More songs by Gordon Lightfoot


This file is part of a collection that (moreso than the rest of the site) are not meant to be detailed or accurate transcriptions of the original recordings. They're just some simple chord charts that I made for my own use, some of them my own arrangements.
- T-rev


IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND by Gordon Lightfoot www.lightfoot.ca
From his 1970 album Sit Down Young Stranger
Written by Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr.
Transcribed by T-rev www.t-rev.net
Capo 2

G                                F(♭5)
  If you could read my mind, love  What a tale my thoughts could tell
G                            F(♭5)
  Just like an old time movie     About a ghost from a wishing well
    G                       C
      In a castle dark or a fortress strong
           D              Em
      With chains upon my feet...
          C                  G
   ...You know that ghost is me
              C            G/B
          And I will never be set free
             Am            D               G
          As long as I'm a ghost you can't see

G                               F(♭5)
  If I could read your mind love What a tale your thoughts could tell
G                            F(♭5)
  Just like a paperback novel     The kind the drugstore sells
    G                                   C
      When you reach the part where the heartaches come
          D             Em
      The hero would be me
      C            G
      Heroes often fail
              C                   G/B
          And you won't read that book again
            Am                 D                G
          Because the ending's just too hard to take

    G                    C
      I walk away like a movie star
               D                     Em
      Who gets burned in a three way script
      C            G
      Enter number two
            C              G/B
          A movie queen to play the scene
             Am               D                  Em
          Of bringing all the good things out in me
              C                 G
      But for now love let's be real
            C                     G/B
          I never thought I could act this way
                   Am                D
          And I've got to say that I just don't get it
        C                    G/B
          I don't know where we went wrong
                  Am                   D                 G
          But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back

G                                F(♭5)
  If you could read my mind, love  What a tale my thoughts could tell
G                            F(♭5)
  Just like an old time movie     About a ghost from a wishing well
    G                       C
      In a castle dark or a fortress strong
           D              Em
      With chains upon my feet...
          C            G
   ...The story always ends
              C             G/B
          And if you read between the lines
                 Am                 D              Em
          You'll know that I'm just trying to understand
          C                G
      The feeling that you lack
            C                     G/B
          I never thought I could feel this way
                   Am                D
          And I've got to say that I just don't get it
        C                    G/B
          I don't know where we went wrong
                  Am                   D                 G
          But the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back

Transcribed 2020-05-16 by T-rev
More tab available at www.t-rev.net

320003 G
133201 F(♭5)
x32010 C
xx0232 D
022000 Em
x20003 G/B
x02210 Am

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