Hi, Bemalu ;o)

I just noticed your request from last year here at www.mudcat.org
for chords for Ralph McTell's First Song - one of my favourite songs.

So here you go - I actually heard him singing this great song live - along with all his other fantastic songs and amazing guitar playing - only a few weeks ago here in Denmark. I actually went to 3 concerts in one week (!!!), since I hadn't had a chance to see AND HEAR the great man himself live for 19 years.

And it was AWESOME every time ! So if you ever get a chance to go to a concert with Ralph, then for the sake of your own good please do. You wil never regret it ! An amazing firework of lovely and superb songs played by this great guitar virtuoso and sung with his gentle, playfull and precise deep voice in a very warm, cosy and humouristic atmosphere. If people only knew what, they are missing, if they only know Streets of London .... :o)


Well, I do have to go back and practice some more - a LOT more ! :o)



First song   - Ralph McTell

(D)          D             (A7)Bm       F#m
I've written words that say I'm lea - ving--,
Gm7         A7       D
Words express the pain--.
D               (A7) Bm      G
Old songs lose young meanings-
      Em9            A7
But new-- ones they gain

       Bm               A7
From changes that I've--- been through
G            D
and what I'm coming to,
D       (A7)Bm       G   
You were my first song--
       Em9       A7    D                           
and I--- still...                                    
D       (A7)Bm       G   
You were my first song--
       Em9          A7 D
and I---- still...   
(D)   D      (A7)Bm       G   
Yes, You were my first song--
       Em9       A7             D
and I---- still... lo-ooo-ove you   


[ From "The Songs of Ralph McTell" -
Essex Music Int. Ltd. & Misty River Music Ltd. - 1976 ]


Try Em7 instead of Em9 - sounds better, so probably an error -
It also fits the finger picking better !

Enjoy - I hope it works out fine for you - and others ;o) -
as it has for me :o) It's one of my favourite songs to "perform".

It also has a great AND even playable tablature !
("finger picking scheme") - So do try experimenting with
finger picking on the chords - just using thumb and index finger
and getting the feel for it will make it sound of a lot !


Henrik