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Joni Mitchell : For The Roses
1972

  1. Banquet
  2. Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire
  3. For The Roses

  4. See You Sometime
  5. Electricity
    +1
  6. You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio
  7. Blonde In The Bleachers
  8. Woman Of Heart And Mind

Banquet

A
-
E/a
-
D/a
-
A
F#m/b
-
Bm7
Esus4
E
Em7
Am
Come to the dinner gong
Em/a
A7
Dm7
The table is laden high
D
C/d
Fat bellies and hungry little ones
F
A
E/a
E
Tuck your napkins in and take your share
Esus4
E
Em7
Some get the gravy
Am
Em/a
A7
And some get the gristle
Dm7
D
C/d
Some get the marrow bone
F
And some get nothing
A
E/a
E
Esus4
Though there's plenty to spare
Em/a
Am
Em/a
Am
Em/a
I took my share down by the sea
Am
Em/a
Am
Em/a
Esus4
Paper plates and Javex bottles on the tide
E
E7sus4
D/e
Seagulls come down and they squawk at me
E
Esus4
E7sus4
D/e
F
(
Cmaj7/f
F
x3)
F#m/b
Bm7
Down where the water skiers glide
Esus4
E
Em7
Am
Some turn to Jesus
Em/a
A7
And some turn to heroin
Dm7
D
C/d
Some turn to rambling 'round
F
Looking for a clean sky
A
E/a
E
And a drinking stream
Esus4
E
Em7
Am
Some watch the paint peel off
Em/a
A7
Some watch their kids grow up
Dm7
D
C/d
Some watch their stocks and bonds
F
A
E/a
E
Esus4
Waiting for that big deal American dream
Em/a
Am
Em/a
Am
Em/a
I took my dream down by the sea
Am
Em/a
Am
Em/a
Yankee yachts and lobster pots
Esus4
E
And sunshine and logs and sails
E7sus4
D/e
And Shell Oil pails
E
Esus4
D/e
Dogs and tugs and summertime
F
Back in the banquet line
Cmaj7/f
F#m/b
Angry young people crying
Esus4
E
Em7
Am
"Who let the greedy in
Em/a
A7
And who left the needy out?
Dm7
D
C/d
Who made this salty
F
Tell 'em we're very hungry now
A
E/a
E
For a sweeter fare" In the cookie I read,
Esus4
E
Em7
"Some get the gravy
Am
Em/a
A7
And some get the gristle
Dm7
D
C/d
Some get the marrow bone
Em/a
Am
F
And some get nothing
A
E/a
B
D/b
E/b
Esus4/b
E/b
Bm7
B
Though there's plenty to spare"

