Jolene by Ray LaMontagne

[JayFreddy]

I was dissatisfied with the arrangements of this song that I could find via Google, so I thought I'd throw my own interpretation out there.

I don't claim that this is definitive or even correct, but I think it's truer to Ray's original version than the other arrangements I've seen on the Internet.

Please feel free to comment and make suggestions and/or corrections.

"Man needs something he can hold onto, a nine pound hammer or a woman like you..."

Now that's SOME kinda' woman!

Hope you enjoy playing this as much as I do.

Jolene 
Words and Music by Ray LaMontagne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqrJJ6-f1co

INTRO   G   C/G   C/G G  
   ||:  /// ///// /// ///// :||  2x

G       C           G
Cocaine flame in my bloodstream
G                   C            
Sold my coat when I hit Spokane
C               C
Bought myself a hard pack of cigarettes 
       C                G  C/G 
in the early morning rain

G           C/G              G  
  Lately my hands they don't feel like mine
G            G7         C            
My eyes been stung with dust and blind
C              C
Held you in my arms one time 
C                 G     G  D/F#
Lost you just the same 

CHORUS:
Em    G    C          G    D/F#
   Jolene... I ain't about to go 
Em    G             C         C
  strai-ght... It's too late

  G            C/G       G
I found myself face down in a ditch
D                    D
Booze in my hair and blood on my lips
  C                        C
A picture of you holding a picture of me
       C                 G       G  D/F#
In the pocket of my blue jeans

Em              G         C          C
  I still don't know what love means
Em          G         C     G/B    Am   G/B   C  G/B  Am
Still don't know what love means
  G             C     G/B   Am
Jolene... La la la la la la la
  G      C/G   C/G   G      G   C/G   C/G   G  
Jolene...

G
Been so long since I seen your face
   G      G7           C                  
Or felt a part of this human race
          C                  C                          
I've been living out of this here suitcase 
    C       G
for way too long

G                            G
A man needs something he can hold onto
  G          G7          C/G
A nine pound hammer or a woman like you
C                  C              C  G    G D/F#
Either one of them things will do

CHORUS:
Em    G    C          G    D/F#
   Jolene... I ain't about to go 
Em    G             C        C
  strai-ght... It's too late

  G            C/G       G
I found myself face down in a ditch
D                    D
Booze in my hair and blood on my lips
  C                        C
A picture of you holding a picture of me
       C                 G       G  D/F#
In the pocket of my blue jeans

Em              G         C         C
  I still don't know what love means
Em          G         C     G/B    Am   G/B   C  G/B  Am
Still don't know what love means

  G             C     G/B   Am
Jolene... La la la la la la la
  G             C     G/B   Am
Jolene... La la la la na na na 
  G      C/G   C/G   G      G   C/G   C/G   G  
Jolene...	

***************************************************************
   SUGGESTED CHORD GRIPS

     G         C/G         C         D/F#        Em
     ooo       x o       x  o o      oo  x     o  ooo
   ||||||     ||||1|     ||||1|     ||||||     ||||||
   |2||||     ||2|||     ||2|||     2||3||     |23|||
   3||||4     3||||4     |3||||     ||||4|     ||||||

     D         G/B         Am
   xxo        x oo x     xo   o
   ||||||     ||||||     ||||1|
   |||1|2     |2||||     ||23||
   ||||3|     ||||4|     ||||||

[JayFreddy]

I made a few slight adjustments, mostly with the timing.

No one else is playing this besides me?

What do you think he means by "Cocaine flame"? Is he high? Strung out and looking for a fix? Or was he smokin' crack?!

