Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 01:25:20 -0800
From: John Blair 
Subject: TAB: Rhymes and Reasons by John Denver

Rhymes and Reasons
By John Denver
>From "John Denver's Greatest Hits"
RCA  PCD1-0374

In the liner notes John says that this represents some of
his best lyrics. He gave us joyous and beautiful songs.
I'll miss him.

Transcription (and any errors) by jwblair@ix.netcom.com

I started this with the lyrics and chords from the 1992
transcription by hackes@uni-paderborn.de (Markus Brakweh)
(Thanks Markus)

The song is played in the key of G in dropped D tuning (DADGBE),
but the guitar is tuned down two half-tones to CGCFAD and sung
in the key of F.

Note-> CGCFAD  (dropped D, tuned down two half tones)
       ++++++
G      550003 (standard G chord in dropped D)
D/F#   400002 (actually D6sus4/F#(?). Since the 5th string is not
               played I just slide the 550003 G down to 440002)
G/B    x2000x (part of a bass run)
D      000232
Dsus4  000032 (thumb emphasizes the high g bass string)
C      x32010
Bm     x24432
Em     222000 (the 5th string isn't played so I just finger 202000)
Am     x02210

There are two 12-string guitars playing pretty much the same
thing in unison. Both guitars use the same basic picking pattern.
Generally everything is eighth notes, but occasionally they will
leave out the second note (1) or the last note (2), making the
preceding thumb note a quarter note.

 1/8 ->
------------2-----------(2)---
----(1)-----------1-----------
------------------------------
---------T-----------T--------
------------------------------
--T------------T--------------

Note that this is the basic pattern. The actual strings that are
played vary depending on the chord being played. There is also a
slide guitar that sometimes steps on the 12-strings so that it's
hard to hear what they are playing.


12-string vs 6-string note:
You're not going to get the same sound with a 6-string as you
would with the 12-string, and more than just the lack of fullness.
If you play on a 6-string you will think that John is playing
notes on the 1st and 2nd strings that are in fact being played by
the thumb hitting the high-octave bass strings, particularly the
thumb striking the third string with its high-G as seen in the
Dsus4 in the intro.


OK, here's the general tab.

Intro/outro:
     G stuff (finger 000087 and then add notes)
e-|---------7-----------10--------8----7------------------
B-|---------------8----------8--------------8-------------
G-|------0-----------0---------0----------0---------------
D-|--0---------0-----------0---------0--------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------


     C (finger 000988)       G (finger 000087)
e-|-----------8-----------------------7-------------------
B-|-----8-----------8-----------8----------10-------------
G-|--------9-----------9-----------0------------0---------
D-|--0-----------0-----------0-----------0----------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------


     Dsus4
e-|----------2-----------2----------2-----2---------------
B-|----------------3-----------------------------0--------
G-|-------0-----------0----------0-----0------------------
D-|--0----------0-----------0-----------------0-----------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------


     G                                     to verse
e-|-------------------------------------------------------
B-|----------0-----------3----------3-----------3---------
G-|----0-----------0----------0-----------0---------------
D-|-------0-----------0----------0-----------0------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5----------5-----------5----------5------------------
                                           So you


     G               D/F#            C
e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2-------0-------0------
B-|----0-------0-------0-------0-------1-------1----------
G-|--------------------------------------0----------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0---------------2--------
A-|----------------------------------3-------3------------
D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------
    speak to me of sadness,  and the coming of the


     G               Em               Bm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3-------3---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
     winter          Fear that is within you now that


     C               D
e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
     seems to never end     And the


     G                 D/F#             C
e-|---------3--------3-------2-------2--------0---------0-
B-|-----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1-----
G-|-----------------------------------------0-------------
D-|-------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2---
A-|-------------------------------------3---------3-------
D-|--5---------5-------4-------4--------------------------
   dreams that have escaped you and the hope that you've


     G               Em               G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
  forgotten      You tell me that you need me now, you


     D
e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------
B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------
     want to be my friend       And you


     C
e-|--------0-------0---------0-------0--------------------
B-|------------1---------1-------1------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------2-------2---------2-------2----------------------
A-|--3-------3---------3-------3--------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
    wonder where we're going,    where's the


