jimmy webb
At least the title of the 1966 scifi novel by Robert Anson Heinlein inspired Jimmy Webb to write this song. It was first recorded by Joe Cocker in 1974, following Glen Campbell (of course), Judy Collins and so on.
Webb is famous for writing striking melodies with complex harmonies. To guitar players, he seems to roll out a new chord with each note. His own interpretation of this song is embarrassing elegant :-D but it's possible to play the way I've put it up, without twisting and spraining your fingers too much.
I first heard it with late Radka Toneff, during a jazz session a few months before she died. Something sounded familiar; could it be ...? Yup, sure it was. You always recognize a Webb song. At that time, the bells did not chime strong enough, but they lingered on until some fifteen years later : the song appeared on the radio, and then we'd got the web and search engines. So here it is. Unfortunately, Radka is not (but she's on YouTube, of course).
see her as she flies
golden sails across the sky
close enough to touch
but careful if you try
though she looks as warm as gold
the moon's a harsh mistress
the moon can be so cold
once the sun did shine
and lord it felt so fine
the moon a phantom rose
through the mountains and the pine
and then the darkness fell
the moon's a harsh mistress
it's hard to love her well
I fell out of her eyes
I fell out of her heart
I fell down on my face • yes I did
and I tripped and missed my star
and I fell and fell alone
the moon's a harsh mistress
the sky is made of stone
the moon's a harsh mistress
she's hard to call your own
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G see her as she flies Cmaj7 C ... D7sus4 golden sails across the sky Em ... Em7 ... C close enough to touch D7sus4 Bm ... E7add9 but careful if you try Am ... Am7 ... D though she looks as warm as gold Bm Cmaj7 ... D the moon's a harsh mistress D7sus4 G the moon can be so cold
The song should now be modulated three half steps to Bb key for the last verse. This works fine for a piano man; not for a guitar player. I raise it one step to A key instead, because the guitar is a harsh master ...
... and that famous run down chords in the prelude and interlude; well: I've found a workaround I'm not able to share. Find your own way, like I did. The SONG is essential, not introverted piano tricks. You might as well play the song G key throughout, and it's still beautiful. Happy buskin'.
G ... Edim ... E7 E6 A ...Amaj7 I fell out of her eyes D ... E I fell out of her heart E6 F#m D I fell down on my face yes I did E6 C#m ... Edim and I tripped and missed my star Bm ... Bm/A ...E and I fell and fell alone E6 Dmaj7 ... D6 the moon's a harsh mistress E6 E7 A ... C#m ... F#m the sky is made of stone E6 Dmaj7 ... D6 the moon's a harsh mistress Esus4 A she's hard to call your own
