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Our Song

Joe Henry
Version1
90

Chords in this song

Strum
D-DU-UDU
 –  -  –
 –  -  –
 –  -  –
 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:
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 Fbass 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:
 3x0033 (or 3x0013)
 –  -  –
 –  -  –
 –  -  –
  I saw Willy May's
  at a Scotsdale home depot
  looking at garagedoor springs
 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
 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
 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
 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
 might still somehow make me a better man
 
 if it's His will
 the worst  of it might  still
   somehow make  me
   end.
 a better man

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Readable chord sheet for Our Song by Joe Henry

[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
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] – [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]      at the the far end of the [D]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

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
might still [C]   somehow [D]make me a better [G]man   [C/G]        [G]

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
might still somehow make me a better [G]man    [C/G]          [G]

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
might still somehow make me a better [G]man     [C/G]            [G]

   [G]          [G/f#]
if it's His will
the [Em]worst of it [D]might still
  [C]    somehow [D]make me
                  [G]     end.
a better man

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