     G                     D
e-|--------3---------3----------2-------2-----------------
B-|----0---------0----------3-------3---------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------0----------0-------0-------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5---------5-----------0-------0----------------------
     rhyme and where's the reason    And it's


     Em                G
e-|--------0---------0-------3-------3--------------------
B-|----0---------0-------0-------0------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------2---------2-------0-------0----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--2---------2-------5-------5--------------------------
    you who cannot accept   --   it is


     D                                 Am
e-|--------2-------2-------2-------2---------0-------0----
B-|----3-------3-------3-------3---------1-------1--------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0---------2-------2------
A-|------------------------------------0-------0----------
D-|--0-------0-------0-------0----------------------------
     here we must begin   To seek the wisdom of the


     Am
e-|--------0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------
B-|----1-------1-------1-------1-------1-------1----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------2-------2-------2-------2-------2-------2--------
A-|--0-------0-------0-------0-------0-------0------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
     children...                             And the


     G        D/F#      C       G/B
e-|-------------------------------------------------------
B-|--------3--------3--------1--------0-------------------
G-|----0--------0--------0--------0-----------------------
D-|------0--------0--------2--------0---------------------
A-|--------------------3--------2-------------------------
D-|--5--------4-------------------------------------------
     graceful way  of  flowers  in the


     D       Dsus4
e-|--------2-------2-------2-------2----------------------
B-|----3-------3-------3-------3--------------------------
G-|------2-------0-------0-------0------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0------0----------------------------
     wind                    For the


     G                 D/F#             C
e-|--------3--------3-------2-------2----------0-------0--
B-|----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1------
G-|----------------------------------------0--------------
D-|------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2----
A-|------------------------------------3---------3--------
D-|--5--------5-------4-------4---------------------------
    children  and the flowers are  my  sisters  and my


     G               Em               Bm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
   brothers  their laughter and their loveliness would


     C               D
e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
     clear a cloudy day      Like the


     G               D/F#             C
e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2--------0-------0-----
B-|----0-------0-------0-------0--------1-------1---------
G-|---------------------------------------0---------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0----------------2-------
A-|-----------------------------------3-------3-----------
D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------
     music  of the mountains and the  colors of the


     G               Em               G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
  rainbow  They're a promise of the  future, and the






     D                G  (the slide guitar covers the)
e-|--------2-------2--------------------------------------
B-|----3-------3------------0-------3-------0-------------
G-|---------------------0-------0-------0-------0---------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------5-------5-------5-------5-----------
    blessing for   today


     Am   (12 strings but it's something like this...)
e-|-----------0---------------0---------------------------
B-|-------0h1-----1-------0h1-----------------------------
G-|-----2---------------2---------2-----------------------
D-|-------------2---------------2-------------------------
A-|--0------0--------0------0-----------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------


     Dsus4            D
e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------
B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------
G-|------0-------0--------2-------2-----------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------
                            Though the



     G               D/F#             C
e-|--------3-------3-------2-------2--------0-------0-----
B-|----0-------0-------0-------0--------1-------1---------
G-|---------------------------------------0---------------
D-|------0-------0-------0-------0----------------2-------
A-|-----------------------------------3-------3-----------
D-|--5-------5-------4-------4----------------------------
     cities start to crumble and the towers fall


     G               Em               Bm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
   around us     The sun is  slowly  fading  and it's


     C               D
e-|--------0-------0-------2-------2----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3-------3--------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2---------------0------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
     colder than the sea        It is


     G               D/F#             C
e-|--------3-------3--------2-------2--------0-------0----
B-|----0-------0--------0-------0--------1-------1--------
G-|----------------------------------------0--------------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0----------------2------
A-|------------------------------------3-------3----------
D-|--5-------5--------4-------4---------------------------
   written:  From the desert  to the mountains they shall


     G               Em               G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
    lead us  By the hand and by the heart they will


     D
e-|--------2-------2--------2-------2---------------------
B-|----3-------3--------3-------3-------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0--------0-------0-----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--0-------0--------0-------0---------------------------
     comfort you and me       In their


