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Ordinary Joe

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Aminor

90BPM

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This is my first tab contribution, time to give something back after having received so 
much from this site.
Your comments are welcome.
It's quite different from the other tab on this site, so I thought it would be a good 
thing to propose this version of what I think is Terry Callier's most beautiful song.
Listen to it to get an idea of how to put the words on the chords. Alternate between the
different ways to play the chords to bring in some change.
FM7: 1x2210 or x8109108
Em:  022000 or x79987
Am:  00210 or 577555
F:   133211
G:   320003 or 355433
Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe (from the album Occasional Rain - 1972)
[Intro]
  FM7     Em4x
[Verse]
And for my opening FM7line
I'm not trying to Emindicate my state of mind.
I turn you FM7on,
I tell you that I'm Emlaughing just to keep from crying
And bringing FM7music when you Emhear it,
Keep on FM7trying to get Emnear it.
A little FM7rhythm for your Emspirit
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh but Amthat's what it's Gfor
Come on Fin, here's the dGoor
[Chorus]
And FM7I've seen a sparrow get Emhigh
And FM7waste his time in the Emsky
FM7He thinks it's easy to fEmly
He's just a FM7little bit freer than EmI
Now here's a mysterFM7y
And maybe you can hEmelp to make it clear to me
When you're fast aslFM7eep
Then what is it that's lEmighting up the dreams you see
Only your FM7tears can't concEmeal it
And only your pFM7rayers may not reveEmal it
You've got sFM7oul so you can fEmeel it
[Pre-Chorus]
And when Amyou make the sGcene
Well you kFnow what I mGean
[Chorus]
Hey FM7I've seen a sparrow get Emhigh
And FM7waste his time in the skEmy
FM7He thinks it's easy to fEmly
He's just a lFM7ittle bit freer than EmI
n'doo dFM7ee doo boo bee boo boo bee bo dee
Emdee boo boo dee bo do bee bo dee bo bee FM7ba
[Instrumental]
Em FM7 Em FM7 Em
[Verse]
Down here on the grFM7ound
When you find folks are gEmiving you the runaround
Keep your game uptFM7ight
And if you must just tEmake your secrets underground
Now politFM7icians are trying to spEmeech you
Mad colour wFM7atchers are trying to tEmeach you
Very fFM7ew will really try to reEmach you
[Pre-Chorus]
If you're lAmost in a sGtack
That's FOK, come all blGack
[Chorus]
Now IFM7'd be the last to denEmy
That FM7I'm just an average gEmuy
And don't you know FM7each little bird in the sEmky
Is just a lFM7ittle bit freer than EmI
[Verse]
Hey ordinary JFM7oe
Although they say you're jEmust a lazy so-and-so
What they think is rFM7eal
Is nothing but an Emanimated puppet show
So don't let tFM7ime and space confEmuse you
And don't let FM7name and form abEmuse you
Let that FM7Big Joe Williams blEmues you
[Pre-Chorus]
In the lAmight of the Gsun you can sFee how they bGurn
[Chorus]
Oh IFM7've seen a sparrow get hEmigh
And FM7waste his time in the sEmky
FM7He thinks it's easy to fEmly
He's just a lFM7ittle bit freer than EmI
[Outro]
n'doo dFM7ee doo boo bee boo boo bee bo dee
Emdee boo boo dee bo do bee bo dee bo bee FM7ba ... fade out
Have fun!

All chords in this song (5)

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Ordinary Joe

by Terry Callier

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

FM7

This is my first tab contribution, time to give something back after having received so

much from this site.

Your comments are welcome.

It's quite different from the other tab on this site, so I thought it would be a good

thing to propose this version of what I think is Terry Callier's most beautiful song.

Listen to it to get an idea of how to put the words on the chords. Alternate between the

different ways to play the chords to bring in some change.

FM7: 1x2210 or x8109108

Em: 022000 or x79987

Am: 00210 or 577555

F: 133211

G: 320003 or 355433

Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe (from the album Occasional Rain - 1972)

[Intro]

FM7 Em

[Verse]

FM7

And for my opening line

I'm not trying to indicate my state of mind.

FM7

I turn you on,

I tell you that I'm laughing just to keep from crying

FM7 Em

And bringing music when you hear it,

FM7 Em

Keep on trying to get near it.

FM7 Em

A little rhythm for your spirit

[Pre-Chorus]

Am G

Oh but that's what it's for

F G

Come on in, here's the door

[Chorus]

FM7 Em

And I've seen a sparrow get high

FM7 Em

And waste his time in the sky

FM7 Em

He thinks it's easy to fly

FM7 Em

He's just a little bit freer than I

FM7

Now here's a mystery

And maybe you can help to make it clear to me

FM7

When you're fast asleep

Then what is it that's lighting up the dreams you see

FM7 Em

Only your tears can't conceal it

FM7 Em

And only your prayers may not reveal it

FM7 Em

You've got soul so you can feel it

[Pre-Chorus]

Am G

And when you make the scene

F G

Well you know what I mean

[Chorus]

FM7 Em

Hey I've seen a sparrow get high

FM7 Em

And waste his time in the sky

FM7 Em

He thinks it's easy to fly

FM7 Em

He's just a little bit freer than I

FM7

n'doo dee doo boo bee boo boo bee bo dee

Em FM7

dee boo boo dee bo do bee bo dee bo bee ba

[Instrumental]

Em FM7 Em FM7 Em

[Verse]

FM7

Down here on the ground

When you find folks are giving you the runaround

FM7

Keep your game uptight

And if you must just take your secrets underground

FM7 Em

Now politicians are trying to speech you

FM7 Em

Mad colour watchers are trying to teach you

FM7 Em

Very few will really try to reach you

[Pre-Chorus]

Am G

If you're lost in a stack

F G

That's OK, come all black

[Chorus]

FM7 Em

Now I'd be the last to deny

FM7 Em

That I'm just an average guy

FM7 Em

And don't you know each little bird in the sky

FM7 Em

Is just a little bit freer than I

[Verse]

FM7

Hey ordinary Joe

Although they say you're just a lazy so-and-so

FM7

What they think is real

Is nothing but an animated puppet show

FM7 Em

So don't let time and space confuse you

FM7 Em

And don't let name and form abuse you

FM7 Em

Let that Big Joe Williams blues you

[Pre-Chorus]

Am G F G

In the light of the sun you can see how they burn

[Chorus]

FM7 Em

Oh I've seen a sparrow get high

FM7 Em

And waste his time in the sky

FM7 Em

He thinks it's easy to fly

FM7 Em

He's just a little bit freer than I

[Outro]

FM7

n'doo dee doo boo bee boo boo bee bo dee

Em FM7

dee boo boo dee bo do bee bo dee bo bee ba ... fade out

Have fun!

About Ordinary Joe Chords by Terry Callier

Learn how to play Ordinary Joe by Terry Callier with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ordinary Joe chords”, “Ordinary Joe guitar chords”, or “Terry Callier Ordinary Joe chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Ordinary Joe chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ordinary Joe lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em, Am, F, G, FM7, A.

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