From: [email protected] (Marc Bennett Hirsh)
Subject: CRD: «My Life Is Right» (Big Star)
And here we have another great unknown pop gem from the band whose
Entire career was based on obscurity. Notes:
1) The Eb in the verses isn’t realy a chord, it’s just a walkup note.
All you have to do is play the 1st fret on the D string. That’s
It. I’d put it in TAB, but it’d be lonely, since it’s the only
Bit in that area that requires it. So just remember: Eb=1st fret,
D string. Got it? Good.
2) There is some very cool acoustic 12-string guitar stuff going on
Underneath the «You give me light» part, but I can’t get it
Exactly. Here is a rough approximation:
E—————|—0—-|——————|——
B—————|—2—-|——————|——
G-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2—-|-4p2p0———2-|-(2)-
D-2-2-2-2-2-2-4-|———|——-4p2p0—2-|-(2)-
A-0-0-0-3h4——|———|————-3p0-|-(0)-
E—————|———|——————|——
Q e e e e e e e q.^h e3e3e e3e3e q q (w)
This isn’t exact, and that’s last bit sounds like «Unskinny Bop»
By Poison (yeah, I know, it’s really «I Know A Little» by
Skynyrd), so I don’t like it. But this is as good as I can do
With this bit.
3) «My life’s fun is wild?» Bell didn’t really say that, did he?
Well, it’s the best *I* can do with it. Any better suggestions are
Welcome.
4) There is a piano in here, mostly doing the chords.
5) The vocal harmonies are a large part of this (and almost every Big
Star) song. The most amazing bit comes during the «So right» part.
The backing vox (singing «right») go from G to F# over the G-D
Change, and then they go back up from F# to G over the D-A
Change, making the A chord an amazing dominant 7th. This is, of
Course, a very basic expanation of what is going on here. I’m
Sure it’s a lot more complicated, but this’ll get you started.
«My Life Is Right» (Chris Bell/??? Eubanks)
Performed by Big Star
From the album _#1_Record_ (available on CD with the also-godlike
_Radio_City_)
Transcribed without express permission by Marc Hirsh
(piano only)
D Em G D Eb
Once I walked a lonely road
(guitar enters)
Em C G
I had no one to share my load
D Em G D Eb
Then you came and showed the way
Em C G
Now I hope you’re here to stay
A
You give me light
A
You are my day
G
You give me light
D A
And that’s right
A
You give me light
A
You are my day
G
You give me light
D A
And that’s right
G D
So right
D A
So right
G D
So right
D Em G D Eb
Lonely days of uncertainty
Em C G
They disappear when you’re near me
D Em G D Eb
When I’m with you, my life’s fun is wild
Em C G
And now I long to see you smile
A
You give me light
A
You are my day
G
You give me light
D A
And that’s right
A
You give me light
A
You are my day
G
You give me light
D A
And that’s right
G D
So right
D A
So right
G D
So right
D A G D
My life is right
D A G D
My life is right
D A G D
My life is right
D Em G D Eb
Once I walked a lonely road
Em C G
I had no one to share my load
D Em G D Eb
Then you came and showed the way
Em C G
Now I hope you’re here to stay
A
You give me light
A
You are my day
G
You give me light
D A
And that’s right
A
You give me light
A
You are my day
G
You give me light
D A
And that’s right
G D
So right
D A
So right
G D
So right
D A G D
My life is right
—
Marc Hirsh ([email protected])
/
^ —«It’s easy to be nuts. Try being me.»
V (_The_Fisher_King_)
