And here we have another great unknown pop gem from the band whose
entire career was based on obscurity. Notes:
1) The Eb in the verses isn't realy a chord, it's just a walkup note.
All you have to do is play the 1st fret on the D string. That's
it. I'd put it in TAB, but it'd be lonely, since it's the only
bit in that area that requires it. So just remember: Eb=1st fret,
D string. Got it? Good.
2) There is some very cool acoustic 12-string guitar stuff going on
underneath the "You give me light" part, but I can't get it
exactly. Here is a rough approximation:
E---------------|---0----|-----------------|-----|
B---------------|---2----|-----------------|-----|
G-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2----|-4p2p0---------2-|-(2)-|
D-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-|--------|-------4p2p0---2-|-(2)-|
A-0-0-0-3h4-----|--------|-------------3p0-|-(0)-|
E---------------|--------|-----------------|-----|
q q.^ e3e3e e3e3e q q (w)
This isn't exact, and that's last bit sounds like "Unskinny Bop"
by Poison (yeah, I know, it's really "I Know A Little" by
Skynyrd), so I don't like it. But this is as good as I can do
with this bit.
3) "My life's fun is wild?" Bell didn't really say that, did he?
Well, it's the best *I* can do with it. Any better suggestions are
welcome.
4) There is a piano in here, mostly doing the chords.
5) The vocal harmonies are a large part of this (and almost every Big
Star) song. The most amazing bit comes during the "So right" part.
The backing vox (singing "right") go from G to F# over the G-D
change, and then they go back up from F# to G over the D-A
change, making the A chord an amazing dominant 7th. This is, of
course, a very basic expanation of what is going on here. I'm
sure it's a lot more complicated, but this'll get you started.
"My Life Is Right" (Chris Bell/??? Eubanks)
Performed by Big Star
From the album _#1_Record_ (available on CD with the also-godlike
_Radio_City_)
(piano only)
Once I walked a lonely road
(guitar enters)
I had no one to share my load
Then you came and showed the way
Now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me light
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me light
And that's right
So right
So right
So right
Lonely days of uncertainty
They disappear when you're near me
When I'm with you, my life's fun is wild
And now I long to see you smile
You give me light
You are my day
You give me light
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me light
And that's right
So right
So right
So right
My life is right
My life is right
My life is right
Once I walked a lonely road
I had no one to share my load
Then you came and showed the way
Now I hope you're here to stay
You give me light
You are my day
You give me light
And that's right
You give me light
You are my day
You give me light
And that's right
So right
So right
So right
My life is right
--
\ /
^ --"It's easy to be nuts. Try being me."
V (_The_Fisher_King_)