Rhymes and Reasons

By John Denver

>From "John Denver's Greatest Hits"

RCA PCD1-0374

In the liner notes John says that this represents some of

his best lyrics. He gave us joyous and beautiful songs.

I'll miss him.

Transcription (and any errors) by jwblair@ix.netcom.com

I started this with the lyrics and chords from the 1992

transcription by hackes@uni-paderborn.de (Markus Brakweh)

(Thanks Markus)

The song is played in the key of G in dropped D tuning (DADGBE),

but the guitar is tuned down two half-tones to CGCFAD and sung

in the key of F.

Note-> CGCFAD (dropped D, tuned down two half tones)

++++++

G 550003 (standard G chord in dropped D)

D/F# 400002 (actually D6sus4/F#(?). Since the 5th string is not

played I just slide the 550003 G down to 440002)

G/B x2000x (part of a bass run)

D 000232

Dsus4 000032 (thumb emphasizes the high g bass string)

C x32010

Bm x24432

Em 222000 (the 5th string isn't played so I just finger 202000)

Am x02210

There are two 12-string guitars playing pretty much the same

thing in unison. Both guitars use the same basic picking pattern.

Generally everything is eighth notes, but occasionally they will

leave out the second note (1) or the last note (2), making the

preceding thumb note a quarter note.

1/8 ->

------------2-----------(2)---

----(1)-----------1-----------

------------------------------

---------T-----------T--------

------------------------------

--T------------T--------------

Note that this is the basic pattern. The actual strings that are

played vary depending on the chord being played. There is also a

slide guitar that sometimes steps on the 12-strings so that it's

hard to hear what they are playing.

12-string vs 6-string note:

You're not going to get the same sound with a 6-string as you

would with the 12-string, and more than just the lack of fullness.

If you play on a 6-string you will think that John is playing

notes on the 1st and 2nd strings that are in fact being played by

the thumb hitting the high-octave bass strings, particularly the

thumb striking the third string with its high-G as seen in the

Dsus4 in the intro.

OK, here's the general tab.

Intro/outro:

G stuff (finger 000087 and then add notes)

e-|---------7-----------10--------8----7------------------

B-|---------------8----------8--------------8-------------

G-|------0-----------0---------0----------0---------------

D-|--0---------0-----------0---------0--------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

C (finger 000988) G (finger 000087)

e-|-----------8-----------------------7-------------------

B-|-----8-----------8-----------8----------10-------------

G-|--------9-----------9-----------0------------0---------

D-|--0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

e-|----------2-----------2----------2-----2---------------

B-|----------------3-----------------------------0--------

G-|-------0-----------0----------0-----0------------------

D-|--0----------0-----------0-----------------0-----------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

G to verse

e-|-------------------------------------------------------

B-|----------0-----------3----------3-----------3---------

G-|----0-----------0----------0-----------0---------------

D-|-------0-----------0----------0-----------0------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5----------5-----------5----------5------------------

So you

e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2-------0-------0------

B-|----0-------0-------0-------0-------1-------1----------

G-|--------------------------------------0----------------

D-|------0-------0-------0-------0---------------2--------

A-|----------------------------------3-------3------------

D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------

speak to me of sadness, and the coming of the

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3-------3---------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------

A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------

winter Fear that is within you now that

e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------

B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------

G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------

D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------

A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------

D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------

seems to never end And the

e-|---------3--------3-------2-------2--------0---------0-

B-|-----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1-----

G-|-----------------------------------------0-------------

D-|-------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2---

A-|-------------------------------------3---------3-------

D-|--5---------5-------4-------4--------------------------

dreams that have escaped you and the hope that you've

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------

forgotten You tell me that you need me now, you

e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------

B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-----------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------

want to be my friend And you

e-|--------0-------0---------0-------0--------------------

B-|------------1---------1-------1------------------------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------2-------2---------2-------2----------------------

A-|--3-------3---------3-------3--------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

wonder where we're going, where's the

e-|--------3---------3----------2-------2-----------------

B-|----0---------0----------3-------3---------------------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------0----------0-------0-------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5---------5-----------0-------0----------------------

rhyme and where's the reason And it's

e-|--------0---------0-------3-------3--------------------

B-|----0---------0-------0-------0------------------------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------2---------2-------0-------0----------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--2---------2-------5-------5--------------------------

you who cannot accept -- it is

e-|--------2-------2-------2-------2---------0-------0----

B-|----3-------3-------3-------3---------1-------1--------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0-------0-------0-------0---------2-------2------

A-|------------------------------------0-------0----------

D-|--0-------0-------0-------0----------------------------

here we must begin To seek the wisdom of the

e-|--------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------

B-|----1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1----------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--------