Cold Blue Steel And Sweet Fire

Tuning: CGDGBD
G
C
F
G
Bb
G
F
G
G
F
G
Bb
G
F
D
D|-X--X--X--X--X---X--X--X---X----X--X--X---X--X---X--|
B|-X--X--X--X--X---X--X--X---X----X--X--X---X--X---X--|
G|-X--X--X--X--X---X--X--X---X----X--X--X---X--X---X--|
D|-X--X--X--X--X---X--X--X---X----X--X--X---X--X---X--|
G|-7--0--5--7--10--7--5--7---1/7--5--7--10--7--5---2--|
C|-7--0--5--7--10--7--5--7---1/7--5--7--10--7--5---2--|
C
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
D|--X------------------0------0-------------------------0-------0----|
B|-h1------------------3------5-------------------------7-------8----|
G|--0------------------0------0-------------------------0-------9----|
D|-h2------------------4------5-------------------------7-------10---|
G|--0------------------0------5-------------------------7-------0----|
C|--0------------------0------0-------------------------0-------0----|
Cold Blue Steel out of money, one eye for the beat police
G
F
G
Bb
G
F
D|-X----------X----X-----X---X--------X---------|
B|-X----------X----X-----X---X--------X---------|
G|-X----------X----X-----X---X--------X---------|
D|-X----------X----X-----X---X--------X---------|
G|-1/7--------5----7-----10--7--------5---------|
C|-1/7--------5----7-----10--7--------5---------|
Sweet Fire call-ing, "You can't deny me,"
G
F
G
Bb
G
F
D
C
D|-X---------X---X---------X-----X--X---X--X--|
B|-X---------X---X---------X-----X--X---X--h1-|
G|-X---------X---X---------X-----X--X---X--0--|
D|-X---------X---X---------X-----X--X---X--h2-|
G|-1/7-------5---7---------10----7--5---2--0--|
C|-1/7-------5---7---------10----7--5---2--0--|
"Now you know what you need"
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
D|----0---------------0-------------------------0------0-------|
B|----3---------------5-------------------------7------8-------|
G|----0---------------0-------------------------0------9-------|
D|----4---------------5-------------------------7------10------|
G|----0---------------5-------------------------7------0-------|
C|----0---------------0-------------------------0------0-------|
Underneath the jungle gym, hollow grew fire escape thief
G
F
G
D
G
C
D|-X-----------X-------X--7---0---------5------------|
B|-X-----------X-------X--7---0---------5------------|
G|-X-----------X-------X--7---0---------5------------|
D|-X-----------X-------X--7---0---------5------------|
G|-7-----------5-------7--X---X---------0------------|
C|-7-----------5-------7--X---X---------0-0----------|
Looking for Sweet Fire, shadow of Lady Release
C
Bb/c
C
G
Bb/c
C
Bb/c
C
D|--5----3----5---0--3/5------3/5------------|
B|--5----3----5---0--3/5------3/5------------|
G|--5----3----5---0--3/5------3/5------------|
D|--5----3----5---0--3/5------3/5------------|
G|--0----0----0---X--0--------0--------------|
C|--0----0----0---X--0--------0--------------|
"Come with me, I know the way," she says
D/g
F/bb
C/f
D|-------7-----10----5---------------------|
B|-------7-----10----5---------------------|
G|-------7-----10----5---------------------|
D|-------7-----10----5---------------------|
G|-------7-----10----5---------------------|
C|-------7-----10----5---------------------|
"It's down, down, down the dark ladder"
C
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
D|-X--------------0-------0---------------------------0------------0----|
B|-h1-------------3-------5---------------------------7------------8----|
G|-0--------------0-------0---------------------------0------------9----|
D|-h2-------------4-------5---------------------------7------------10---|
G|-0--------------0-------5---------------------------7------------0----|
C|-0--------------0-------0---------------------------0------------0----|
"Do you want to contact somebody first? Leave someone a letter"
G
F
G
Bb
G
F
G
G
C
F
G
D|---------------X----X--X---X-----X----X---X-----X-----X--X--X---------|
B|---------------X----X--X---X-----X----X---X-----X-----X--X--X---------|
G|---------------X----X--X---X-----X----X---X-----X-----X--X--X---------|
D|---------------X----X--X---X-----X----X---X-----X-----X--X--X---------|
G|---------------7----5--7---10----7----5---7-----1to7--0--5--7---------|
C|---------------7----5--7---10----7----5---7-----1to7--0--5--7---------|
"You can come now or you can come later"
G
F
D
D|-X--X--X--|
B|-X--X--X--|
G|-X--X--X--|
D|-X--X--X--|
G|-7--5--2--|
C|-7--5--2--|
 A wristwatch, a ring, a downstairs screamer Edgy-black cracks of the sky "Pincushion prick, fix this poor bad dreamer!" "Money," cold shadows reply Pawn shops criss-crossed and padlocked Corridors spit on prayers and pleas Black soot of Lady Release "Come with me, I know the way," she says "It's down, down, down the dark ladder Do you want to contact somebody first? I mean, does it really matter if you come now Or if you come later?"
G
F
D
D|-X--X--X--|
B|-X--X--X--|
G|-X--X--X--|
D|-X--X--X--|
G|-7--5--2--|
C|-7--5--2--|
 Red water in the bathroom sink Fever and the scum brown bowl Blue Steel still begging, but it's indistinct Someone's Hi-Fi drumming jelly-roll Concrete concentration camp, bashing in veins for peace Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire fall into Lady Release "Come with me, I know the way," she says "It's down, down, down the dark ladder Do you want to contact somebody first? I mean, what does it really matter? You're going to come now Or you're going to come on later"
C
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
D|-X---0------0------------0------0---|
B|-h1--3------5------------7------8---|
G|-0---0------0------------0------9---|
D|-h2--4------5------------7------10--|
G|-0---0------5------------7------0---|
C|-0---0------0------------0------0---|
(2x)
(2x)
/ \ * * / \
G
F
G
Bb
G
F
G
D
C
Gmaj7/c
Csus2
D|-X-----X--X--X---X--X---X---X----X-----0-------0---|
B|-X-----X--X--X---X--X---X---X----h1----3-------5---|
G|-X-----X--X--X---X--X---X---X----0-----0-------0---|
D|-X-----X--X--X---X--X---X---X----h2----4-------5---|
G|-1/7---5--7--10--7--5---7---2----0-----0-------5---|
C|-1/7---5--7--10--7--5---7---2----0-----0-------0---|
1st
2nd
time time
G
F
G
Bb
G
F
G
D
G
C
D|-X--X--X--X---X--X---X--7---0--5--|
B|-X--X--X--X---X--X---X--7---0--5--|
G|-X--X--X--X---X--X---X--7---0--5--|
D|-X--X--X--X---X--X---X--7---0--5--|
G|-7--5--7--10--7--5---7--X---X--0--|
C|-7--5--7--10--7--5---7--X---X--0--|
(2x)
/ \
C
Bb/c
C
G
Bb/c
C
D/g
F/bb
C/f
D|-5---3---5--0--3/5------7---10----5--|
B|-5---3---5--0--3/5------7---10----5--| ...
G|-5---3---5--0--3/5------7---10----5--|
D|-5---3---5--0--3/5------7---10----5--|
G|-0---0---0--X--0--------7---10----5--|
C|-0---0---0--X--0--------7---10----5--|

