-- comp. K. Kristofferson, 1971 ("transcr./arr." tcg) --4/4 // Keys of G, A // Moderately --rhythm guitar: alternate bass (see Intro; ^ = downstrum; v = "upstrum")
INTRO: G ^ v G6 ^ v ||-----3--3---------3--3----|| ||-----0--0---------0--0----|| ||o----0--0---------0--0---o|| ||o----0--0---0h2---2--0---o|| ||--------------------------|| ||--3-----------------------||
INTRO Recitation (over riff above): "I started out writin' this song about . . . [insert own music gods!]"
[Notes: * each chord name below = one entire "bum-chicky-bum-chicky"; * (...sus4) = add sus4 to 2nd half of measure) * letters in : : are bass notes than can optionally be incorporated into guitar accompaniment]
VERSE 1: [add sus4 to 2nd half of G measures at will]
See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans,
Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile-- C C G :f#: Em Once he had a future full of money, love, and dreams, A7 A7 D (...sus4) D Which he spent like they was goin' outa style--
And he keeps right on a'changin' for the better or the worse,
Searchin' for a shrine he's never found--
Never knowin' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse,
Or if the goin' up was worth the comin' down--
CHORUS:
He's a poet, he's a picker--
He's a prophet, he's a pusher--
He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned--
He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,
Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
[modulate whole-step up:] A (...sus4) A (...sus4)
VERSE 2: [add sus4 to 2nd half of A measures at will]
He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars,
And he's traded in tomorrow for today-- :g#: Runnin' from his devils, Lord, and reachin' for the stars,
And losin' all he's loved along the way--
But if this world keeps right on turnin' for the better or the worse,
And all he ever gets is older and around--
D(or Bm) E A A The goin' up was worth the comin' down--
CHORUS
He's a poet, he's a picker--
He's a prophet, he's a pusher--
He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned--
He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction, E E E A A / g# f# Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
E E E [A:coda riff] There's a lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home.
*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===* * ------------------------------- _-^-_ ------------------------------- * | "--If I decide to practice a / o )=\ slight movement from right | * to left . . . or from left { /===} to right . . . it's * | nobody's business but my \ (=o=/ own." (_A_Day_for_Eeyore_) | *===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===* ^-_=^ *===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*
