John Cougar Mellencamp - Small Town
(transcribed by Stefano Serafin, barleycorn@infinito.it - don't expect
immediate answer... I don't check very often)

This is one of my favorite songs by John Mellencamp. Hope you enjoy.
Don't know whether it should be played with a capo on the 2nd fret or not,
but sure it gets a bit easier if you use one.



Let's call this the main riff:

  B       F#(4)         E         F#
-------------------------------------------
----------2--------------------------------
--4--4----3--4--3--4----4--4--4---6--6--4--
--4--4----4--4--4--2----2--2--2---4--4--4--
--2--2----4--------2----2--2--2---4--4--2--
----------2--------------------------------

You can play this thing with a capo, as I said, so that the chords you play
become A E(4) D E. That is:

  A       E(4)          D         E
-------------------------------------------
----------0--------------------------------
--2--2----1--2--1--2----2--2--2---4--4--2--
--2--2----2--2--2--0----0--0--0---2--2--2--
--0--0----2--------0----0--0--0---2--2--0--
----------0--------------------------------

What becomes easier is the sus4 chord, you just have to move your little finger.

Otherwise you can choose to play it like this, struggling with barr? chords:

  B       F#(4)         E         F#
-------------------------------------------
----------2-------------0--0--0---2--2--0--
--4--4----3--4--3--4----1--1--1---3--3--4--
--4--4----4--4--4--2----2--2--2---4--4--4--
--2--2-------------2----2--2--2---4--4--2--
------------------------0--0--0---2--2-----

If there are two guitars in your group, I suggest that an electric plays the
1st version and an acoustic plays the 2nd. Works good.

Yet another way of playing this song is tuning your guitar a half step lower
and playing C G(4) F G and so on. Oh, and another: but a capo on 4th fret
and play G D C D. This the easiest one.

You should have understood I've got the right chords but I really can't get
the right fingering. I'd say the A E D E riff, with capo on 2nd fret...
but I wouldn't bet.



The song goes like this (actual chords indicated - if you use a capo on 2nd
fret, play one step lower):

* repeat main riff 4 times as an intro.

* for the verse, repeat main riff 3 times, then turn to C#m(add9) and F#.

* after 2 verses, repeat main riff twice. Then another 2 verses.

* then you find a kind of bridge, which goes like this: E B E B E B F#.
  Repeat twice, hold the last F#, then turn to main riff (play 2 times).

* an instrumental part: | G#m | B  E B |
                        | G#m | B  F#  |
                        | G#m | B  E B |
                        | F#  | F#  |

* main riff twice (be quiet, do some fingerpicking).

* keep cool and play 2 verses.

* repeat main riff x8, last time end on E.

Guys, I'm sorry for writing the song in this way, but I don' have the lyrics now
and I have little difficulty in understanding some parts - I'm Italian - anyhow
I'm going to look for them before I post the song.

Here they are:


Well I was born in a small town
And I live in a small town
Prob'ly die in a small town
Oh, those small communities

All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity



Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that's me

But I've seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town
Married an L.A. doll and brought her to this small town
Now she's small town just like me



No I cannot forget where it is that I come from
I cannot forget the people who love me
Yeah, I can be myself here in this small town
And people let me be just what I want to be



Got nothing against a big town
Still hayseed enough to say look who's in the big town
But my bed is in a small town
Oh, and that's good enough for me

Well I was born in a small town
And I can breathe in a small town
Gonna die in this small town
And that's prob'ly where they'll bury me



That's it. Enjoy