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Helplessly Hoping

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Helplessly Hoping - Richie Havens
Tuning DADF#AD
Chords used...moving down frets...
D*         12   12   12   12   0    0
Cmaj6      10   10   10   10   0    0
Bm9        9    9    9    8    9    11
Bm         9    9    9    8    9    9
A          7    7    7    7    7    7
A7         7    7    7    7    7    5
A9sus      7    7    7    5    5    5
G          5    5    5    5    5    5
Gmaj9      5    5    5    5    0    0
Gmaj7      5    5    5    5    5    4
Gm9        0    0    0    4    5    5
Dmaj7      0    0    0    3    4    4
Gmaj6/D    0    0    0    1    2    2
          D0    0    0    0    0    0
This is similar to "Live At the Cellar Door", Track 3 
(Intro)
                     Bm             Bm9(D) 
Em                 F#m G       Gmaj9
              Dmaj7     D         A   Amaj9(D) 
Em                 F#m G       Gmaj9
              Dmaj7     D         A   Amaj9(D) 
Gmaj7
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7   D  
(Verse) 
EmHeartlessly hoping F#mher GharlequiGmaj9n hovers near 
Wordlessly watchinhg he waits by the window and he 
              Dmaj7     D        EmA9sus      A(D) 
by           awaiting a word            and 
worries at the emptiness inside yeah hmmm and 
Emgasping at glimpses F#mof Ggentle fGmaj9ree spirits he 
heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams he 
Dmaj7runs wishing he cDouAld fly yeah Amaj9hmm 
wonders if he heard a goodbye yeah hmm or 
Gmaj7only to trip on the sounds of 
even                        A  
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
goodbye
hello 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7   Gm9  
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7   D(first time only)
(Back to second verse or chorus)
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
we are one                  person                 we are
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
two alone we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
three                       together          we are 
D*             Cmaj6        D          Gmaj7   DA9sus    A7(D)
four           hmm         each other 
(Interlude)
Em                 F#m G       Gmaj9
              Dmaj7     D         A   Amaj9(D) 
Em                 F#m G       Gmaj9
              Dmaj7     D         A   Amaj9(D) 
Gmaj7hmm mm mm hmm mm 
(2nd Chorus) 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
                                                 We are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
one                per -son                          we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
two                          alone           we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
three         hmm together                       we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
three-ee -ee -ee -ee                             we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
three-ee-ee-ee -ee                                   to
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
gether together                                      to 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
gether             hmm -mm                       we are 
 D   DCmaj6  D   Gmaj7   DA9sus  A7  
D*             Cmaj6        D          Gmaj7   DA9sus    A7(D)
four           hmm         each other 
(Last verse)
EmStand by the stairwF#may IG'm sure Gmaj9you'll see something certain to 
              Dmaj7     D         A        Amaj9(D) 
tell you that confusion has its cost yeah yeah that 
Emlove isn't lying itF#m's tGrapped iGmaj9n a lady who 
            Dmaj7   D             A        Amaj9(D)
lingers claiming she is lost yeah and that she's 
Gmaj7choking...      on 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
hello                hello           hello
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D(x7)
(Last chorus)
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ Drepeat x7 
                                                  We are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
one person                                        we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
two alone                                         we are 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
three to-geth-er             to-geth-er to 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
geth -er     to-geth-er to-geth-er 
 Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D   Dmaj7Gmaj6/ D  
hmm-mm                                            we are 
D*             Cmaj6        D          Gmaj7   DA9sus    A7(D)
four           hmm          each other               we are 
D*             Cmaj6        D          Gmaj7   DA9sus    A7(D)
four           hmm yeah each other                   we are 
D*             Cmaj6        D          Gmaj7   DA9sus   A7  
four                     each other 
Bm
(End)

All chords in this song (13)

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Helplessly Hoping

by Richie Havens

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Bm9

F#m

Gmaj9

Dmaj7

Amaj9

Gmaj7

Gm9

Helplessly Hoping - Richie Havens

Tuning DADF#AD

Chords used...moving down frets...

D* 12 12 12 12 0 0

Cmaj6 10 10 10 10 0 0

Bm9 9 9 9 8 9 11

Bm 9 9 9 8 9 9

A 7 7 7 7 7 7

A7 7 7 7 7 7 5

A9sus 7 7 7 5 5 5

G 5 5 5 5 5 5

Gmaj9 5 5 5 5 0 0

Gmaj7 5 5 5 5 5 4

Gm9 0 0 0 4 5 5

Dmaj7 0 0 0 3 4 4

Gmaj6/D 0 0 0 1 2 2

0 0 0 0 0 0

This is similar to "Live At the Cellar Door", Track 3

(Intro)

Bm Bm9 D

()

Em F#m G Gmaj9

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9 D

()

Em F#m G Gmaj9

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9 D

()

Gmaj7

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

(Verse)

Em F#m G Gmaj9

Heartlessly hoping her harlequin hovers near

Wordlessly watchinhg he waits by the window and he

Dmaj7 D Em A D

A9sus ()

by awaiting a word and

worries at the emptiness inside yeah hmmm and

Em F#m G Gmaj9

gasping at glimpses of gentle free spirits he

heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams he

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9

runs wishing he could fly yeah hmm

wonders if he heard a goodbye yeah hmm or

Gmaj7

only to trip on the sounds of

even

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

goodbye

hello

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 Gm9

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ (first time only)

(Back to second verse or chorus)

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

we are one person we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

two alone we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

three together we are

D D Gmaj7 D A7 D

* Cmaj6 A9sus ()

four hmm each other

(Interlude)

Em F#m G Gmaj9

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9 D

()

Em F#m G Gmaj9

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9 D

()

Gmaj7

hmm mm mm hmm mm

(2nd Chorus)

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

We are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

one per -son we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

two alone we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

three hmm together we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

three-ee -ee -ee -ee we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

three-ee-ee-ee -ee to

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

gether together to

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

gether hmm -mm we are

D D D Gmaj7 D A7

Cmaj6 A9sus

D D Gmaj7 D A7 D

* Cmaj6 A9sus ()

four hmm each other

(Last verse)

Em F#m G Gmaj9

Stand by the stairway I'm sure you'll see something certain to

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9 D

()

tell you that confusion has its cost yeah yeah that

Em F#m G Gmaj9

love isn't lying it's trapped in a lady who

Dmaj7 D A Amaj9 D

()

lingers claiming she is lost yeah and that she's

Gmaj7

choking... on

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

hello hello hello

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ (x7)

(Last chorus)

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ repeat x7

We are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

one person we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

two alone we are

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

three to-geth-er to-geth-er to

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

geth -er to-geth-er to-geth-er

Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D Dmaj7 D

Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/ Gmaj6/

hmm-mm we are

D D Gmaj7 D A7 D

* Cmaj6 A9sus ()

four hmm each other we are

D D Gmaj7 D A7 D

* Cmaj6 A9sus ()

four hmm yeah each other we are

D D Gmaj7 D A7

* Cmaj6 A9sus

four each other

(End)

About Helplessly Hoping Chords by Richie Havens

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What key is "Helplessly Hoping" in?

The chords for "Helplessly Hoping" show the original chord names (including D, Bm, A, A7, G, Bm9). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.