Freeway Pleasure

Written by John Stewart

John has recorded ‘Freeway Pleasure’ three times. It´s on “The Lonesome Picker Rides Again”, Warner Brothers, 1971, re-issued as CD by Line Records, 1990. Same version on the compilation double CD “Gold”, Wrasse Records, 1999. Then on “The Complete Phoenix Concerts”, Bear Family Records, one of the two bonus tracks that augment the original RCA double LP, 1974. Finally, ‘Freeway Pleasure’ is also on the live double CD “Front Row Music- Before the War”, Neon Dreams, 2001.

Now this is SOME song. I dare you to name a better song about the itinerant musician, the wandering minstrel, the travelling troubadour. On second thoughts, don´t bother. And when you have learned how to play this one, DO. Simply play it. DON´T sing. You´ll know what I mean immediately. Great song. Great melody. Great fun to play.

Many of you know that John is said never to play the same song once. John´s long-time bass player Dave “Dave” Batti said that, if memory serves. History needs to be rewritten – almost. We prepared the “Lonesome Picker” and the “Phoenix Concerts” Pleasure for you. Go and spot the differences.

(Am7/G)

E------------

B--1--------

G-----------

D-----2-----

A-----------

E--------3--

(Bm7/A)

E------------------

B--------3---------

G------------------

D-----------4------

A------------------

E---------------5--

"The Lonesome Picker Rides Again" version

Capo 3rd fret

(G) (Am7/G) (Bm7/A) (Am7/G)

(The (Am7/G) (Bm7/A) (Am7/G) part is played by sliding the

(Am7/G) form two frets up the neck, then back. On the Am7/G,

hammer on – pull off –hammer on D-note on B-string on the way up

and play C-note and then B- note on the way down.

Continue this pattern into the verse.)

As (G)long as the (Am7/G)tires

Still (Bm7/A)cry on the (Am7/G)highway,

As (G)long as the (F)dogs

Still (D)die on the (Em)road,

(G) As long as (Am7/G)I wake up

(Bm7/A)without knowing (Am7/G)who I am,

(G) (G/Gb)I will (C)always (Em/B)think of (G)you as (D/Gb)home.

(G) Every time I (Am7/G)hear you say,

(Bm7/A) "John why are you (Am7/G)leaving?"

(G)Bless it, my con(F)fession

Is a (D)woman called the (Em)road.

(G)Like the other (Am7/G)woman,

The (Bm7/A)road, she gets (Am7/G)jealous,

She (G)knows there'll (G/Gb)come a (C)time

I won't (Em/B)see her (G)any(D/Gb)more.

The (C)road is my (Bm)woman

And she's (C)never (D/Gb)done me (Em)wrong,

And I'm (F)true to her.(C)(D/Gb)

The (C)road is my (Bm)woman

And she's (C)here (D/Gb)in this (Em)song,

And I'm (F)true to her.(C)(D/Gb) (hold)

But not for (G)lo(Am7/G)ng. (Bm7/A) (Am7/G)

(G)Rescue me, sweet (Am7/G)angel,

She (Bm7/A)stole me as a (Am7/G)child

(G)To become a (F)rider

On her (D)two-lane rode(Em)o.

And then (G)you came a(Am7/G)long,

(Bm7/A)Loving me for (Am7/G)what I am,

(G) I've (G/Gb)been too (C)long

With a (Em/B)woman (G)made of (D/Gb)stone.

The (C)road is my (Bm)woman,

And she's (C)never (D/Gb)done me (Em)wrong,

And I'm (F)true to her.(C)(D/Gb)

The (C)road is my (Bm)woman,

And she's (C)here (D/Gb)in this (Em)song,

And I'm (F)true to her,(C)(D/Gb) (hold)

But not for (G)lo(Am7/G)ng. (Bm7) (Am7/G)

The (G)road is my (Am7/G)woman

And she's (Bm7/A)never done me (Am7/G)wrong,

The (G)road is my (Am7/G)woman

And she´s (Bm7/A)here in this (Am7/G)song,

And I'm (G)true to her, (Am7/G) (Bm7/A) (Am7/G)

But not for (G)long. (G4)(G) (G4)(G4)(G)

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller

"Phoenix Concerts" version

Capo 3rd fret

(G) (Am7/G) (Bm7/A) (Am7/G)

As (G)long as the (Am7/G)tires

Still (Bm7/A)cry on the (Am7/G)highway,

As (G)long as the (F)dogs

Still (D)die on the (Em)road,

(G) As long as (Am7/G)I wake up

(Bm7/A)without knowing (Am7/G)who I am,

(G) (G/Gb)I will (C)always (Em/B)think of (G)you as (D/Gb)home.

(G) Every time I (Am7/G)hear you say,

(Bm7/A) "John why are you (Am7/G)leaving?"

(G)Bless it, my con(F)fession

Is a (D/Gb)woman called the (Em)road.

And (G)like the other (Am7/G)woman,

The (Bm7/A)road, she gets (Am7/G)jealous,

´Cause she (G)knows there'll (G/Gb)come a (C)time

I won't (Em/B)see her (G)any(D/Gb)more.

Oh, the (C)road is my (Bm)woman

And she's (C)never (D/Gb)done me (Em)wrong,

And I'm (F)true to her.(C)(D/Gb)

Yeah, the (C)road is my (Bm)woman

And she's (C)here (D/Gb)in this (Em)song,

And I'm (F)true to her.(C)(D/Gb) (hold)

But not for (G)lo(Am7/G)ng. (Bm7/A) (Am7/G)

Oh, (G)rescue me, sweet (Am7/G)angel,

She (Bm7/A)stole me as a (Am7/G)child

(G)To become a (F)rider

On her (D)two-lane rode(Em)o.

And then (G)you came a(Am7/G)long,

(Bm7/A)Loving me for (Am7/G)what I am,

(G) I've (G/Gb)been too (C)long

With a (Em/B)woman (G)made of (D/Gb)stone.

Ah, the (C)road is my (Bm)woman,

And she's (C)never (D/Gb)done me (Em)wrong,

And I'm (F)true to her.(C)(D/Gb)

Yeah, the (C)road is my (Bm)woman,

And she's (C)here (D/Gb)in this (Em)song,

And I'm (F)true to her,(C)(D/Gb) (hold)

But not for (G)lo(Am7/G)ng. (Bm7) (Am7/G)

Oh. the (G)road is my (Am7/G)woman

And she's (Bm7/A)never done me (Am7/G)wrong,

The (G)road is my (Am7/G)woman

And she´s (Bm7/A)here in this (Am7/G)song,

And I'm (G)true to her, (Am7/G) (Bm7/A) (Am7/G)

But not for (G)long. (G4)(G) (G4)(G4)(G)

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller

1/2004