Tabs
Rhymes and Reasons
By John Denver
>From "John Denver's Greatest Hits"
RCA PCD1-0374
In the liner notes John says that this represents some of
his best lyrics. He gave us joyous and beautiful songs.
I'll miss him.
Transcription (and any errors) by [email protected]
I started this with the lyrics and chords from the 1992
transcription by [email protected] (Markus Brakweh)
(Thanks Markus)
The song is played in the key of 
G+G in dropped 
D MajorD tuning (DADGBE),
but the guitar is tuned down two half-tones to CGCFAD and sung
in the key of F.
Note-> CGCFAD (dropped D, tuned down two half tones)
++++++
G+G 550003 (standard G+G chord in dropped D MajorD)
D/F#D/F# 400002 (actually D6sus4/F#(?). Since the 5th string is not
played I just slide the 550003 G+G down to 440002)
G/BG/B x2000x (part of a bass run)
D MajorD 000232
Dsus4Dsus4 000032 (thumb emphasizes the high g bass string)
C majorC x32010
B minorBm x24432
E minorEm 222000 (the 5th string isn't played so I just finger 202000)
A minorAm x02210
There are two 12-string guitars playing pretty much the same
thing in unison. Both guitars use the same basic picking pattern.
Generally everything is eighth notes, but occasionally they will
leave out the second note (1) or the last note (2), making the
preceding thumb note a quarter note.
1/8 ->
------------2-----------(2)---
----(1)-----------1-----------
------------------------------
---------T-----------T--------
------------------------------
--T------------T--------------
Note that this is the basic pattern. The actual strings that are
played vary depending on the chord being played. There is also a
slide guitar that sometimes steps on the 12-strings so that it's
hard to hear what they are playing.
12-string vs 6-string note:
You're not going to get the same sound with a 6-string as you
would with the 12-string, and more than just the lack of fullness.
If you play on a 6-string you will think that John is playing
notes on the 1st and 2nd strings that are in fact being played by
the thumb hitting the high-octave bass strings, particularly the
thumb striking the third string with its high-G as seen in the
Dsus4Dsus4 in the intro.
OK, here's the general tab.
Intro/outro:
G+G stuff (finger 000087 and then add notes)
e-|---------7-----------10--------8----7------------------
B-|---------------8----------8--------------8-------------
G-|------0-----------0---------0----------0---------------
D-|--0---------0-----------0---------0--------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
C majorC (finger 000988) G+G (finger 000087)
e-|-----------8-----------------------7-------------------
B-|-----8-----------8-----------8----------10-------------
G-|--------9-----------9-----------0------------0---------
D-|--0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
Dsus4Dsus4
e-|----------2-----------2----------2-----2---------------
B-|----------------3-----------------------------0--------
G-|-------0-----------0----------0-----0------------------
D-|--0----------0-----------0-----------------0-----------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
G+G to verse
e-|-------------------------------------------------------
B-|----------0-----------3----------3-----------3---------
G-|----0-----------0----------0-----------0---------------
D-|-------0-----------0----------0-----------0------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5----------5-----------5----------5------------------
So you
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2-------0-------0------
B-|----0-------0-------0-------0-------1-------1----------
G-|--------------------------------------0----------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0---------------2--------
A-|----------------------------------3-------3------------
D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------
speak to me of sadness, and ...
G+G E minorEm B minorBm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3-------3---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
winter Fear that is ...
C majorC D MajorD
e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
seems to ....the
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|---------3--------3-------2-------2--------0---------0-
B-|-----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1-----
G-|-----------------------------------------0-------------
D-|-------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2---
A-|-------------------------------------3---------3-------
D-|--5---------5-------4-------4--------------------------
dreams that have escaped ....
G+G E minorEm G+G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
forgotten You tell me ....
D MajorD
e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------
B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------
want to be my ...
C majorC
e-|--------0-------0---------0-------0--------------------
B-|------------1---------1-------1------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------2-------2---------2-------2----------------------
A-|--3-------3---------3-------3--------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
wonder where we're going....
G+G D MajorD
e-|--------3---------3----------2-------2-----------------
B-|----0---------0----------3-------3---------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------0----------0-------0-------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5---------5-----------0-------0----------------------
rhyme and where's the ...
E minorEm G+G
e-|--------0---------0-------3-------3--------------------
B-|----0---------0-------0-------0------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------2---------2-------0-------0----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--2---------2-------5-------5--------------------------
you who cannot ...
D MajorD A minorAm
e-|--------2-------2-------2-------2---------0-------0----
B-|----3-------3-------3-------3---------1-------1--------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0---------2-------2------
A-|------------------------------------0-------0----------
D-|--0-------0-------0-------0----------------------------
here we must begin To ....
A minorAm
e-|--------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------
B-|----1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--------
A-|--0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
children... ....
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G/BG/B
e-|-------------------------------------------------------
B-|--------3--------3--------1--------0-------------------
G-|----0--------0--------0--------0-----------------------
D-|------0--------0--------2--------0---------------------
A-|--------------------3--------2-------------------------
D-|--5--------4-------------------------------------------
graceful way of ....
D MajorD Dsus4Dsus4
e-|--------2-------2-------2-------2----------------------
B-|----3-------3-------3-------3--------------------------
G-|------2-------0-------0-------0------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0------0----------------------------
wind ....
