Date: 	Mon, 6 Nov 1995 15:02:12 -1000
From: Harlan L Thompson <harlant@hawaii.edu>
Subject: california- joni mitchell

CALIFORNIA- Joni Mitchell

TUNING: E B E G# B E, capo 1st fret

INTRO:
E  ------------------5--5-5--5-------------------0-
B  ---4h5p4-0-0---0--5--5-5--5-5--------7--------0-
G# -------------0----5--5-5--5-----5--7---7------0-   E Esus4 E Esus4 E
E  ------------------5--5-5--5---5----------7----0-

E(2)                            A                                      F#
Sitting in a park in Paris France  reading the news and it sure looks bad
                           B                                        E(2)
They won't give peace a chance, that was just a dream some of us had
E(2)             A                                  F#
Stole a lot of lines to sing but I wouldn't want to stay here
                    B                      A
It's too old and cold and settled in its ways here
 A        (Asus4)       E    C#
Ah but California, California I'm coming home
A                            E                         B
I'm gonna see the folks I dig, I'll even kiss a sunset pig
    Bsus4              E
California I'm coming home

RIFF:
E  -2h4p2-0-0---0-4--4-2-4-4---
B  -----------2---0--0-0-0-0---
G# ---------------3--3-1-0-0---  E(3) EaddA E(3) Esus4 E Esus4 E
E  ---------------4--4-2-0-0---

I met a redneck on a Grecian isle, we did the goat dance very well   
He gave me back my smile but he kept my camera to sell
Oh the rogue, the red red rogue, he cooked good omelettes and stews
And I might have stayed on with him there, but my heart cried out for you
California, Oh California I'm coming home
Oh make me feel good rock and roll band, I'm your biggest fan
California I'm coming home   RIFF

BRIDGE:
E            F#      A                     E(2)                              B
Oh it gets so lonely   When you're walking     and the streets are full of strangers
                 F#        A                    B D  
All the news of home you read just give you the blues
                  B     Bsus4    A  Asus4 A  B  E  [like intro]  Esus4 E Esus4 E 
Just give you the blues

So I bought me a ticket I caught a plane to Spain
Went to a party down a red dirt road
There were lots of pretty people there, reading Rolling Stone reading Vogue
They said how long can you hang around, I said a week maybe two
Just until my skin turns brown and then I'm going home
To California, California, I'm coming home
Oh, will you take me as I am, strung out on another man
California I'm coming home   RIFF

BRIDGE #2:
E              F#    A                     E(2)                              B
Oh it gets so lonely    when you're walking    and the streets are full of strangers
                F#        A                    E(2)                B
All the news of home you read, more about the war and the bloody changes
 F#                      A                         E(2)
Oh will you take me as I am, will you take me as I am
        B                      F#  A
Will you, will you take me as I am
             E(2)         B               F#    A   E(2)  B
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm, take me as I am ......

CHORDS:
    E  Esus4 F#  A  B  C#  D   E(2)  Bsus4  Asus4 E(3) EaddA
E  -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----4-----5----
B  -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----0-----0----
G# -0---1-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----8------6----0-----0----
E  -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----0-----0----
B  -0---2-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----9------7----0-----0----
E  -0---0-----2--5--7---9--10---12-----7------5----0-----0----



NOTE:  There have been some previous postings of this song in different 
tunings.  I recently saw a video of Joni doing this song live, and 
believe me, this is the correct tuning.