A-|--0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

children... And the

e-|-------------------------------------------------------

B-|--------3--------3--------1--------0-------------------

G-|----0--------0--------0--------0-----------------------

D-|------0--------0--------2--------0---------------------

A-|--------------------3--------2-------------------------

D-|--5--------4-------------------------------------------

graceful way of flowers in the

e-|--------2-------2-------2-------2----------------------

B-|----3-------3-------3-------3--------------------------

G-|------2-------0-------0-------0------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--0-------0--------0------0----------------------------

wind For the

e-|--------3--------3-------2-------2----------0-------0--

B-|----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1------

G-|----------------------------------------0--------------

D-|------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2----

A-|------------------------------------3---------3--------

D-|--5--------5-------4-------4---------------------------

children and the flowers are my sisters and my

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------

A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------

brothers their laughter and their loveliness would

e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------

B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------

G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------

D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------

A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------

D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------

clear a cloudy day Like the

e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2--------0-------0-----

B-|----0-------0-------0-------0--------1-------1---------

G-|---------------------------------------0---------------

D-|------0-------0-------0-------0----------------2-------

A-|-----------------------------------3-------3-----------

D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------

music of the mountains and the colors of the

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------

rainbow They're a promise of the future, and the

D G (the slide guitar covers the)

e-|--------2-------2--------------------------------------

B-|----3-------3------------0-------3-------0-------------

G-|---------------------0-------0-------0-------0---------

D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-------0-------0-------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--0-------0--------5-------5-------5-------5-----------

blessing for today

Am (12 strings but it's something like this...)

e-|-----------0---------------0---------------------------

B-|-------0h1-----1-------0h1-----------------------------

G-|-----2---------------2---------2-----------------------

D-|-------------2---------------2-------------------------

A-|--0------0--------0------0-----------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------

B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------

G-|------0-------0--------2-------2-----------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------

Though the

e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2--------0-------0-----

B-|----0-------0-------0-------0--------1-------1---------

G-|---------------------------------------0---------------

D-|------0-------0-------0-------0----------------2-------

A-|-----------------------------------3-------3-----------

D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------

cities start to crumble and the towers fall

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------

A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------

around us The sun is slowly fading and it's

e-|--------0-------0-------2-------2----------------------

B-|----1-------1-------3-------3--------------------------

G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------

D-|--------------2---------------0------------------------

A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------

D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------

colder than the sea It is

e-|--------3-------3--------2-------2--------0-------0----

B-|----0-------0--------0-------0--------1-------1--------

G-|----------------------------------------0--------------

D-|------0-------0--------0-------0----------------2------

A-|------------------------------------3-------3----------

D-|--5-------5--------4-------4---------------------------

written: From the desert to the mountains they shall

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------

lead us By the hand and by the heart they will

e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------

B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-----------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------

comfort you and me In their

e-|--------0-------0---------0-------0--------------------

B-|----1-------1---------1-------1------------------------

G-|------0-------0---------0-------0----------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

A-|--3-------3---------3-------3--------------------------

D-|-------------------------------------------------------

innocence and trusting, they will

e-|--------3-------3---------2------2---------------------

B-|----0-------0---------3------3-------------------------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0-------0---------0------0-----------------------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5-------5---------0-------0--------------------------

teach us to be free For the

e-|--------3--------3-------2-------2----------0-------0--

B-|----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1------

G-|----------------------------------------0--------------

D-|------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2----

A-|------------------------------------3---------3--------

D-|--5--------5-------4-------4---------------------------

children and the flowers are my sisters and my

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------

A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------

brothers their laughter and their loveliness would

e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------

B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------

G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------

D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------

A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------

D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------

clear a cloudy day And the

e-|--------3-------3--------0-------0-------2-------2-----

B-|----0-------0--------1-------1-------3-------3---------

G-|-----------------------0-------0-----------------------

D-|------0-------0------------------------0-------0-------

A-|-------------------3-------3---------------------------

D-|--5-------5------------------------0-------0-----------

song that I am singing is a prayer for non-

e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----

B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------

G-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------

A-|-------------------------------------------------------

D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------

believers Come and stand beside us, we can

D C (to outro)

e-|--------2-------2-------0-------0--------0-------0-----

B-|----3-------3-------1-------1--------1-------1---------

G-|----------------------0--------------------------------

D-|------0-------0----------------2-------2--------2------

A-|------------------3-------3--------3-------3-----------

D-|--0-------0--------------------------------------------

find a better way

The outro is like the intro, but ends with a strummed 550003

Here it is again with just the chords:

Rhymes and Reasons

John Denver

(Intro: G C G Dsus4 G)

So you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter,

Fear that is within you now that seems to never end,

And the dreams that have escaped you

And the hope that you've forgotten

You tell me that you need me now -- you want to be my friend

And you wonder where we're going,

Where's the rhyme and where's the reason

And it's you who cannot accept -- it is here we must begin

To seek the wisdom of the children...

And the graceful way of flowers in the wind.

For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,

Their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.

Like the music of the mountains and the colors of the rainbow

They're a promise of the future

and the blessing for today.

Though the cities start to crumble and the towers fall around us

The sun is slowly fading and it's colder than the sea

It is written: From the desert to the mountains they shall lead us

By the hand and by the heart they will comfort you and me.

In their innocence and trusting, they will teach us to be free.

For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,

Their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.

And the song that I am singing is a prayer for non-believers

Em G D C (intro) G

Come and stand beside us, we can find a better way

jwblair@ix.netcom.com