Roll On John
These are the basic figures that are played throughout the song. The second string is always an alternative to the first; it adds flavour to the G/b and A chords (but, as with all spices: add with caution):
Open D and Open E are basically the same tuning, only tuned to different tones. In other words, the relative distance between the strings are identical, which can be seen from the Joni-code.
Open E: E-B-e-g#-b-e’ (so: tune 5th and 4th string up a whole and the 3rd string up a half tone)
Joni-code: E-7-5-4-3-5
Open D: D-A-d-f#-a-d’ (6th, 2nd and 1st down a whole, third down a half tone)
Joni-code: D-7-5-4-3-5
These are the basic figures that are played throughout the song. The second string is always an alternative to the first; it adds flavour to the G/b and A chords (but, as with all spices: add with caution):
E A E If you getcha one girl, better get two A E B7 E Case you run into Gypsy Lou E A E She's a ramblin' woman with a ramblin' mind A E B7 E Leavin' some poor boy behind. A/c# E A E Hey, 'round the bend A E B7 E Gypsy Lou's gone again A (B7) E Gypsy Lou's gone again. Well, I seen this whole country through Just to followin' Gypsy Lou Seen it up, seen it down Followin' Gypsy Lou around. Hey, 'round the bend Gypsy Lou's gone again
D G D G D Sad I'm sittin' on the railroad track G D Watchin' that old smokestack G D D7 D Train is a-leavin' but it won't be back.
D7 D : . . . : . --0-|-----0-0-----------------|-----0------ --3-|-----3-3-----------------|-----0------ --3-|-----3-3---1-------------|-----0------ etc. ----|-----------------3-----0-|-----0------ ----|-------------------------|-----0------ ----|-0-----0-----0-----0-----|-0----------
E7 : . . : . . . : . . . ---|---0-----0---------|-----------------------0-|---------0-----0-----0---------| ---|/3---3-------------|-------------------0h3---|-------------------------------| ---|/3----/3---3-------|-------------------0-----|------/3---3/3---3/3---3-------| ---|-------------5p3-0-|-----------0-------------|-------------------------5p3-0-|
The main text is the version recorded 16 Sept, 1974, released on the Bootleg Series 1-3. Some lyrical variations from the version from Sept 19, included for release on the original test pressing, have been indicated.
Intro, interlude 1 and verse:
Open E/D Tuning
[Intro] . . : . . . : . . . : . . . -------------|-----0-----------0-------|-------------------------|-----0-------------0-----| -------------|-----0-----------0-------|-------------------------|-----0-----------0-0-----| -------------|-----------2/3-----2\1---|-------------------------|-----------2/3---3-----1-|
E They sat together in the park Emaj7 As the evening sky grew dark, E7 She looked at him and he felt a spark A A' tingle to his bones. Am 'Twas then he felt alone E B(ii) A A' and wished that he'd gone straight E B11 B11' E And watched out for a simple twist of fate. They walked along by the old canal A little confused, I remember well And stopped into a strange hotel with a neon burnin' bright. He felt the heat of the night hit him like a freight train
Intro: