Lyr/Chords Req: The First Time Ever I...(MacColl)

Subject: The Firstime Ever
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:49 PM

I've searched everywhere and can't find the chords to The Firstime Ever by Ewan McColl, preferably the Roberta Flack version. Can anyone help? I'm sure the chords are on the 'Cat somewhere but I can't find them.

Thanks, LL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:43 PM

Anybody? I've checked the digitrad ... no luck, but I did notice that the lyrics aren't quite right .. anyone else notice this or have I been singing this beautiful song wrong all these years! I'm singing this at a wedding this weekend and can do it acapella but my daughter wants to play for me and we need the chords ....help!

LL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:49 PM

Hey ya, LL, be patient. Even I am not on line 24/7. Your Roberta Flack lyrics are here, maybe with MIDI. I have the sound turned off.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:02 PM

Thanks Sorcha ... those are the lyrics I know ...no help with the chords though. Patience doesn't seem to be one of my virtues these days but I'm workin' on it ...I'm workin' on it!

Thanks again, LL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: ddw
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:33 PM

LL — never heard the Roberta Flack version, but I've got the chords at home for the EMcC version. If nobody else posts the chords, I'll try to remember to check and then post them tomorrow night.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:59 PM

Thank you David.

LL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:00 AM

grin--the Roberta Flack version is the only one I know...wonderful song,no? I can hear where the chord changes should go but have no idea what they actually are. Sorry. Could it possibly be just a I,IV,V,VII progression? What I hear in my head is pretty simple.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:18 AM

Sorcha... it could be that the chords are pretty simple ... but I don't play and my daughter who is14 and self taught, needs to see where the chord changes are....seeing as this really isn't her type of music (yet!) Thanks anyway Sorcha, your help is always appreciated!

LL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: ddw
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:24 AM

LL — The chords are simple, but it's been so many years since I've done the song I just don't remember what they are. I shouldn't take your daughter long to get them.

I looked at the words in the RF version — only a couple of minor variations from McColl's....

I'll bring the chords to work with me tomorrow, for sure.

david

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Kaleea
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:25 AM

I'm remembering it in the key of C on the guitar. If we're in 4/4 it would go something like this:

Dm-2-3-4-/G-2-3-4-/C-2-3-4-/C-2-3-4-/Am-2-3-4-/Am-2-3-4-/

Em-2-3-4-/F-2-3-4-/G-2-3-4/F-2-3-4-/C-2-3-4-/C-2-3-4-/

Bb-2-3-4-/Bb-2-3-4-/C-2-3-4-/C-2-3-4-/ . . .

Remember that Ms Flack took some liberties with the meter and did not exactly sing it in straight 4/4. I pluck the strings fingerstyle and it's quite a lovely accompaniment.

note:in the 3rd & 4th measure I walk the bass note down on the 5th string resolvng to the Am chord.

ending would be . . .

(Dm) the 1st time . . .(G) ever I . .(C) saw--(G). . . (C) your face . . .(Bb) your face . . . (C) your face---(Bb). . .(C) your face

Hope this helps you.

Subject: add Chords: The First Time Ever
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:44 AM

Here are the chords from Rise Up Singing. I'm not a guitarist, so I don't know if they are the Seeger/MacColl version, or the Flack version.
-Joe Offer-

---

D A D - / - - F#m G / D Em D - / C - D - / /

A dash means repeat the previous measure. An empty space between slashes beans repeat the previous line.

Here is is from one of the Warner fakebooks, which means it's probably the Flack version. And yes, I can see from the tune that it's the Flack version.

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
(Ewan Mac Coll)

     Am7      D7         G
The first time   ever I saw your face
               Em               Bm
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
                  D7             G
And the moon and stars were the gift you gave
         F                  G
To the dark and the empty skies, my love
                          G Am G
To the dark and the empty skies.

Hope that helps.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: pavane
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:56 AM

Don't I remember Peggy Seeger doing it unaccompanied? Therefore no chords to that version! If you can download the MIDI file from the site above (Some disable that facility) then one of my programs can tell you exactly what chords are being played. It is not shareware, as I wrote it for a MIDI file supplier, but it only costs £15.
MIDI Chords

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:49 AM

Joe, just to clarify, in Rise Up Singing notation, a dash means to repeat the previous chord, and the two slashes means to repeat the previous measure.

There's a great story to go with this song. When I visited Ewan and Peggy's Singer's Club in London in 1978, Ewan said that he had written the song during a series of transatlantic telephone calls, while they were courting. Makes it even more wonderful to listen to, I think.

Aloha,
Mark

---

Well, OK, Mark, the dash means to repeat the previous chord, which you ordinarily play for an entire measure...
But think again about the space between two slashes. I think each slash indicates a new line.
In other words, I think I'm right. [grin]
-Joe Offer, who failed guitar but did well in music theory-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: GeorgeH
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 05:07 AM

Personally, I hate the Roberta Flack version . . It has none of the sexuality of the original, for starters . .

MacColl was none too keen on it either, except he commented that every time he heard it he just thought of the royalties continuing to help him with his more worthwhile activities . . .

Also, I'm with the "unaccompanied" opinion here; a dollup of instrumental syrup does the song no favours at all . .

G.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: pavane
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 05:11 AM

Correction, MIDI chords is LESS than £15. I think it works out at £12.50 including VAT

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 10:48 AM

Thank you. I appreciate all of you!

I'm quite prepared to sing this piece 'unaccompanied' and I think that it is beautiful when presented that way ... but ... my daughter and I have been asked to do this at a very special wedding and she's very keen to learn. Your help will go a long way in encouraging her to appreciate this beautiful song. Thanks again!

LL

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From:
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 11:03 AM

I believe Olga has the chords, for the song, but I can't access Olgar right now. Will try again later.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The Firstime Ever
From: ddw
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 06:07 PM

LL — happy to see you got such a good response. The chords I have are the same as the ones Joe O posted from Rise Up Singing,so I won't repeat the process.

david