For The Roses

Tuning: GGDGBD
Capo:
III
Am7 X22010 G 008760 G6b5 00505X
C/G 00504X G 000000 G7 00600X
F/G 00654X Cm/g 00404X G7sus4 000646
Gb5 005050 Gsus4 000868
D|-----------|
Riff and B|-----------|
intro G|-----------|
pattern D|--------0--|
G|--0-6-8----|
G|-----------|
Gsus4
G*
G6b5
Gb5
Cm/g
G
C/g
G
Riff
Gsus4
G*
I heard it in the wind last night
G6b5
Gb5
It sounded like applause
Cm/g
Did you get a round resounding
G
C/g
G
Riff
For you way up here?
Gsus4
G*
Seems like many dim years ago
G6b5
Gb5
Since I heard that face to face or
Cm/g
Seen you face to face
G
C/g
G
Riff
Though tonight I can feel you here
G7sus4
I get these notes on butterflies
Gsus4
G
And lilac sprays from girls who just have to
Am7
F/g
G7
F/g
G7
Tell me they saw you somewhere
F/g
G7
x3
F/g
F6/g
In some office sits a poet And he trembles as he sings And he asks some guy To circulate his soul around On your mark red ribbon runner The caressing rev of motors Finely tuned like fancy women In thirties evening gowns Up the charts, off to the airport Your name's in the news Everything's first class The lights go down, and It's just you up there Getting them to feel like that Remember the days when you used to sit And make up your tunes for love And pour your simple sorrow To the sound-hole and your knee And now you're seen on giant screens And at parties for the press And for people who have slices of you From the company They toss around your latest golden egg Speculation, well, who's to know? If the next one in the nest Will glitter for them so I guess I seem ungrateful With my teeth sunk in the hand That brings me things I really can't give up just yet Now I sit up here, the critic And they introduce some band But they seem so much confetti Looking at them from my TV set Oh, the power and the glory Just when you're getting a taste for worship They start bringing out the hammers And the boards and the nails I heard it in the wind last night It sounded like applause Chilly now, end of summer No more shiny hot nights It was just the arbutus rustling And the bumping of the logs
Cm/g
And the moon swept down black water
G
Like an empty spotlight

