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California by Joni Mitchell
California
Tuning:E B E G# B E
Capo:no capo
Tuning: Open E
[Chords]
E Esus4 F# A B C# D B6 D/A Asus4 E* Eadd11 F#* B* D/F#
E |-0---0----2--5--7--9--10--7--4---5-----4---5-----x---2---5---|
B |-0---0----2--5--7--9--10--9--0---5-----0---0-----7---4---7---|
G#|-0---1----2--5--7--9--10--7--3---6-----0---0-----5---3---6---|
E |-0---0----2--5--7--9--10--7--4---5-----0---0-----6---2---5---|
B |-0---2----2--5--7--9--10--7--0---7-----0---0-----7---0---7---|
E |-0---0----2--5--7--9--10--7--x---5-----0---0-----x---x---x---|
[Intro]
A E E Esus4 E Esus4
E|------------------------------------------0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
B|-4h5p4-0-0---0--5--5-5--5-5---0----7------0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
G#|-----------0----5--5-5--5-5-0----7---7----0--0-0-0-0-0-1-----0-1----|
E|----------------5--5-5--5-5------------7--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
B|----------------5--5-5--5-5---------------0--0-0-0-0-0-2-----0-2----|
E|----------------5--5-5--5-5---------------0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
d u d u d d u d u d d u d u
[Verse]
E A F#
Sitting in a park in Paris France reading the news and it sure looks bad
B E
They won't give peace a chance, that was just a dream some of us had
E A F#
Stole a lot of lines to sing but I wouldn't want to stay here
B A
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
[Chorus]
A Asus4 E C#
Ah but California, California I'm coming home
A E B
I'm gonna see the folks I dig, I'll even kiss a sunset pig
B6 B E
California I'm coming home
[Riff]
D/A E* Eadd11 E* Esus4 E Esus4 E
E|-2h4p2-0---0-4-4-2p0-4-----5---4----0-----0-0-----0-|
B|---------0---0-------0-----0---0----0-----0-0-----0-|
G#|-------------3-------0-----0---0----1-----0-1-----0-|
E|-------------4-------0-----0---0----0-----0-0-----0-|
B|------------------------------------2-----0-2-----0-|
E|------------------------------------0-----0-0-----0-|
[Verse]
E A F#
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle, we did the goat dance very well
B E
He gave me back my smile but he kept my camera to sell
E A
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue, he cooked good omelettes and stews
F# B A
And I might have stayed on with him there, but my heart cried out for yo
[Chorus]
A Asus4 E C#
California, Oh California I'm coming home
A E B
Oh make me feel good rock and roll band, I'm your biggest fan
B6 B E
California I'm coming home
[Riff]
D/A E* Eadd11 E* Esus4 E Esus4 E
E|-2h4p2-0---0-4-4-2p0-4-----5---4----0-----0-0-----0-|
B|---------0---0-------0-----0---0----0-----0-0-----0-|
G#|-------------3-------0-----0---0----1-----0-1-----0-|
E|-------------4-------0-----0---0----0-----0-0-----0-|
B|------------------------------------2-----0-2-----0-|
E|------------------------------------0-----0-0-----0-|
[Bridge]
E F#* A E B*
Oh it gets so lonely When you're walking and the streets are full of strangers
F# A F#* D/F#
All the news of home you read just give you the blues
B* A Asus4
Just give you the blues
A E E Esus4 E Esus4
E|---------------------------0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
B|-5--5-5--5-5---0----7------0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
G#|-5--5-5--5-5-0----7---7----0--0-0-0-0-0-1-----0-1----|
E|-5--5-5--5-5------------7--0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
B|-5--5-5--5-5---------------0--0-0-0-0-0-2-----0-2----|
E|-5--5-5--5-5---------------0--0-0-0-0-0-0-----0-0----|
d u d u d d u d u d d u d u
[Verse]
E A
So I bought me a ticket I caught a plane to Spain
F#
Went to a party down a red dirt road
B E
There were lots of pretty people there, reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue
A F#
They said how long can you hang around, I said a week maybe two
B A
Just until my skin turns brown and then I'm going home
[Chorus]
A Asus4 E C#
To California, California, I'm coming home
A E B
Oh, will you take me as I am, strung out on another man
B6 B E
California I'm coming home
[Riff]
D/A E* Eadd11 E* Esus4 E Esus4 E
E|-2h4p2-0---0-4-4-2p0-4-----5---4----0-----0-0-----0-|
B|---------0---0-------0-----0---0----0-----0-0-----0-|
G#|-------------3-------0-----0---0----1-----0-1-----0-|
E|-------------4-------0-----0---0----0-----0-0-----0-|
B|------------------------------------2-----0-2-----0-|
E|------------------------------------0-----0-0-----0-|
[Bridge]
E F# A E B
Oh it gets so lonely when you're walking and the streets are full of strangers
F# A E B
All the news of home you read, more about the war and the bloody changes
F# A E
Oh will you take me as I am, will you take me as I am
B F# A
Will you, will you take me as I am
E B F# A E B
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm, take me as I am ......
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
------------------
version 2
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:no capo
[Verse 1]
E A
Sitting in a park in Paris, France
F#m
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
B7
They won't give peace a chance
E
That was just a dream some of us had
A
Still a lot of land to see
F#m
But I wouldn't stay here
B7
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
[Chorus]
A
Oh, but California
E C#7
California, I'm coming home
A
I'm going to see the folks I dig
E B7
I'll even kiss a sunset pig
E
California, I'm coming home
A
[Verse 2]
E A
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
F#m
Who did the goat dance very well
B7
He gave me back my smile
E
But he kept my camera to sell
A
Oh, the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelets and stews
F#m
And I might have stayed on with him there
[Chorus]
B7 A
But my heart cried out for you, California
E C#7
Oh, California, I'm coming home
A
Oh, make me feel good rock'n roll band
E
I'm your biggest fan
B7 E
California, I'm coming home
[Bridge]
E F# A
Oh, it gets so lonely
E
When you're walking
B
And the streets are full of strangers
F#m A
All the news of home you read
F#m D
Just gives you the blues
B
Just gives you the blues
A E
[Verse 3]
E
So I bought me a ticket
A
I got on a plane to Spain
F#m
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
B7 E
Reading Rolling Stone, reading Vogue
A
They said, "How long can you hang around?"
F#m
I said a week, maybe two
B7
Just until my skin turns brown
A
Then I'm going home to California
E C#7
California, I'm coming home
A
Oh, will you take me as I am
E
Strung out on another man
B7
California, I'm coming home
E F# A
Oh, it gets so lonely
E
When you're walking
B
And the streets are full of strangers
F# A
All the news of home you read
E
More about the war
B
And the bloody changes
F# A
Oh, will you take me as I am?
E
Will you take me as I am?
B
Will you?
F# A
Will you take me as I am?
E B
Hmmm mmmmm
F#m A
Take me as I am
E B
F# A E
------------------
version 3
Tuning:E A D G B E
Key:E
Capo:2nd fret
Based on James Taylor's session guitar accompaniment to Joni's dulcimer.
A7 = x02020 E7 = 020100 D/F# = 20023x C = x32010
G = 320003 A7sus2 = x02000 Dsus2 = xx0230 Asus2 = x02200
A = x02220 Gsus4 = 320013 Gmaj7 = 320002 G/B = x2003x
D = xx0232 (D/A) = x0xxxx G6 = 320000 G* = xx5433
A7sus4 = x02030 (D+/A#) = x1xxxx Dsus4 = xx0233 E7* = xx2434
(G/F#) = 2xxxxx B7 = x21202 D5 = xx0235 A7* = x05655
B7/F# = 2x1202 E = 022100 Asus4 = x02230
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Chords in brackets are intended to be played as passing bass notes only.
The G, E7 and A7 chords when marked with an asterisk are specific voicings
to that section of the song and are played staccatto.
[Intro] (See bottom of page for adapted guitar tablature of dulcimer Riff)
A7 G A D A7sus4
| / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / /_/ /_/ |
[Verse 1]
D
Sitting in a park in Paris, France
G (G/F#) E7
Reading the news and it sure looks bad,
E7
They won't give peace a chance,
A7sus2 A7 D
That was just a dream some of us had,
G (G/F#) E7
Still a lot of lands to see, but I wouldn't wanna stay here,
A7sus2 A7 G Gsus4
It's too old and cold, and settled in its ways here,
G G Gsus4 G D (D/A)(D+/A#) B7
Ah, but Cali - fornia, Ca------li - fornia---------------,
B7/F# B7 G
I'm coming home, I'm going to see the folks I dig,
D/F# A7 A7sus4
I'll even kiss a sunset pig, Cali - fornia...
D Dsus2 D Dsus2 Gmaj7 G6 D Dsus4 D A7sus4 A7 A7sus4
I'm coming home----------------------------!
[Verse 2]
D
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle,
G E7
Who did the goat dance very well,
A7sus2 A7
He gave me back my smile, ...but he kept my camera to sell,
D G
Oh, the rogue, the red red rogue, he cooked good omelettes and stews,
E7
And I might have stayed on with him there,
A7sus2 A7 G Gsus4 G
But my heart cried out for you-------, ...Cali - fornia,
G Gsus4 G D (D/A)(D+/A#) B7 B7/F#
Oh ---- oh, California-----------------, I'm coming home,
B7 G
Oh, make me feel good, rock'n'roll band,
D/F# A7
...I'm your biggest fan, Cali - fornia,
A7sus4 D Dsus2 D Dsus2 Gmaj7 G6 D Dsus4 D5
I'm coming home----------------------------------!
[Bridge]
D5 D E G
Oh, it gets so lone - ly, when you're walking,
D A
And the streets are full of strangers,
A7sus4 A7 E G E7 C
All the news of home you read just give you the blues-----,
A A7sus4 A7 A7sus2 A7
Just give you the blues--------------------------------!
| / / / / | / / / / |
G Gsus4 G Asus2 A D G/B D
| / / / / | / / /___/ / | / / / / | / / / / |
[Verse 3]
D G*
So I bought me a ticket, I caught a plane to Spain,
E7*
Went to a party down a red dirt road,
E7*
There were lots of pretty people there,
A7* D
Reading 'Rolling Stone', reading 'Vogue',
G*
They said, "How long can you hang around?"
E7* A7*
I said, "A week, ...maybe two! Just until my skin turns brown,
G Gsus4 G
Then I'm going home------- ...to Cali - fornia!"
G Gsus4 G D (D/A) (D+/A#) B7
Ca------li - fornia-------, I'm com - ing home,
B7/F# B7 G D/F# A7
Oh, ...will you take me as I am, ...strung out on another man?
A7sus4 A7 D Dsus2 D Dsus2 Gmaj7 G6 D Dsus4 D5
Cali - fornia, I'm coming home-------------------------------!
[Verse 4]
D5 D E G
Oh, it gets so ...lonely, ...when you're walking,
D A
And the streets are full of strangers,
A7sus4 A7 E G D A
All the news of home you read, more about the war and the bloody changes,
E G
Oh - oh, ...will you take me as I am?
[Coda]
D A Asus4 E7 G
Will ya take me as I am? Will ya-----? Will you take me as I am-------?
D A
Hmm - hmm - hmm! Hmm - hmm - hmm - hmm!
E7 G D A
Take me as I am------, will you take ...me as I am?
E7 G D A
| / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |
E7 G D
| / / / / | / / / / | / ||
[Dulcimer Intro Riff adapted for standard tuning guitar]
e |----------------------|---3-------3--3----3---|
B |-------2-h3-2---------|---3-------3--3----3---|
G |---------------2---2--|---0-------0--0----0---|
D |-----------------4----|---0-------0--0----0---|
A |----------------------|---2-------2--2----2---|
E |----------------------|---3-------3--3----3---|
e |--3------------0------|---2-------2-------2------|--3----------------|
B |--3--3-------2---2----|---3-------3-------3------|--2----------------|
G |--0--------2-------2--|---2----2--2----2--2---2--|--3----------------|
D |--0----4--------------|---4-------4-------4------|--4--4-h5-4--h5-4--|
A |--2-------------------|--------------------------|-------------------|
E |--3-------------------|--------------------------|-------------------|
h = Hammer on note
------------------
version 4
Intro
Capo:no capo
Tuning:E
A A A A E E E E E E E
e|----------------------------------0--2----------------------------------------|
B|---4h5p4--0---0--2--2-2-2----0-4--------4-------------------------------------|
G|------------1----2--2-2-2--1----------------1-1--1-1--1-1--1—-3p0---3p0-------|
D|-----------------2--2-2-2-------------------2-2--2-2--2-2--2—-1p0---1p0-------|
A|--------------------------------------------2-2--2-2--2-2--2—-3p0---3p0-------|
E|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|--7--7---5--5---2--2---2--2--------------------------------------------------|
B|--9--9---5--5---2--2---3--3--------------------------------------------------|
G|:-9--9---6--6---3--3---3--3-:------------------------------------------------|
D|--9--9---7--7---4--4---3--3--------------------------------------------------|
A|--7--7---7--7---4--4---2--2--------------------------------------------------|
E|--7--7---5--5---2--2---2--2--------------------------------------------------|
Sitting in a park in Paris, France
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
That was just a dream some of us had
Still a lot of lands to see
But I wouldn't wanna stay here
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
Oh, but California
California I'm coming home
I'm gonna see the folks I dig
I'll even kiss a Sunset pig
California I'm coming home
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you, California
Oh California I'm coming home
Oh make me feel good rock 'n' roll band
I'm your biggest fan
California, I'm coming home
Oh it gets so lonely
When you're walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
Just give you the blues
Just give you the blues
So I bought me a ticket
I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading Rolling Stone, reading Vogue
They said, "How long can you hang around?"
I said a week, maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I'm going home to California
California I'm coming home
Oh will you take me as I am
Strung out on another man
California, I'm coming home
Oh it gets so lonely
When you're walking
And the streets are full of strangers
All the news of home you read
More about the war
And the bloody changes
Oh will you take me as I am?
Will you take me as I am?
Will you?
Will you take me as I am?
Hmmm mmmmm
Take me as I am
| / slide up
| \ slide down
| h hammer-on
| p pull-off
| ~ vibrato
| + harmonic
| x Mute note
------------------
version 5
Tuning:E B E G# B E
Capo:1st fret
TUNING: E B E G# B E, capo 1st fret
[INTRO]
E |------------------5--5-5--5-------------------0-|
B |---4h5p4-0-0---0--5--5-5--5-5--------7--------0-|
G#|-------------0----5--5-5--5-----5--7---7------0-| E Esus4 E Esus4 E
E |------------------5--5-5--5---5----------7----0-|
B |------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------|
E(2) A F#
Sitting in a park in Paris France reading the news and it sure looks bad
B E(2)
They won't give peace a chance, that was just a dream some of us had
E(2) A F#
Stole a lot of lines to sing but I wouldn't want to stay here
B A
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
A (Asus4) E C#
Ah but California, California I'm coming home
A E B
I'm gonna see the folks I dig, I'll even kiss a sunset pig
Bsus4 E
California I'm coming home
[RIFF]
E |-2h4p2-0-0---0-4--4-2-4-4---|
B |-----------2---0--0-0-0-0---|
G#|---------------3--3-1-0-0---| E(3) EaddA E(3) Esus4 E Esus4 E
E |---------------4--4-2-0-0---|
B |----------------------------|
E |----------------------------|
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle, we did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile but he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue, he cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there, but my heart cried out for you
California, Oh California I'm coming home
Oh make me feel good rock and roll band, I'm your biggest fan
California I'm coming home RIFF
[BRIDGE]
E F# A E(2) B
Oh it gets so lonely When you're walking and the streets are full of strangers
F# A B D
All the news of home you read just give you the blues
B Bsus4 A Asus4 A B E [like intro] Esus4 E Esus4 E
Just give you the blues
So I bought me a ticket I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there, reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue
They said how long can you hang around, I said a week maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown and then I'm going home
To California, California, I'm coming home
Oh, will you take me as I am, strung out on another man
California I'm coming home RIFF
[BRIDGE #2]
E F# A E(2) B
Oh it gets so lonely when you're walking and the streets are full of strangers
F# A E(2) B
All the news of home you read, more about the war and the bloody changes
F# A E(2)
Oh will you take me as I am, will you take me as I am
B F# A
Will you, will you take me as I am
E(2) B F# A E(2) B
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm, take me as I am ......
CHORDS:
E Esus4 F# A B C# D E(2) Bsus4 Asus4 E(3) EaddA
E -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----4-----5----|
B -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----0-----0----|
G# -0---1-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----8------6----0-----0----|
E -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----0-----0----|
B -0---2-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----9------7----0-----0----|
E -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----0-----0----|
NOTE: There have been some previous postings of this song in different
tunings. I recently saw a video of Joni doing this song live, and
believe me, this is the correct tuning.
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
------------------
version 6
Capo:2nd fret
Standard tuning
Timing= 4/4
/= slide up neck
\= slide down neck
s= slap
[Intro]
e|-------------3-s-3-3-s-3--------------0-----2-s-2-2-s-2-s-2-2-s-|
B|-------------3-s-3-3-s-3---3------2----2----3-s-3-3-s-3-s-3-3-s-|
G|-------------0-s-0-0-s-0--------2---------2-2-s-2-2-s-2-s-2-2-s-|
D|-------------0-s-0-0-s-0-----4--------------0-s-0-0-s-0-s-0-0-s-|
A|-4/5\4p0---0-2-s-2-2-s-2----------------------s-----s---s-----s-|
E|---------2---3-s-3-3-s-3----------------------s-----s---s-----s-|
[Verse]
D
Sitting in a park in Paris France
G Em
Reading the news and it sure looks bad
They won't give peace a chance
A
That was just a dream some of us had
D
Still a lot of lands to see
G
But I wouldn't want to stay here
Em A
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
[Chorus]
Em
Oh but California
D Bm
California I'm coming home
Em
I'm going to see the folks I dig
G A
I'll even kiss a Sunset pig
D
California I'm coming home
[Verse]
I met a redneck on a Grecian isle
Who did the goat dance very well
He gave me back my smile
But he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue the red red rogue
He cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there
But my heart cried out for you California
[Chorus]
Em
Oh but California
D Bm
California I'm coming home
Em
I'm going to see the folks I dig
G A
I'll even kiss a Sunset pig
D
California I'm coming home
[Bridge]
Em G
Oh it gets so lonely when you're walking
D A
And the streets are full of strangers
Em
All the news of home you read
E
Just gives you the blues
A
Just gives you the blues
[Verse]
So I bought me a ticket
I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there
Reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue
They said "How long can you hang around?"
I said a week maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown
Then I'm going home to California
[Chorus]
Em
Oh but California
D Bm
California I'm coming home
Em
I'm going to see the folks I dig
G A
I'll even kiss a Sunset pig
D
California I'm coming home
[Bridge/Outro]
Em G
Oh it gets so lonely when you're walking
D A
And the streets are full of strangers
Em G
All the news of home you read
D
More about the war
A
And the bloody changes
E G
Oh will you take me as I am?
D
Will you take me as I am?
A
Will you?
-------------