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Joni Mitchell : Blue
1971

  1. All I Want
    +2
  2. My Old Man
  3. Little Green
  4. Carey
    +1
  5. Blue

  6. California
    +1
  7. This Flight Tonight
    +1
  8. River
  9. A Case Of You
    +2
  10. The Last Time I Saw Richard

All I Want

Capo:
VI
G
D7
x2
G
D7
Em
I am on a lonely road and I am travelling, travelling travelling travelling
F
C
D7
G
Looking for something, what can it be?
G
D7
Em
Oh, I hate you some, I hate you some, I love you some
F
C
D7
G
Oh, I love you, when I forget about me
Em
D
I want to be strong, I want to laugh along
Em
D
I want to belong to the living
Em
D
By the light, I want to get up and jive
Em
G
I want to wreck my stockings in some jukebox dive
G
D
Do you want, do you want, do you want to dance with me, baby?
F
Do you want to take a chance, on maybe finding some
Em
D
Dsus4
F
Sweet romance with me baby? Now come on
G
D7
Em
All I really, really want our love to do
F
C
D7
G
Is to bring out the best in me, and in you too
G
D7
Em
All I really, really want our love to do
F
C
D7
G
Is to bring out the best in me, and in you
Em
D
I want to talk to you, want to shine through you
Em
D
I want to renew you, again and again
Em
D
Cause applause, life is our cause
Em
G
When I think of your kisses, my mind seesaws
G
D
Do you see, do you see, do you see how you hurt me, baby?
F
Em
D
Dsus4
F
So I hurt you too, then we both get so blue...
G
D7
Em
I am on a lonely road and I am travelling
F
C
D7
G
Looking for the key to set me free
G
D7
Em
Oh, the jealousy, the greed is the unravelling, it's the unravelling
F
C
D7
G
And it undoes all the joy that could be
Em
D
I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
Em
D
I want to be the one that you want to see
Em
D
I want to knit you a sweater, I want to write you a love letter
Em
G
D
I want to make you feel better, make you feel... free
F
Em
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, I want to make you feel, free
D
Dsus4
F
G
Want to make you feel free

My Old Man

A7sus4 002233 Db xx3121
Abm7 004444 Dbm7 002424
E7sus4 002435 Gbmaj7 004321
D
E7sus4
D/e
A
D/a
My old man, he's a singer in the park
D
E7sus4
He's a walker in the rain
D/e
A7sus4
Am7
He's a dancer in the dark
D
A7sus4
A7
D/e
We don't need no piece of paper from the City Hall
E7
D
Keeping us tied and true
D/a
E7sus4
D/e
A
D/a
A
My old man, keeping away my blues He's my sunshine in the morning He's my fireworks at the end of the day He's the warmest chord I ever heard Play that warm chord, play and stay baby We don't need no piece of paper From the city hall Keeping us tied and true My old man Keeping away my blues
Abm7
But when he's gone
Bbm
Gbmaj7
Me and them lonesome blues collide
Db
The bed's too big
Dbm7
B
The frying pan's too wide
D/a
D7
E
D/e
A
D/a
Then he comes home And he takes me in his loving arms And he tells me all his troubles And he tells me all my charms We don't need no piece of paper From the city hall Keeping us tied and true No, my old man Keeping away my blues But when he's gone Me and them lonesome blues collide The bed's too big The frying pan's too wide My old man He's a singer in the park He's a walker in the rain He's a dancer in the dark We don't need no piece of paper From the city hall Keeping us tied and true No, my old man

Little Green

Tuning: DGDGBD (Open G)
Gmaj7 x00434 Bm6 x44030
Gsus4add9 x00210 Am6 x22010
G7sus2 x00203
Gmaj7
|
Bm6
Am6
|
Gsus4add9
|
G
Gmaj7
Bm6
Am6
Gsus4add9
G
Born with the moon in cancer
Gmaj7
Bm6
Am6
G7sus4
Choose her a name she will answer to
Am6
G
Call her "Green" and the winters cannot fade her
C(v)
Call her "Green" for the children who've made her
Gmaj7
Bm6
Am6
Gsus4add9
G
Little Green, be a gypsy dancer He went to California Hearing that everything's warmer there So you write him a letter and say her eyes are blue He sends you a poem and she's lost to you Little Green, he's a non-conformer
C(v)
Just a Little Green
Bb(iii)
G
Like the color when the spring is born
Bm6
Am6
G
There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow Just a Little Green Like the nights when the northern lights perform
Bm6
Am6
There'll be icicles and birthday clothes
Bm6
Am6
Gsus4add9
G
And sometimes there'll be sorrow Child with a child pretending Weary of lies you're sending home So you sign all the papers in the family name You're sad and you're sorry but you're not ashamed Little Green, have a happy ending Just a Little Green Like the color when the spring is born There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow Just a Little Green Like the nights when the northern lights perform There'll be icicles and birthday clothes And sometimes there'll be sorrow

