Our Song by Joe Henry
Written down by Daan Bijdevaate
The chord progression for this song is almost
entirely the same:
G – G/F# - Em – D
G – G/F# - Em – C
G – G/F# - Em – D
C - D
This song is very subtle, in my opinion you
should not play every string of every chord
all the time. It’s a matter of taste which
strings you pick. I’ll give an example of
how I would play the first line from
the intro:
G G/F# Em D
e----------------------------------------------|
B----------------------------------------------|
G-0-let it ring--------------------------------|
D-0-let it ring-------2-------------0----------|
A-x-------------------2------------------------|
E-3---------2---------0------------------------|
In my playing, this the most subtle and quiet
way I do it. As you can see, the main focus
is on the bass notes. I really like to let
the open strings of the G chord ring through,
when I play the F# bass note.
You can expand this when the song develops,
for the dynamic aspects. Then you can pick
more strings from the chords, but then again,
pick wisely!
Chords used:
G 3x0033 (or 3x0013)
G/F# 2x0033
Em 022000
D xx0232
C x32010
C/G 3x2010
Intro:
G – G/F# - Em – D
G – G/F# - Em – C
G – G/F# - Em – D
C - D
G G/F# Em D
I saw Willy May's
G G/F# Em C
at a Scotsdale home depot
G G/F# Em D
looking at garagedoor springs
C D
at the the far end of the fourteenth row
for the rest of the song, repeat these chords,
except for the ‘makes me a betterman’ section
(see further down). For timing, listen to
the song.
his wife stood there beside him
she was quiet and they both were proud
I gave them room but was close enough
that i heard him when he said outloud
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/j/joe_henry/our_song_crd.html ]
this was my country
and this was my song
somewhere in the middle there
though it started badly and it's ending wrong
this was my country
this frightful and this angry land
but it's my right if the worst of it
C D G C/G G (4x)
might still somehow make me a better man
the sun is unforgiving
and there's nobody who'would choose this town
but we've squandered so much of our good will
that there's nowhere else will have us now
we're pushing line at the picture show
for cool air and a chance to see
a vision of ourselves portrayed
as younger and braver and humble and free
this was our country
this was our song
somewhere in the middle there
though it started badly and it's ending wrong
this was our country
this frightful and this angry land
but it's my right if the worst of it
G C/G G
might still somehow make me a better man
I've started something I just can't finish
and I barely leave the house it's true
I keep a wrap on my sores and joints
but yes I've had my blessings too
I've got my mother's pretty feet
and the factory keeps my house in shape
my children they've both been paroled
and we get by on the piece we've made
I feel safe so far from heaven
from towers and their ocean views
from here I see a future coming across
what soon will be beaches too
but that was him, I'm allmost sure
the greatest centerfielder of all time
stooped by the burden of endless dreams
his and yours and mine
he hooked each spring beneath his foot
he leaned over then he stood upright
testing each against his weight
for one that had some play and some fight
he's just like us I wanna tell him
and our needs are small enough
something to slow a heavy door
something to help us raise one up
and this was my country
this was my song
somewhere in the middle there
though it started badly and it's ending wrong
well this was God's country
this frightful and this angry land
but if it's his will the worst of it
G C/G G
might still somehow make me a better man
G G/F#
if it's His will
Em D
the worst of it might still
C D
somehow make me
G end.
a better man
