This isn't meant to be exactly as James Taylor has performed it,
but is rather the way I usually play it. Finger-picking isn't
required, but it sure does sound nice!
Capo 2
Intro: D Bm* (Bm* = X20230) D Bm* D Bm* D Bm*
D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* G A7sus4
Verse 1: Even the old folks never knew why they call it like they do;
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
I was wond'ring since the age of two, down on Copperline.
D Bm* D Bm* D D/F# G A7sus4
Copper head, copper beech, copper kettles sitting side by each -
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
Copper coil, cup o' Georgia peach, down on Copperline.
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G A
Chorus 1: Half a mile down to Morgan Creek, leaning heavy on the end of the week.
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake - down on the Copperline,
G A D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* D Bm*
We were down on Copperline.
D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* G A7sus4
Verse 2: Warm summer night on the Copperline, slip away past suppertime.
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
Wood smoke and moonshine, down on Copperline.
D Bm* D Bm* D D/F# G A7sus4
One time I saw my daddy dance; watched him moving like a man in a trance.
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
He brought it back from the war in France, down on Copperline.
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/james_taylor/copperline_crd.html ]
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G A
Chorus 2: Branch water and tomato wine, creosote and turpentine,
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G (tacet)
Sour mash and new moonshine, down on Copperline;
G A D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* D Bm*
We were down on Copperline.
D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* G A7sus4
Verse 3: First kiss ever I took, like a page from a romance book;
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
The sky opened and the earth shook, down on Copperline.
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G A
Chorus 3: Took a fall from a windy height; I only knew how to hold on tight,
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G (tacet)
And pray for love enough to last all night down on Copperline.
[ch]D6/G[/ch]
Bridge: Day breaks and the boy wakes up, and the dog barks and the bird sings,
(D6/G) A7sus4 D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* D Bm*
And the sap rises, and the angels sigh....Yeah
D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* G A7sus4
Verse 4: I tried to go back as if I could; all spec house and plywood
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
Tore up, and tore up good, down on Copperline.
D Bm* D Bm* D D/F# G A7sus4
It doesn't come as a surprise to me; it doesn't touch my memory.
D Bm* D Bm* Em D/F# G A
Man I'm lifting up and rising free, down on Copperline.
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G A
Chorus 4: Half a mile down to Morgan Creek, I'm only livin' for the end of the week.
Bm D/F# G Em D/F# G
Hercules and a hog-nosed snake - down on the Copperline,
G A D Bm* D Bm*
We were down on Copperline.
G A D Bm* D Bm* D Bm* D
Take me down on Copperline.
