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] ... way on | down south |
Instrumental Hook
| [Dm] London Town [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] |
| [Dm] [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C]
You check out | [Dm] Guitar George | [C] .. [Bb] . he knows | [A] all the chords | [A] |
| [Dm] . Mind he's strictly rhythm he | [C] doesn't want to [Bb] make it | [A] cry or sing | [A] |
| [F] ... They say an | old guitar is | [C] all he can af- | [C] ford |
| [Bb] . When he gets up under the | lights to play his | [Dm] thing | [Dm↓] [Bb↑↑] | [C] | [C] |
| [Dm] .. And Harry doesn't | [C] mind [Bb] if he doesn't | [A] .. make the | [A] scene |
| [Dm] . He's got a daytime | [C] job, he's [Bb] doin' al- | [A] right | [A] |
| [F] . He can play the | honky tonk like | [C] anything | [C] |
| [Bb] .. Saving it | up, for Friday night | [Dm] | [Dm↓] [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] ... with the | Sultans [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] ... with the | Sultans of |
Instrumental Hook
| [Dm] Swing [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] |
| [Dm] [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] |
Instrumental Solo
| [Dm] | [C] [Bb] | [A] | [A] |
| [Dm] | [C] [Bb] | [A] | [A] |
| [F] | [F] | [C] | [C] |
| [Bb] | [Bb] | [Dm] | [Dm↓] [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] | [C] [Bb↑↑] | [C] | [C]
Instrumental Hook
| [Dm] [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] |
| [Dm] [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] |
| [Dm] . And then the man he | [C] steps right [Bb] up to the | [A] microphone | [A] |
| [Dm] .. And says at | [C] last just as the [Bb] time bell | [A] ring | [A] |
| [F] ... Good- | night, now it's | [C] time to go | home |
| [Bb] . Then he makes it | fast with one more | [Dm] thing | [Dm↓] [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] ... We are the | Sultans [Bb↑↑] |
| [C] ... We are the | Sultans of |
Instrumental Hook
| [Dm] Swing [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] |
| [Dm] [Dm↓] [C↑] [Bb↑] | ... [Dm↓] | [Dm↓] [C↑↑] | [C] | [Dm↓]
#Soundslice Link for Instrumental Hook
#Play along with Dire Straits in this key.
#Last Updated 22/05/23 JJ
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Sundown
Gordon Lightfoot (1974)




4/4 | d - D - - u - u |
1 2 (3)& &
I can [D] see her lyin' back in her | satin dress
In a [A] room where you do what you [D] don't confess
[D] Sundown, you [G] better take care
If I [C] find you bin creepin' round [D] my back stairs
[D] Sundown, you [G] better take care
If I [C] find you bin creeping round [D] my back stairs [D]
She's been [D] lookin' like a queen in a | sailor's dream
And she [A] don't always say what she [D] really means
[D] Sometimes I [G] think it's a shame
When I [C] get feelin' better when I'm [D] feelin' no pain
[D] Sometimes I [G] think it's a shame
When I [C] get feelin' better when I'm [D] feelin' no pain [D]
I can [D] picture ev'ry move that a | man could make
Getting' [A] lost in her lovin' is your [D] first mistake
[D] Sundown, you [G] better take care
If I [C] find you bin creepin' round [D] my back stairs
[D] Sometimes I [G] think it's a sin
When I [C] feel like I'm winnin' when I'm [D] losin' again [D]
I can [D] see her lookin' fast in her | faded jeans
She's a [A] hard lovin' woman got me [D] feelin' mean
[D] Sometimes I [G] think it's a shame
When I [C] get feelin' better when I'm [D] feelin' no pain
[D] Sundown, you [G] better take care
If I [C] find you bin creepin' round [D] my back stairs
[D] Sundown, you [G] better take care
If I [C] find you bin creepin' round [D] my back stairs
[D] Sometimes I [G] think it's a sin
When I [C] feel like I'm winnin' when I'm [D] losin' again [D] [D↓]
#Capo on 4th fret to play along with original.
#Extended jams are all on a [D] chord.
#Last Updated 3/30/18 JJ
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Wildflowers
Trio (Dolly Parton, 1988)



Carter Picking
4/4 | T3 - D u T4 - D u |
1 2 & 3 4 &
Intro
| [A] | [A] | [D] | [A]
| [A] | [E7] | [A] | [A]
The | [A] hills were a- | live with wild | [D] flowers and | [A] I
Was as | [A] wild, even | [E7] wilder than | [A] they | [A]
For at | [A] least I could | run, they just | [D] died in the | [A] sun
And I re- | [A] fused to just | [E7] wither in | [A] place | [A]
Chorus
Just a | [D] wild mountain | rose needing | [A] freedoms to | grow
So I | [D] ran fearing | not where I'd | [A] go-o- | [E7] o
When a | [A] flower grows | wild it can | [D] always sur- | [A] vive
Wild- | [A] flowers don't | [E7] care where they | [A] grow | [A]
And the | [A] flowers I | knew in the | [D] fields where I | [A] grew
Were con- | [A] tent to be | [E7] lost in the | [A] crowd | [A]
They were | [A] common and | close, I had | [D] no room for | [A] growth
And I | [A] wanted so | [E7] much to branch | [A] out | [A]
Chorus
So I up- | [D] rooted my- | self from my | [A] home ground and | left
Took my | [D] dreams and I | took to the | [A] roa-oa- | [E7] oad
When a | [A] flower grows | wild it can | [D] always sur- | [A] vive
Wild- | [A] flowers don't | [E7] care where they | [A] grow | [A]
| [A] | [E7] | [A] | [A]
I grew | [A] up fast and | wild and I | [D] never felt | [A] right
In a | [A] garden so | [E7] different from | [A] me | [A]
I just | [A] never be- | longed, I just | [D] longed to be | [A] gone
So the | [A] garden one | [E7] day set me | [A] free | [A]
Chorus
I hitched a | [D] ride with the | wind and since | [A] he was my | friend
I just | [D] let him de- | cide where we'd | [A] go-o- | [E7] o
When a | [A] flower grows | wild it can | [D] always sur- | [A] vive
Wild- | [A] flowers don't | [E7] care where they | [A] grow | [A]
Just a | [D] wild rambling | rose seeking | [A] mysteries un- | told
No re- | [D] grets for the | path that I c | [A] ho-o- | [E7] ose
When a | [A] flower grows | wild it can | [D] always sur- | [A] vive
Wild- | [A] flowers don't | [E7] care where they | [A] grow | [A]
Outro - Hummed Verse Melody
| [A] | [A] | [D] | [A]
| [A] | [E7] | [A] | [A]
| [A] | [A] | [D] | [A]
| [A] | [E7] | [A] | [A!]
#Capo on 1st fret to play with original.
#Last Updated 05/06/23 JJ
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