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|--------3--------3-------2-------2----------0-------0--
B-|----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1------
G-|----------------------------------------0--------------
D-|------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2----
A-|------------------------------------3---------3--------
D-|--5--------5-------4-------4---------------------------
children and the flowers ....
G+G E minorEm B minorBm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
brothers their laughter and ...
C majorC D MajorD
e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
clear a cloudy ....
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2--------0-------0-----
B-|----0-------0-------0-------0--------1-------1---------
G-|---------------------------------------0---------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0----------------2-------
A-|-----------------------------------3-------3-----------
D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------
music of the mountains and ....
G+G E minorEm G+G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
rainbow They're a promise of ....
D MajorD G+G (the slide guitar covers the)
e-|--------2-------2--------------------------------------
B-|----3-------3------------0-------3-------0-------------
G-|---------------------0-------0-------0-------0---------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------5-------5-------5-------5-----------
blessing for ....
A minorAm (12 strings but it's something like this...)
e-|-----------0---------------0---------------------------
B-|-------0h1-----1-------0h1-----------------------------
G-|-----2---------------2---------2-----------------------
D-|-------------2---------------2-------------------------
A-|--0------0--------0------0-----------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
Dsus4Dsus4 D MajorD
e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------
B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------
G-|------0-------0--------2-------2-----------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------
Though the
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2--------0-------0-----
B-|----0-------0-------0-------0--------1-------1---------
G-|---------------------------------------0---------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0----------------2-------
A-|-----------------------------------3-------3-----------
D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------
cities start to crumble ...
G+G E minorEm B minorBm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
around us The sun is ...
C majorC D MajorD
e-|--------0-------0-------2-------2----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3-------3--------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2---------------0------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
colder than the ....
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|--------3-------3--------2-------2--------0-------0----
B-|----0-------0--------0-------0--------1-------1--------
G-|----------------------------------------0--------------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0----------------2------
A-|------------------------------------3-------3----------
D-|--5-------5--------4-------4---------------------------
written: From the desert to ....
G+G E minorEm G+G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
lead us By the hand and by ....
D MajorD
e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------
B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------
comfort you and ....
C majorC
e-|--------0-------0---------0-------0--------------------
B-|----1-------1---------1-------1------------------------
G-|------0-------0---------0-------0----------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
A-|--3-------3---------3-------3--------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
innocence and trusting...
G+G D MajorD
e-|--------3-------3---------2------2---------------------
B-|----0-------0---------3------3-------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0---------0------0-----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5-------5---------0-------0--------------------------
teach us to be ....
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC
e-|--------3--------3-------2-------2----------0-------0--
B-|----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1------
G-|----------------------------------------0--------------
D-|------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2----
A-|------------------------------------3---------3--------
D-|--5--------5-------4-------4---------------------------
children and the flowers are ...
G+G E minorEm B minorBm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
brothers their laughter ....
C majorC D MajorD
e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
clear a cloudy ...
G+G C majorC D MajorD
e-|--------3-------3--------0-------0-------2-------2-----
B-|----0-------0--------1-------1-------3-------3---------
G-|-----------------------0-------0-----------------------
D-|------0-------0------------------------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------3-------3---------------------------
D-|--5-------5------------------------0-------0-----------
song that I am singing ....
G+G E minorEm G+G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
believers Come and stand ....
D MajorD C majorC (to outro)
e-|--------2-------2-------0-------0--------0-------0-----
B-|----3-------3-------1-------1--------1-------1---------
G-|----------------------0--------------------------------
D-|------0-------0----------------2-------2--------2------
A-|------------------3-------3--------3-------3-----------
D-|--0-------0--------------------------------------------
find a ....
The outro is like the intro, but ends with a strummed 550003
Here it is again with just the chords:
Rhymes and Reasons
John Denver
(Intro: G+G C majorC G+G Dsus4Dsus4 G+G)
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G+G
So you speak to me of sadness ...,
E minorEm B minorBm C majorC D MajorD
Fear that is within you now ...
G+G D/F#D/F#
And the dreams that have ...
C majorC G+G
And the hope that ...
E minorEm G+G D MajorD
You tell me that you need me ...
C majorC
And you wonder ...
G+G D MajorD
Where's the rhyme and ...
E minorEm G+G D MajorD
And it's you who cannot .....
A minorAm
To seek the wisdom of ..
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G/BG/B D MajorD Dsus4Dsus4
And the graceful way of ...
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G+G
For the children and the flowers are ....
E minorEm B minorBm C majorC D MajorD
Their laughter and their ...
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G+G
Like the music of the mountains ....
E minorEm G+G
They're a ...
D MajorD G+G A minorAm Dsus4Dsus4 D MajorD
and the ...
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G+G
Though the cities start to crumble ...
E minorEm B minorBm C majorC D MajorD
The sun is slowly fading and ...
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G+G
It is written: From the desert to ...
E minorEm G+G D MajorD
By the hand and by the heart ...
C majorC G+G D MajorD
In their innocence and ...
G+G D/F#D/F# C majorC G+G
For the children and the flowers are ...
E minorEm B minorBm C majorC D MajorD
Their laughter and their loveliness ...
G+G C majorC D MajorD G+G
And the song that I am singing is a ...
E minorEm G+G D MajorD C majorC (intro) G+G
Come and stand beside us, ....
[email protected]
Other versions of Rhymes And Reasons
Alternative guitar chords and tabs for Rhymes and reasons (Ver. 2) by John Denver