See You Sometime

|
Bb
|
Bb
|
F
|
C/f
F
C/f
|
Bb
C7/bb
Where are you now?
Bb
F
Are you in some hotel room? Does it have a view?
Bb
C7/bb
Are you caught in a crowd
Bb
F
C/f
F
Fmaj7
Or holding some honey who came on to you?
C
G
Why do you have to be so jive
F
C/f
OK hang up the phone, it hurts
Fmaj7
G/f
F
C
But something survives, though it's undermined
D
A/d
D
A/d
D
C
I'd still like to see you sometime |
D
A/d
|
D/a
A
D
A/d
|
D
|
A/d
D
| I'm feeling so good And my friends all tell me that I'm looking fine I run in the woods I spring from the boulders like a mama lion I'm not ready to change my name again But you know I'm not after A piece of your fortune and your fame, 'cause I tasted mine I'd just like to see you sometime
G
F/g
Pack your suspenders
G
F/g
G
G
C
Dm/c
C
I'll come meet your plane
Dm/f
C
C/f
No need to surrender
F
C
D
A/d
D/a
A/d
D/a
A/d
A/d
D
I just want to see you again We're in for more rain I could sure use some sunshine on my apple trees It seems such a shame We start out so kind and end so heartlessly I couldn't take them all on then With a head full of questions and hypes So when the hopes got so slim, I just resigned But I'd still like to see you sometime I'd sure like to see you

Electricity

Tuning: GGDGBD
Capo:
IV
G 000000 Gadd9 x05035
G7sus4 x03010 C6/9/g 000212
Am7 x22010 Gmaj7 000434
G
G7sus4
Am7
G
Gadd9
G
G7sus4
Am7
Gadd9
The Minus is loveless, he talks to the land And the leaves fall and the pond over-ices
G
Am7
C6/9/g
Gmaj7
She don't know the system, plus she don't understand
Gadd9
G7sus4
G
Am7
She's got all the wrong fuses and splices
G
G7sus4
G
Am7
G
Am7
he's not gonna fix it up too easy The masking tape tangles, It's sticky and black And the copper proud headed Queen Lizzie Conducts little charges that don't get charged back Well, the technical manual's busy She's not gonna fix it up too easy The masking tape tangles, it's sticky and black And she holds out her flashlight and she shines it on me She wants me to tell her what the trouble might be Well, I'm learning it's peaceful with a good dog and some trees Out of touch with the breakdown of this century They're not gonna fix it up too easy
Instrumental verse
We once loved together and we flood-lit that time Input output electricity, but the lines overloaded And the sparks started flying And the loose wires Were lashing out at me She's not gonna fix it up too easy But she hold out her candle and she shines it in And she begs him to show her how to fix it again While the song that he sang her to soothe her to sleep Runs all through her circuits like a heartbeat She's not gonna fix it up too easy
G
G7sus4
G7
G
F6/g
e|---0-------0--------0-------|--0-------------------------|
B|---0-------1--------0-------|--0--------0----------------|
G|---0-------0--------0-------|--0--------1---/-/----------|
D|---0-------3--------3-------|--0--------2----------------|
A|---0-------0--------0-------|--0--------3----------------|
E|---0------------------------|--0-------------------------|

You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio

Tuning: DADF#AD (Open D)
Capo:
I
Harp:
D
[or
Eb
with capo]
From the album For the Roses
D5 050300 G*/d 020100 -> 030100 (grace note)
Dmaj7 040300 G* 555555 -> G7 575555 (shuffle)
G/d 020100 D* 004304
A7sus4 X02100 D 000000
 |
D5
|
Dmaj7
|
G/d
|
A7sus4
|
x2
D5
Dmaj7
If you're drivin' into town with a dark cloud above you
G/d
A7sus4
Dial in the number who's bound to love you
D*
D
D*
D
G*/d
D*
D
D*
Oh, honey, you turn me on, I'm a radio
G/d
D*
D
D*
D
G*/d
D*
D
D*
I'm a country station, I'm a little bit corny
G/d
G*
I'm a wildwood flower wavin' for you
G*
D
D
D*
D
G*/d
D
A broadcasting tower wavin' for you
D5
A7sus4
And I'm sendin' you out this signal here
D5
A7sus4
I hope you can pick it up loud and clear I know you don't like weak women, you get bored so quick And you don't like strong women, 'cause they're hip to your tricks It's been dirty for dirty down the line But you know I come when you whistle when you're lovin' and kind But if you've got too many doubts If there's no good reception for me then tune me out 'Cause honey, who needs the static? It hurts the head And you wind up crackin' and the day goes dismal
G*
From "Breakfast Barney" to the sign-off prayer What a sorry face you get to wear I'm gonna tell you again now if you're still listenin' there
D5
Dmaj7
If you're drivin' into town with a dark cloud above you
G/d
A7sus4
Dial in the number who's bound to love you If you're lyin' on the beach with a transistor going Kick off the sand flies, honey, the love's still flowing If your head says, "Forget it!" but your heart's still smokin' Call me at the station, the lines are open |
D5
|
Dmaj7
|
G/d
|
A7sus4
| ...
"Doo-doo" and harp to fade

