How Will I Ever Be Simple Again

Richard Thompson

This is my variation. I left out the solo. I fingerpick, but not at Mr. Thompson's level. :). The top part is the usual lyrics + chords. See tab for variation on chord formation. She danced in the street with the guns all around her All torn like a rag doll barefoot in the rain She sang like a child to-ra-day-to-ra-da-dee Oh how will I ever be simple again She sat on the banks of the dirty gray river And tried for a fish with a worm on a pin There was nothing but fever and ghosts in that water Oh how will I ever be simple again War was my love my friend and companion What did I care for the pretty and plain Her smile was so clear and my heart was so troubled Oh how will I ever be simple again Solo In her poor burned out house I sat by her table The smell of her hair was like cornfields in May I wanted to weep and my eyes ached from trying Oh how will I ever be simple again How graceful she moved in the dust and the ruins How happy she was in her dances and games Teach me to see with your innocent eyes love Oh how will I ever be simple again Oh how will I ever be simple again -------------------------------------------------------- She danced in the streets with the A CHORD | |-----|------|------|-----|--4---|-----|------| | |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1--|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0--|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|------|------|-----|------|-----|------| With the guns all CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| Around her A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| All torn like a rag doll A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| Barefoot in the rain E CHORD | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| She sang like a child to-ra- A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| day- to-ra-da- CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|-------|--3---|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| dee Oh how will I ever A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| Simple E CHORD | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| Again A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|---4--|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| 2nd verse same as the first, except for walk-up (below) going into bridge A CHORD | |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---2---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| A CHORD | |-----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|-------|---3--|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| BRIDGE What did I care for the CHORD | |-----|---3---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|-------|--2---|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| The pretty and A CHORD | |0----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|----- |-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---1---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |-----|---0---|------|-----|------|-----|------| | |X----|-------|------|-----|------|-----|------| Plain E CHORD (Arpeggio E chord with harmonic at 12th fret after arpeggio | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |1-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |------|--2---|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| | |0-----|------|-----|-----|-----|-----|------| Her smile was so clear etc. uses chord structure as shown in verses ------------------------------------------------- Next verse and bridge same as the first EXCEPT for last A chord, fingered as shown, (4th finger at 5th fret)finishes with a harmonic at 17th fret.

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