Autoscroll
1 Column 
Text size
Transpose 0
AMERICA (Stephen Sondheim -Leonard Bernstein) This is the instrumental version that Keith Emerson arranged initially for the Nice and later (like Rondo),played with Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It contains quotations from Dvorak’s New World Symphony and like the original is in an odd triplet rhythm on the 1st 2 beats, (1&&, 2&&, 3&,4,) Not all of the Bernstein song is used, but I have included the lyrics for illustration Intro (New World Quote No 1) Chords: Cm Bb Cm Gm Cm Notes: CDEb DCC C Bb G Bb C Chords: Cm Bb Cm Cm Gm Cm Gm C Notes: CDEb F G EbDC DCBb EbDC DCBb C Song Intro (straight 4) Chords: | C C F F | C C G G | Eb Eb Bb Bb | Ab Ab G G | x 2 Verse
CI like to be in FAmerica! CO.K. by me in GAmerica! EbEv'rything free in BbAmerica AbFor a small fee inG America!
CI like the shores of FAmerica! CComfort is yours in GAmerica! EbKnobs on the doors in BbAmerica, AbWall-to-wall floors in GAmerica!
(Changed Tune)
FAutomobile in BbAmerica, EbChromium steel in AbAmerica, DbWire-spoke wheel in GbAmerica, GbVery big deal in GAmerica!
Second Quote from the New World Chords: Cm Gm Cm Gm Cm Eb Notes: CDEb BbGBb CDEb BbGBb CDEb BbAbG F Eb D Chords: Cm Notes: C D Eb C D Eb C Eb G C G Eb Chords: Cm Gm Cm Gm Cm Eb Notes: CDEb BbGBb CDEb BbGBb CDEb BbAbG F Eb D Chords: G G Ab Bb C Notes: GAbBbAbGF GAbBbAbGF AbBbCBbAbG BbCDCBbAb C Solo Over | C C Gm Gm | End of Solo Chords (1&&, 2&&, 3&, 4) | G | G | Ab | Ab | Bb | Bb | C | Back to Verse An interesting fact is that The Nice’s Version released in the UK during 1968 (at the height of protests against the Vietnam War) was considered an instrumental “protest song” with the US Flag being burned at live performances. Even though the Nice had Davy O’List as their Guitarist, he was sacked, allegedly for inconsistency. Although Greg Lake did play Guitar with ELP, it was rumoured that Emerson would have only tolerated Jimi Hendrix as “his” Guitarist. Well after trying to amplify his piano to compete with incompetent Guitarists when he first started, it is an understandable sentiment.