Blonde In The Bleachers

|
Dm9
|
Am9
|
Fadd9#11
|
A/g
G
A/g
|
G
|
Dm9
Am
9
The blonde in the bleachers, she flips her hair for you
Fadd9#11
A/g
G
A/g
G
Above the loud-speakers, you start to fall
Bm7
A/b
A
E/a
She follows you home but you miss living alone
D/a
F#m7
E/f#
D/f#
C/b
D/e
You can still hear sweet mysteries calling you
C
Csus4
D/c
C
The bands and the roadies lovin' 'em and leavin' 'em
Emaj7
A/e
G/f
F
Dmaj9
Dadd9
It's pleasure to try 'em, it's trouble to keep 'em
Am7
Bm/a
'Cause it seems like you've gotta give up
Bm/a
D7sus4
E
F#m7
Such a piece of your soul when you give up the chase
D
Bm7
Feeling it hot and cold, you're in rock 'n' roll
D/e
Bm7
A
E/a
A
E/a
A
It's the nature of the race
D
A/d
Bm7
It's the unknown child, so sweet and wild
D/e
A
E/a
E/a
A
E/a
A
It's youth, it's too good to waste |
Dm9
|
Am9
|
Fadd9#11
| |
A/g
G
A/g
|
G
F
| |
G/f
|
F
|
C/g
Fadd9
|
D
A/b
D/e
A
E/a
She tapes her regrets to the microphone stand
A
D
A/c#
Bm7
Esus4
A
E/a
A
She says, "You can't hold the hand of a rock 'n' roll man very long
D5
C#m7
Bm7
Esus4
A
E/a
Or count on your plans with a rock 'n' roll man very long
D5
C#m7
Bm7
Esus4
A
E/a
A
Compete with the fans for your rock 'n' roll man for very long
D5
A/c#
Bm7
Esus4
A5
The girls and the bands and the rock 'n' roll man" |
Am9
|
Fmaj9
|
A/g
|
G
|

Woman Of Heart And Mind

Tuning: CGDFCE
C11 000000 D9 222100
Cmaj7 009900 C* 002200
C7#9 00CC00 Cadd9 000220
C 00EE00 C11* 000550
Fmaj7 555400 C6/9 000440
F11 555555 D11/c 002222
Riff
Cmaj7
E|--------------|----0------0--|-------------|
C|--------------|----0------0--|-------------|
F|--------------|-9--9--9---9--|-------------|
D|----------0---|-9--9--9---9--|----------0--|
G|-0--2--3------|----0------0--|-0--2--3-----|
C|--------------|----0------0--|-------------|
Cmaj7
C7#9
C
Cmaj7
I am a woman of heart and mind
Fmaj7
With time on her hands
F11
No child to raise
D9
C*
You come to me like a little boy
Cadd9
C11*
C6/9
C11
Cadd9
And I give you my scorn and my praise You think I'm like your mother Or another lover or your sister Or the queen of our dreams Or just another silly girl When love makes a fool of me After the rush when you come back down You're always disappointed Nothing seems to keep you high Drive your bargains, push your papers Win your medals, fuck your strangers Don't it leave you on the empty side I'm looking for affection and respect, a little passion And you want stimulation, nothing more That's what I think But you know I'll try to be there for you When your spirits start to sink All this talk about holiness now It must be the start of the latest style Is it all books and words or do you really feel it? Do you really laugh? Do you really care? Do you really smile when you smile? You criticize and you flatter You imitate the best and the rest you memorize You know the times you impress me most Are the times when you don't try
Cadd9
C11*
C6/9
C11
Cadd9
When you don't even try
Cadd9
C11*
C6/9
C11
Cadd9
Cadd9
C11*
C6/9
C11
Cadd9
Riff
D11/c