Jolene 
Words and Music by Ray LaMontagne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqrJJ6-f1co

INTRO   G   C/G   C/G G  
   ||:  /// ///// /// ///// :||  2x

G       C           G
Cocaine flame in my bloodstream
G                   C            
Sold my coat when I hit Spokane
C                            C
Bought myself a hard pack of cigarettes 
       C                G  C/G 
in the early morning rain

G           C/G              G  
  Lately my hands they don't feel like mine
G            G7         C            
My eyes been stung with dust and blind
C              C
Held you in my arms one time 
C                 G     G  D/F#
Lost you just the same 

CHORUS:
Em    G    C          G    D/F#
   Jolene... I ain't about to go 
Em    G             C         C
  strai-ght... It's too late

  G            C/G       G
I found myself face down in a ditch
D                    D
Booze in my hair and blood on my lips
  C                        C
A picture of you holding a picture of me
       C                 G       G  D/F#
In the pocket of my blue jeans

Em              G         C          C
  I still don't know what love means
Em          G         C     G/B    Am   G/B   C  G/B  Am
Still don't know what love means   ///   /    //  //  ////
  G             C     G/B   Am
Jolene... La la la la la la la
  G       C/G   C/G  G      G   C/G   C/G  G  
Jolene... ///// ///  /////  /// ///// ///  /////

G                    G
Been so long since I seen your face
   G      G7           C                  
Or felt a part of this human race
          C                  C                          
I've been living out of this here suitcase 
    C       G
for way too long

G                            G
A man needs something he can hold onto
  G          G7          C/G
A nine pound hammer or a woman like you
C                  C              C  G    G D/F#
Either one of them things will do

CHORUS:
Em    G    C          G    D/F#
   Jolene... I ain't about to go 
Em    G             C        C
  strai-ght... It's too late

  G            C/G       G
I found myself face down in a ditch
D                    D
Booze in my hair and blood on my lips
  C                        C
A picture of you holding a picture of me
       C                 G       G  D/F#
In the pocket of my blue jeans

Em              G         C         C
  I still don't know what love means
Em          G         C     G/B    Am  G/B  C  G/B  Am
Still don't know what love means   ///  /   // //   ////

  G             C     G/B   Am
Jolene... La la la la la la la
  G             C     G/B   Am
Jolene... La la la la na na na 
  G        C/G   C/G  G      G   C/G   C/G  G  
Jolene...  ///// ///  /////  /// ///// ///  /////	

***************************************************************
   SUGGESTED CHORD GRIPS

     G         C/G         C         D/F#        Em
     ooo       x o       x  o o      oo  x     o  ooo
   ||||||     ||||1|     ||||1|     ||||||     ||||||
   |2||||     ||2|||     ||2|||     2||3||     |23|||
   3||||4     3||||4     |3||||     ||||4|     ||||||

     D         G/B         Am
   xxo        x oo x     xo   o
   ||||||     ||||||     ||||1|
   |||1|2     |2||||     ||23||
   ||||3|     ||||4|     ||||||

[Warren Pederson]

I'm speechless

[Stefanovich]

That is a GREAT song.

[mrbdxmpl]

Wow - thanks for bringing me all the way down...

And yeah, I think he is talking about the old needle and a spoon, as it were...

[P Thought]

Down and out, nothing left but memories. . . .

Nice job working a song all the way out. I might give it a whirl later, maybe even dig out my harmonica.

[JayFreddy]

Thanks for the comments. I discovered Ray on accident while surfing Youtube, and so far, Jolene is my favorite song of his. Simple diatonic chords, interesting lyrics, and great imagery.

Ray's style reminds me a little bit of lots of different things... Townes Van Zandt and Ryan Adams both come to mind.

Ray definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. I can see why some people might not care for some of his stuff, but I think you could say the same thing about most talented song writers.

Thanks again.

[mrbdxmpl]

"I might give it a whirl later, maybe even dig out my harmonica."

Really, dude, we're depressed enough as it is...no need to dig out the harmonica.

[JayFreddy]

Originally Posted by mrbdxmpl

"I might give it a whirl later, maybe even dig out my harmonica."

Really, dude, we're depressed enough as it is...no need to dig out the harmonica.

"What do you mean, 'we', white man?"

Sorry if you're depressed. Ray's music doesn't effect me that way. It's more of a cathartic feeling for me. I.e., knowing I'm not the only one to have felt a certain way somehow makes me feel better, helps me put it in perspective... Helps me past it.

And if feeling better somehow involves a harmonica, I'm all for that too.