I'm posting a song a day from the Rise Up Singing songbook, which you may or may not know. It's a pretty invaluable resource for song leaders, and useful for anyone who likes to sing in groups. The book doesn't include the melodies to the songs, just the lyrics and some chords, so I’m trying hard to find the tunes I don’t know, learn them, and post them on YouTube for anyone to learn. That’s where these videos are hosted; the blog is just pretty packaging.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Mercedes-Benz
By Janis Joplin and Michael McClure
Rise Up Singing chapter: America, p.3
D - G D / D - - - / - - G D / - - G D
or the way I like to play it:
D - G D / D - - A / D - G D / - - G D
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?
My friends all have Porsches, I must make amends
[I don't think it would be such a wild guess to suggest that Janis Joplin probably didn't know what 'to make amends' meant. I a friend of mine wrote that in a poem, I'd cringe. Somehow it seems to carry the weight of history in this song, however.]
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?
Oh Lord won't you buy me a colour T.V.?
Dialing for dollars is trying to find me
I'll wait for delivery each day until three
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town?
I'm counting on You, Lord, please don't let me down
Prove that you love me and buy the next round
This is an incredible resource
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