Standard (EADGBE)

– [G/f#] - –

– [G/f#] - –

– [G/f#] - –

This song is very subtle, in my opinion you

should not play every string of every chord

all the time. It’s a matter of taste which

strings you pick. I’ll give an example of

how I would play the first line from

the intro:

In my playing, this the most subtle and quiet

way I do it. As you can see, the main focus

is on the bass notes. I really like to let

the open strings of the G chord ring through,

when I play the F# bass note.

You can expand this when the song develops,

for the dynamic aspects. Then you can pick

more strings from the chords, but then again,

pick wisely!

Chords used:

3x0033 (or 3x0013)

Intro

– [G/f#] - –

– [G/f#] - –

– [G/f#] - –

[G/f#]

I saw Willy May's

[G/f#]

at a Scotsdale home depot

[G/f#]

looking at garagedoor springs

at the the far end of the fourteenth row

for the rest of the song, repeat these chords,

except for the ‘makes me a betterman’ section

(see further down). For timing, listen to

the song.

his wife stood there beside him

she was quiet and they both were proud

I gave them room but was close enough

that i heard him when he said outloud

this was my country

and this was my song

somewhere in the middle there

though it started badly and it's ending wrong

this was my country

this frightful and this angry land

but it's my right if the worst of it

 might still somehow make me a better man

the sun is unforgiving

and there's nobody who'would choose this town

but we've squandered so much of our good will

that there's nowhere else will have us now

we're pushing line at the picture show

for cool air and a chance to see

a vision of ourselves portrayed

as younger and braver and humble and free

this was our country

this was our song

somewhere in the middle there

though it started badly and it's ending wrong

this was our country

this frightful and this angry land

but it's my right if the worst of it

 might still somehow make me a better man

I've started something I just can't finish

and I barely leave the house it's true

I keep a wrap on my sores and joints

but yes I've had my blessings too

I've got my mother's pretty feet

and the factory keeps my house in shape

my children they've both been paroled

and we get by on the piece we've made

I feel safe so far from heaven

from towers and their ocean views

from here I see a future coming across

what soon will be beaches too

but that was him, I'm allmost sure

the greatest centerfielder of all time

stooped by the burden of endless dreams

his and yours and mine

he hooked each spring beneath his foot

he leaned over then he stood upright

testing each against his weight

for one that had some play and some fight

he's just like us I wanna tell him

and our needs are small enough

something to slow a heavy door

something to help us raise one up

and this was my country

this was my song

somewhere in the middle there

though it started badly and it's ending wrong

well this was God's country

this frightful and this angry land

but if it's his will the worst of it

 might still somehow make me a better man

  [G/f#]

if it's His will

 the worst of it might still

  somehow make me

  end.

a better man