Carey

Capo:
I
C
G
The wind is in from Africa, but last night I couldn't sleep
F
C
G
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here Carey, but it's really not my home
C
G
My fingernails are filthy, I got beach tar on my feet
F
C
G
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne
G
C
Oh Carey get out your cane
C
G
And I'll put on some silver
F
G
C
Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
C
G
Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe and I will buy you a bottle of wine
F
C
G
And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and smash our empty glasses down
C
G
Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers, a round for these friends of mine
F
C
G
Let's have another round for the bright red devil who keeps me in this tourist town
C
Come on, Carey, get out your cane
C
G
I'll put on some silver
F
G
C
Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
C
G
Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam, or maybe I'll go to Rome
F
C
G
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers round my room
C
G
But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now, the night is a starry dome
F
C
G
And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll beneath the Matalla Moon
G
C
Come on, Carey, get out your cane
C
G
And I'll put on some silver
F
G
C
You're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
C
G
The wind is in from Africa, last night I couldn't sleep
F
C
G
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it's really not my home
C
G
Maybe it's been too long a time since I was scramblin' down in the street
F
C
G
Now they got me used to that clean white linen and that fancy French cologne
G
C
Oh Carey, get out your cane
C
G
I'll put on my finest silver
F
G
C
We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe, have fun tonight
F
G
C
I said, oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight

Blue

Bm
A/b
Blue...
Bm
A/b
Songs are like tattoos, you know
Gmaj7
Esus4
E
D/e
E
I've been to sea before
D/e
E
Bm
D/g
E/a
Crown and anchor me, or let me sail away
Bm
A/b
Bm
A/b
D/e
Hey blue... there is a song for you
E
D/e
E
D/e
E
Ink on a pin, underneath the skin
D/e
Bm
D/g
E/a
An empty space to fill in
Bm
A/b
Bm
Well there are so many sinking now
G
A/g
You've gotta keep thinking
D/e
You can make it through these waves
Bm
A/b
A/b
Acid, booze, and ass
D/g
D/g
A/g
Needles, guns, and grass
Esus4
Em11
Esus4
Asus4
Lots of laughs, lots of laughs |
Bm11
|
F#m
|
D/e
A/e
A/e
F#m
Everybody's saying that Hell's the hippest way to go Well I don't think so But I'm gonna take a look around it though
Bm7
A/b
Bm7
A/b
F#m
Blue..., I love you |
D/e
A/e
|
D/e
|
D/a
|
A
|
Bm
A/b
Bm
A/b
D/e
Blue... here is a shell for you
E
D/e
E
D/e
Inside you'll hear a sigh
Em11
A foggy lullaby
Bm
F#m
D/e
There is your song from me... |
A/b
E/b
|
Bm7
|
B7
|