     C
e-|--------0-------0---------0-------0--------------------
B-|----1-------1---------1-------1------------------------
G-|------0-------0---------0-------0----------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
A-|--3-------3---------3-------3--------------------------
D-|-------------------------------------------------------
    innocence and trusting, they will


     G                 D
e-|--------3-------3---------2------2---------------------
B-|----0-------0---------3------3-------------------------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0-------0---------0------0-----------------------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5-------5---------0-------0--------------------------
     teach us to be  free     For the


     G                 D/F#             C
e-|--------3--------3-------2-------2----------0-------0--
B-|----0--------0-------0-------0--------1---------1------
G-|----------------------------------------0--------------
D-|------0--------0-------0-------0------------------2----
A-|------------------------------------3---------3--------
D-|--5--------5-------4-------4---------------------------
    children  and the flowers are  my  sisters  and my


     G               Em               Bm
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------2-------2-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------3------3----------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------4-------4-------
A-|-----------------------------------2-------2-----------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2----------------------------
   brothers  their laughter and their loveliness would


     C               D
e-|--------0-------0-------2------2-----------------------
B-|----1-------1-------3------3---------------------------
G-|------0---------------2--------------------------------
D-|--------------2--------------0-------------------------
A-|--3-------3--------------------------------------------
D-|------------------0-------0----------------------------
     clear a cloudy day      And the


     G                C               D
e-|--------3-------3--------0-------0-------2-------2-----
B-|----0-------0--------1-------1-------3-------3---------
G-|-----------------------0-------0-----------------------
D-|------0-------0------------------------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------3-------3---------------------------
D-|--5-------5------------------------0-------0-----------
   song that I am    singing is  a  prayer for non-


     G               Em               G
e-|--------3---------------0-------0--------3-------3-----
B-|----0---------------0-------0--------0-------0---------
G-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|------0---------------2-------2--------0-------0-------
A-|-------------------------------------------------------
D-|--5--------5--4---2-------2--------5-------5-----------
    believers       Come and stand beside us, we can


     D               C                          (to outro)
e-|--------2-------2-------0-------0--------0-------0-----
B-|----3-------3-------1-------1--------1-------1---------
G-|----------------------0--------------------------------
D-|------0-------0----------------2-------2--------2------
A-|------------------3-------3--------3-------3-----------
D-|--0-------0--------------------------------------------
     find  a better way

The outro is like the intro, but ends with a strummed 550003


Here it is again with just the chords:

Rhymes and Reasons
John Denver

(Intro: G C G Dsus4 G)
       G              D/F#            C             G
So you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter,
Em               Bm               C              D
Fear that is within  you now that seems to never end,
        G                  D/F#
And the dreams that have escaped you
        C                   G
And the hope that you've forgotten
    Em               G                  D
You tell me that you need me now -- you want to be my friend
        C
And you wonder where we're going,
            G                     D
Where's the rhyme and where's the reason

         Em               G             D
And it's you who cannot accept -- it is here we must begin
            Am
To seek the wisdom of the children...
        G        D/F#   C       G/B      D  Dsus4
And the graceful way of flowers in the wind.

        G                D/F#           C              G
For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,
      Em                 Bm               C              D
Their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.
         G            D/F#              C             G
Like the music of the mountains and the colors of the rainbow
          Em             G
They're a promise of the future
        D            G      Am  Dsus4 D
and the blessing for today.



           G               D/F#            C            G
Though the cities start to crumble and the towers fall around us
    Em            Bm              C               D
The sun is slowly fading and it's colder than the sea
      G                 D/F#          C                    G
It is written: From the desert to the mountains they shall lead us
       Em              G               D
By the hand and by the heart they will comfort you and me.
         C                                 G              D
In their innocence and trusting, they will teach us to be free.
        G                D/F#           C              G
For the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers,
      Em                 Bm               C              D
Their laughter and their loveliness would clear a cloudy day.
        G              C            D              G
And the song that I am singing is a prayer for non-believers
Em               G               D             C    (intro)  G
Come and stand beside us, we can find a better way

jwblair@ix.netcom.com