Guitar Tablature for

Poems, Prayers, and Promises

by John Denver
from Poems, Prayers, and Promises (1971)
Tablature by Daniel E. Smith


This song is basically all John's 12-string.


Capo 2nd INTRO (this is close but not quite right): C F G C + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-8-------7h8---5-|---3-----0-------|-3-----3-1p0-----|-3-------0-------|-----------------| B:-----------------|-------------1---|-3h5---------3p1-|-3h5-----0h1-----|-----------------| G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----5-4-0-------|-----------------| D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------0h2-----|-----------------| A:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|-----------------| E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Here's the verse. This figure repeats 4 times during the verse: CaddG FaddG CaddG + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------3---------|-------3---------|-------3---------|-------3---------| B:-----1-----1---1-|-----1-----1---1-|-----1-----1---1-|-----1---------1-| G:---0---------0---|---0---------0---|---2---------2---|---0---------0---| D:-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|---------0h2-----| A:-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------| E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| CaddG FaddG + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------3---------|-------3---------|-------3---------|-1---1-----------| B:-----1-----1---1-|-----1-----1---1-|-----1-----1---1-|-1h3-1---1---1---| G:---0---------0---|---0---------0---|---2---------2---|---------0h2-2---| D:-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------| A:-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
LYRICS:
play intro I've been lately thinking about my life's time All the things I've done and how it's been And I can't help believin' in my own mind I know I'm gonna hate to see it end I've seen a lot of sunshine slept out in the rain Spent a night or two all on my own I've known my lady's pleasures had myself some friends Spent a time or two in my own home
CHORUS F G C F I have to say it now it's been a good life all in all C Am Dm G It's really fine to have a chance to hang around F G C F Lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire C Am Dm G While all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around F Em And talk of poems and prayers and promises Dm C And things that we believe in Em How sweet it is to love someone F G How right it is to care F Em How long it's been since yesterday Dm C What about tomorrow Em What about our dreams F G And all the memories we share
play intro Days they pass so quickly now the nights are seldom long Time around me whispers when it's cold The changes somehow frighten me still I have to smile It turns me on to think of growing old Although my life's been good to me there's still so much to do So many things my mind has never known I'd like to raise a family I'd like to sail away And dance across the mountains on the moon
CHORUS play intro for end We love you, John.