California

Capo:
II
This is James Taylor's guitar part in standard tuning... but maybe Drop D would work?
The intro is from Joni's dulcimer part, but here is an approximation for guitar:
G
(
D
)
A
D
--------------|-------------|----------0-----|-------------|-------------|
--2h3p2-------|-0--0-0--0-0-|-3------2---2---|-3---3-3---3-|-3---3-3-----|
--------0---0-|-0--0-0--0-0-|-----2--2-----2-|-2---2-2---2-|-2---2-2-----|
----------4---|-0--0-0--0-0-|---4------------|-0---0-0---0-|-0---0-0-----|
--------------|-------------|--------0-------|-------------|-------------|
--------------|-0--0-0--0-0-|----------------|-------------|-------------|
D
G
E7
Sitting in a park in Paris France, reading the news and it sure looks bad
Em/a
A7
D
They won't give peace a chance, that was just a dream some of us had
D
G
E7
Stole a lot of lines to sing, but I wouldn't want to stay here
Em/a
A7
G
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
Gsus4
G
D
B
/f#
B7
Ah but California, California I'm coming home
G
D/f#
A
Asus2
I'm gonna see the folks I dig, I'll even kiss a sunset pig
A
D
California I'm coming home
D
Gmaj7
D
|-0h2p0-------|-2---2---0---|-2--2--3--2--|
|-3-----3---3-|-3---3---3---|-3--3--3--3--|
|---------2---|-4---4---4---|-2--2--2--2--|
|-------------|-------------|-0--0--0--0--|
|-------------|-------------|-------------|
|-------------|-3---3-------|-------------|
 I met a redneck on a Grecian isle, we did the goat dance very well He gave me back my smile but he kept my camera to sell Oh the rogue, the red red rogue, he cooked good omelettes and stews And I might have stayed on with him there, but my heart cried out for you California, Oh California I'm coming home Oh make me feel good rock and roll band, I'm your biggest fan California I'm coming home
D
E
G
Oh it gets so lonely when you're walking
D
A
And the streets are full of strangers
E
G
E7
All the news of home you read just give you the blues
C
A
Asus4
A
Asus2
A
Just give you the blues
Repeat intro
|
G
|
A
|
D
|
G/a
| So I bought me a ticket, I caught a plane to Spain, went to a party down a red dirt road There were lots of pretty people there reading Rolling Stone, reading Vogue They said how long can you hang around, I said a week maybe two Just until my skin turns brown and then I'm going home To California, California, I'm coming home Oh, will you take me as I am, strung out on another man California I'm coming home
Repeat guitar fill
|
D
|
Gmaj7
|
D
Dsus4
D
|
D
E
G
Oh it gets so lonely when you're walking
D
A
And the streets are full of strangers
E
G
D
A
All the news of home, you read more about the war and the bloody changes
E
G
D
Oh will you take me as I am? Will you take me as I am?
A
E
Will you, will you take me as I am?
G
D
A
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
E
Take me as I am...

This Flight Tonight

Tuning: DGDGBD (Open G)
Capo:
II
Joni actually used GGDGBD (with the low D dropped all the way to G),
but plain Open G works fine (omitting the 6th string altogether).
Gsus4 000535 G 000000 Am/d xx0212
Gm11 000313 C 555555 Gmaj7 000434
G5 005030 C/g 002010 Gsus4add9 000210
G7sus4 003010 G* 000430
Gsus4
Gm11
x2
Gsus4
Gm11
Look out the left the captain said
G5
G7sus4
The lights down there, that's where we'll land
G
C
G
C
I saw a fallin' star burn up
G
C
G
C
G
C/g
G
C/g
G
Above the Las Vegas sand It wasn't the one that you gave to me That night down south between the trailers Not the early one that you can wish upon Not the northern one that guides in the sailors
Gmaj7
Am/d
Oh starlight, star bright
G
C/g
C/g
G
You got the loving that I like alright
Gmaj7
Am/d
Turn this crazy bird around
G
C/g
C/g
G
C/g
I shouldn't have got on this flight tonight
G*
Gsus4add9
G
C/g
G
C/g
G*
Gsus4add9
G
C/g
G
You got the touch so gentle and sweet But you've got that look so critical Now I can't talk to you baby, I get so weak Sometimes I think love is just mythical Up there's a heaven, down there's a town Blackness everywhere and little lights shine Blackness, blackness dragging me down Come on light the candle in this poor heart of mine Oh starlight, star bright You got the loving that I like alright Turn this crazy bird around I shouldn't have got on this flight tonight I'm drinking sweet champagne, got the headphones up high Can't numb you out, can't drum you out of my mind They're playing "Goodbye baby, baby goodbye Ooh love is blind" Up go the flaps, down go the wheels I hope you got your heat turned on baby I hope they finally fixed your automobile Hope it's better when we meet again baby Oh starlight, star bright You got the loving that I like alright Turn this crazy bird around I shouldn't have got on this flight tonight

