Some Lonesome Picker

 

Written by John Stewart

 

'Some Lonesome Picker' is on “California Bloodlines”, Capitol, 1969, best CD-reissue together with the equally excellent “Willard” album (1970) on BGO, 2001. 

Outstanding song.  The moving bass line gives it a hypnotic quality.  “And the music makes the whole world feel like home.”  It does.  “Maybe some lonesome picker will find some healing in this song...”  Yes.  We have and we will.

 

 

Play (D) chord, moving [bass notes]:

 

[D] [C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

[D] [C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

[D] [C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

(continue pattern into verse, using hammer-ons occasionally,

more often clean notes)

 

I [D]often get the [C]feeling that I'm [B]talking to the [Bb]wind

And no-one [D]hears, [C] [B]no-one listens [Bb]in.

Then [D]I start singing [C]songs

And the [B]music makes the [Bb]whole world feel like [D]home,

[C] [B] Sing a [Bb]song and you're not a[D]one.

[C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

 

[D] Lilly Mc[C]Lean, you are [B]standing in the [Bb]rain

And you are [D]cold, [C] you are [B]hungry and a[Bb]fraid.

You are [D]waiting for a [C]sunrise,

A [B]sunrise makes you [Bb]feel so very [D]small.

[C] [B] Darling [Bb]Lilly, aren't we [D]all? (D-chord)

 

(chords)

Oh I'm be(G)liev(D)ing, be(G)lie(A7 short)(Bm)ving,

Be(G)lieving that (Em)even when I'm (Em7)go(A7)ne,

(back to bass note pattern with (D) chord...)

Maybe [D]some lonesome [C]picker will

[B] Find some [Bb]healing in this [D]song.

[C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

 

[D] Julie get the [C]gun, Julie [B]throw it in the [Bb]river,

Let it [D]roll [C] [B]far on out to [Bb]sea.

Let it [D]carry the con[C]fusion,

The [B]hatred and the [Bb]worry here in [D]me,

[C] [B] River [Bb]rolling out to [D]sea. (D chord)

 

(chords)

Oh I'm be(G)liev(D)ing, be(G)lie(A7 short)(Bm)ving,

Be(G)lieving that (Em)even when I'm (Em7)go(A7)ne,

(back to bass note pattern with (D) chord...)

Maybe [D]some lonesome [C]picker will

[B] Find some [Bb]healing in this [D]song.

[C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

 

Maybe [D]some lonesome [C]picker will

[B] Find some [Bb]healing in this [D]song.

[C] [hammer on B] [hammer on Bb]

 

I hope that [D] some lonesome [C]picker will

[B] Find some [Bb]healing in this [D])song.

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller