Thirteen Chord Songs

[autographedcat]

Thirteen Chord Songs

by Rob Wynne
TTTO: “Secondhand Songs” by Jonathan Turner

Sharing songs in the filkcircle

I hear a tune that’s quite new

And I know at first listen

It’s one that I’d like to do

But I cannot decipher

Just the way it should go

So I ask for the chords

And he looks at me bored

As he says “Well, you know

 

I write thirteen chord songs 

Songs in tunings bizarre 

I don’t expect you to play them 

You won’t know what they are 

The patterns aren’t simple 

It’s 7/4 time, it’s long

Oh your fingers will burn 

If you sit down and learn 

one of my thirteen chord songs.”

 

I’m not much with an instrument

I guess I play well enough

All my strumming is simple

Sometimes my changes are rough

And this song that he’s playing

Remains just out of my reach

But if i’m put to the test

I will still do my best

As I battle with each

 

Of these thirteen chord songs

Songs with rhythms complex

I don’t know why I try them

They always leave me quite vexed

My fingers are cramping

But still I soldier along

As I struggle to wrest

Some kind of tune from this mess

Of a thirteen chord song

 

So I went to my best friend

He plays much better than me

He said “This song’s not as tricky

As he’d like you to believe

Half these chords are for colour

And these two just for show

Put a capo on three

Now the whole things in G

And you’re ready to go

 

With this now four chord song”

The arrangement is spare

It is slightly less nuanced

But I don’t really care

Because now I can play it

And it doesn’t sound wrong

You can keep all your tricks

and your riffs and your licks

In your thirteen chord song

 

You can keep all your tricks

and your riffs and your licks

In your thirteen chord song

 

Although it’s down to four

I still need stamina more

’cause it’s an eight minute song

I wrote this song years ago, but somehow never got around to posting it, and then came across it again while putting together my OVFF 2018 Toastmaster concert setlist, so I saved it to include there before putting it out into the world.

The original song, by New England area filker Jonathan Turner, is terrific, and I recommend seeking it out if you can.

 

Comments

[gorgeousgary]

I was thinking of dropping you a line to ask for the lyrics or seeing if you'd posted them on a website. Thanks for saving me the effort! (*grin*).

Also great seeing (and dining) with you and Larissa at OVFF.

[autographedcat]

So glad you liked it!

It's always wonderful to spend time with you and Sheryl. *hugs*