River

|
C
| |
Am
| |
Fmaj7
| |
G
Gsus4
|
G
Gsus2
|
F/c
C
It's coming on Christmas They're cutting down trees They're putting up reindeer And singing songs of joy and peace
Am
G
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on But it don't snow here It stays pretty green I'm going to make a lot of money Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
F
G
I wish I had a river so long
C
F
Am
Dm
Dm7
I would teach my feet to fly
C
G
Fmaj7
Whoa, I wish I had a river I could skate away on
C
C
Am
G
I made my baby cry He tried hard to help me You know, he put me at ease And he loved me so naughty Made me weak in the knees Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on I'm so hard to handle I'm selfish and I'm sad Now I've gone and lost the best baby That I ever had Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on I wish I had a river so long I would teach my feet to fly Whoa, I wish I had a river I could skate away on I made my baby say goodbye It's coming on Christmas They're cutting down trees They're putting up reindeer And singing songs of joy and peace Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

A Case Of You

Approximate arrangement for guitar.
Capo:
I
C
F
Am
G
Am
F
Em
Dm7
C
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-5---10----13---12-13--10-10---10-10---8--8---8-8--6---5-5-3-|
|-0----0-----0----0--0---0--0----0--0---0--0---0-0--0---0-0-0-|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-3----8----12---10-12---8--8----8--8---7--7---7-7--5---3-3-2-|
|-------------------------------------------------------------|
G
C
Am7
G
G
Am7
G
G
G
G
|---------------------------------------|
|--3--5---1---1-p0--0--1---3-3--3-3-----|
|--0--0---0---0-----0--0---0-0--0-0--0-0|
|-------------------0--0----------------|
|--2--3---0---0------------2-2--2-2-----|
|-------------------3--3----------------|
C
G/b
Just before our love got lost you said
Am7
I am as constant as a northern star and I said
Dm7
C
G/b
Constantly in the darkness, where's that at?
Am7
G
If you want me I'll be in the bar
C
G/b
On the back of a cartoon coaster
Am7
In the blue TV screen light
Dm7
C
/c
G/b
Am7
I drew a map of Canada, oh Ca... na... da
F
C
G
With your face sketched on it twice
F
Em
Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine
Dm7
G7sus4
C
It tastes so bitter and so sweet
C
/c
/b
Am7
Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling
F
C
Gsus4
And I would still be on my feet
C
Intro
Oh I would still be on my feet Oh, I am a lonely painter I live in a box of paints I'm frightened by the devil And I'm drawn to those ones that ain't afraid I remember that time you told me You said love is touching souls Surely you touched mine 'Cause part of you pours out of me In these lines from time to time Oh, you're in my blood like holy wine Taste so bitter and so sweet Oh, I could drink a case of you darling Still I'd be on my feet I would still be on my feet I met a woman, she had a mouth like yours, she knew your life She knew your devils and your deeds and she said Go to him, stay with him if you can But be prepared to bleed Oh, but you are in my blood you're my holy wine You're so bitter, bitter and so sweet Oh, I could drink a case of you darling Still I'd be on my feet I would still be on my feet

The Last Time I Saw Richard

G
The last time I saw Richard was Detroit in '68
Am
A7
And he told me all romantics meet the same fate someday
Em
Am
G
Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark cafe
G
You laugh, he said, you think you're immune?
Am
A7
Go look at your eyes they're full of moon
Em
Am
G
You like roses and kisses and pretty men to tell you all those pretty lies
C
F
Pretty lies, when you gonna realize they're only pretty lies?
G
Am
A7
D7
Only pretty lies just pretty lies
G
He put a quarter in the Wurlitzer
Am
A7
And he pushed three buttons and the thing began to whirr
Em
Am
And a barmaid came by in fishnet stockings and a bow tie
G
And she said "Drink up now it's getting on time to close"
G
"Richard, you haven't really changed" I said
Am
A7
It's just that now you're romanticizing some pain that's in your head
Em
Am
G
You got tombs in your eyes but the songs you punched are dreaming
C
Listen, they sing of love so sweet, love so sweet
F
When you gonna get yourself back on your feet?
G
Asus4
Oh and love can be so sweet, love so sweet
G
Richard got married to a figure skater
A7
And he bought her a dishwasher and a coffee percolator
Em
Am
And he drinks at home now most nights with the TV on
G
And all the house lights left up bright
G
I'm gonna blow this damn candle out
Am
I don't want nobody comin' over to my table, I got nothing to talk to anybody about
Em
Am
All good dreamers pass this way some day
G
Hidin' behind bottles in dark cafes
C
Dark cafes, only a dark cocoon
F
G
Before I get my gorgeous wings and fly away
Am
G
Asus4