search
 
 
America
Emerson Lake And Palmer
Text File
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
C               F        C             G        
I like to be in America! O.K. by me in America! 
Eb                 Bb       Ab                G
Ev'rything free in America  For a small fee in America!
C                    F         C                   G       
I like the shores of America!  Comfort is yours in America!  
Eb                    Bb       Ab                     G
Knobs on the doors in America, Wall-to-wall floors in America!
(Changed Tune)
F             Bb        Eb                Ab
Automobile in America,  Chromium steel in America, 
Db                  Gb       Gb               G
Wire-spoke wheel in America, Very big deal in America!
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.
 
 
![chord popup]() 
