Michael From Mountains ---------------------- words and music by Joni Mitchell from Song to a Seagull 1968 transcribed by Howard Wright howardw (at) jmdl (dot) com Sue McNamara already did a nice transcription of this song. I've taken her version and changed a few chords here and there to come up with this version, which I think is pretty much spot on. Thanks to Sue for getting it started! Tuning: FFCGAC Joni notation: F 07723 Intro: ------ Cmadd9 F F F F xx0767 000505 000500 000505 000500 Verse 1: -------- F F F 000505 000500 000505 Michael wakes you up with sweets F Fadd2 Bbm6/9/F Fadd2 000500 000000 001010 000000 He takes you up streets and the rain comes down F F F 000505 000500 000505 Sidewalk markets locked up tight F Fadd2 Bbm6/9/F Fadd2 000500 000000 001010 000000 And umbrellas bright on a grey background Bridge: ------- There's a trick you need here for the 10 10 10 10 10 0 and 999990 chords. To get a barre across the lowest 5 strings and keep the top string open, you need to use an *overhand* barre. In other words, your hand approaches the neck from above, with your fingers pointing *down* to the floor. Use your first finger to barre the 5 strings and leave the top one open. Although I've heard this overhand technique of Joni's mentioned once or twice, this is the first time I've actually found it to be the only way to play a particular chord. There's an extra subtelty involved here - for the chords at the 10th and 9th fret, the top string alternates between being open and fretted (e.g the chord sequence is 999990 999999 99990). On one guitar it's possible to do this (use another finger for the top string), but it's not that easy. On the original song, there are two guitars playing, and it sounds like one guitar plays the full barre (i.e top string fretted) and the other plays the 5-string barre (top string open). So the effect is as if the top string switches between open and fretted, but it's probably the interaction of the two different guitar parts. Of course, it could be that Joni actually *does* change between the two shapes ... but I find this quite tricky - maybe she has more flexible fingers?! If you find the switch between chord shapes difficult on one guitar, just use the 5-string barre, as the open top string is an important note in these chords. Eb6/9 Ebadd9 Eb6/9 10 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 0 There's oil on the puddles in taffeta patterns D9 Dadd9 D9 999990 999999 999990 That run down the drain Dbmaj9 Cadd9 888880 777770 In colored arrangements that Michael will change Fadd9 Gmadd4 Fadd9 Gmadd4 Fadd9 000000 x22010 000000 x22010 000000 with a stick that he found Chorus: ------- Cmadd9 xx0767 Michael from mountains Bbadd9 555555 Go where you will go to Am7 Am7 Am7 x44030 x44034 x44030 Know that I will know you Gmadd4 Am7 Bbadd9 Abadd9 F F F x22010 x44030 555555 333333 000505 000500 000505 Someday I may know you very well Cmadd9 F F F F xx0767 000505 000500 000505 000500 Verse 2: -------- (Same chords as before) Michael brings you to a park He sings and its dark when the clouds come by Yellow slickers up on swings Like puppets on strings hanging in the sky They'll splash home to suppers in wallpapered kitchens Their mothers will scold But Michael will hold you To keep away cold till the sidewalks are dry- CHORUS Verse 3: -------- (Same chords as before) Michael leads you up the stairs He needs you to care and you know you do Cats come crying to the key And dry you will be in a towel or two There's rain in the window There's sun in the painting that smiles on the wall You want to know all But his mountains have called so you never do- Final chorus: ------------- Cmadd9 xx0767 Michael from mountains Bbadd9 555555 Go where you will go to Am7 Am7 Am7 x44030 x44034 x44030 Know that I will know you Gmadd4 Am7 Bbadd9 Abadd9 F F F x22010 x44030 555555 333333 000505 000500 000505 Someday I may know you very well Gmadd4 Am7 Bbadd9 Abadd9 F F F x22010 x44030 555555 333333 000505 000500 000505 Someday I will know you very well Cmadd9 F F F F xx0767 000505 000500 000505 000500 F F F 000505 000500 000505