Rocky Mountain High

By John Denver

>From the "Wildlife Concert" video

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

Dropped D tuning (DADGBe)

Capo 2

Note-> DADGBe

++++++

D 000232

Em7 220000

G 550000 actually G6

A* 770000 A something

G* 550030 another G6

C x32010

A x02220

Dsus4 000233

Dsus2 000230

Dv 000775

Dvii 00077ten

Gvii 000787

Gvii* 00078ten add little finger at 10th fret

Gx 000430 yet another G6

Ax 000650 Asus4

This is what John is playing on the video, which may vary a little

from the original release. Both John and his backing guitar are

flatpicking 6-string guitars capoed 2 in dropped D tuning. In the

original release the backing guitar adds some nice lead licks

during the choruses.

Figure one

(Hammer with the little finger)

(the (3) is often inadvertently muted by John's little finger)

D Em7 G A*

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

B-|-----3-----(3)------3----------------------------------

G-|-----2--2h4---2-----2-----------0-0--0-0--0-0----------

D-|-----0----------0h4---4-2p0-----0-0--0-0--0-0----------

A-|----------------------------0---2-2--5-5--7-7----------

D-|--0-----------------------------2-2--5-5--7-7----------

Figure two

(Hammer with the little finger)

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

B-|-----3-----(3)------3------------------0----2----------

G-|-----2--2h4---2-----2-----------0-0----1----2----------

D-|-----0----------0h4---4-2p0-----0-0----0----2----------

A-|----------------------------0---2-2--3-3--0-0----------

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

Figure one... (twice)

(Figure two...)

He was born in the summer of his 27th year

(Figure one...)

Comin' home to a place he'd never been before

(Figure two...)

He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again

(Figure one...)

You might say he found a key for every door

(Figure two...)

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away

(Figure one...)

On the road and hangin' by a song

(Figure two...)

But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care

(Figure one...)

It keeps changin' fast, and it don't last for long

(Strumming)

G G* A D Dvii Gvii Dv D

But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

G G* A Dvii

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

G G* A D Gx Ax Gvii Gvii*

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye

(Figure one...)

Rocky Mountain high

(Figure one...)

Rocky Mountain high

(Figure two...)

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below

(Figure one...)

He saw everything as far as you can see

(Figure two...)

And they say that he got crazy once and tried to touch the sun

(Figure one...)

And he lost a friend but kept his memory

(Figure two...)

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forests and the streams

(Figure one...)

Seeking grace in every step he takes

(Figure two...)

His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand

(Figure one...)

The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

(Strumming)

G G* A D Dvii Gvii Dv D

But the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

G G* A Dvii

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

G G* A D Gx Ax Gvii Gvii*

You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply

(Figure one...)

Rocky Mountain high

(Figure one...)

Rocky Mountain high

(Figure two...)

Now his life is full of wonder, but his heart still knows some fear

(Figure one...)

Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend

(Figure two...)

Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more

(Figure one...)

More people, more scars upon the land

(Strumming)

G G* A D (ad lib D/Dsus4/Dsus2)

It's a Colorado Rocky Mountain high

G G* A Dv Dvii Gvii Dv D

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

G G* A D Gx Ax Gvii Gvii*

I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly

D (ad lib D/Dsus4/Dsus2)

Rocky Mountain high

G G* A D (ad lib D/Dsus4/Dsus2)

And the Colorado Rocky Mountain high

G G* A Dvii

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

G G* A D Gx Ax Gvii Gvii*

Friends around the campfire and everybody's high

(Figure one...)

Rocky Mountain high

(Figure one...)

Rocky Mountain high

(repeat until end)