"In Times Like These" is an incredible song of vision & faith by Arlo--it blew me away the very first time I listened to it. My suggested chords are simple but that way you can softly sing & play backup for Arlo along with the CD & let his singing & guitar work shine out (Is this virtual Arlo?). Anyway, doing this fulfills my dream of singing & playing guitar with him. Of course, I plan on sharing & teaching this song at the churches I serve as pastor, at our local jam session, & at any other place I can. I hope others will do the same. Thanks again, Arlo, for such a great song--I hope to be at your Chico, CA concert on 4/12/08. Blessings, Ben

"In Times Like These"
Words & Music by Arlo Guthrie

(D) In times like these (G) when night sur(D)rounds me
And I am (A) weary and my heart is (D) worn
When the songs they're singing (G) don't mean (D) nothing
Just cheap re(A)frains play on and (D) on

(D) The storm is here (G) the lightning (D) flashes
Between com(A)mercials they're taking (D) names
The singers run (G) to where the (D) cash is
Just another (A) link in slavery's (D) chain

(D) I see the (A) storm clouds rise a(D)bove me
The sky is (A) dark and the night has (D) come
I walk alone (G) along this (D) highway
Where strangers (A) gather one by (D) one

Interlude

(D) When leaders profit (G) from deep di(D)visions
When the tears of (A) friends remain un(D)sung
In times like these (G) it's good to re(D)member
These times will (A) go in times to (D) come

(D) I see the (A) storm clouds rise a(D)bove me
The sky is (A) dark and the night has (D) come
I walk alone (G) along this (D) highway
Where friends have (A) gathered one by (D) one

(D) I know the (A) storm will soon be (D) over
The howling (A) winds will cease to (D) be
I walk with friends (G) from every (D) nation
On freedom's (A) highway in times like (D) these

We'dl ove to hear ya preach. I heard a preacher once preach a sermon on a Bob Dylan song & another preacher preach on Cats In The Cradle by Harry Chapin. Pretty neat...

Thanks man for showing me the words to a song to come.
I think of Jim Croce's River Boats and Highways.
Is it really that dark now as Arlo sang in Times like these?

Here's a little sermon: Sometimes, times like these feel that dark to me but when "I walk with friends from every nation on freedom's highway," times like these are that bright as well. Peace, Ben

Oh the times ARE a changin'and maybe in a couple of years adg will be able to write a new song entitled "In Times Like Those" as a warning to future generations. This is a great song to roll us into the new times. I feel a wave coming and it will start for me with the Federal Election here in Oct or Nov (look out for a post called OZ Politics 101 in the next few months, as I will be looking for voting vibes) Then it will sweep across the Pacific and crash down in Nov '08. I am privileged to be able to vote in both elections.

Of course this is only part of the New Times, along with new respect for the environment and the sacredness of our natural resources, like water, and trees etc. Our kids in school here are learning all this stuff now and living with water resrictions and finally rain water tanks are coming back.
Through the Net they can find out what is REALLY going in the world instead of what their fed on the 6 o'clock news. ETC ETC
So they may be a hope for the future at least it is a start.

(can you tell I woke up early and have been laying in bed formulating? It's Sunday morn here and I'm suppose to be still asleep not up at five as on work days. Thanks alot adg! )

"These times will go in times to come" ........Arlo enters and ends the last verse on a positive note..just like your predictions for solar energy Leo !

Thanks for the reduced chords ! Many of Arlo's songs are quite harmonically complicated with passing tones and such. My clients at the psychiatric hospital will appreciate this greatly.

Speaking of sermons, I feel led to preach on the subject.

I'm reminded of an old church hymn also titled "IN TIMES LIKE THESE". The first 2 lines are:
"In times like these, we need a savior
In times like these, we need an anchor"

I believe that in times like these each individual should seek and find whatever form of salvation works best for them. From Holy Rollerism to Atheism and every thing in between we all need to be saved from evil in the world and from ourselves.

As for an anchor - I believe that in times like these, we should all have something to hold us down when the storms come and try to wash us away. My anchor has always been music. Some of my favorite music over the years was written and recorded by Arlo Guthrie, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and other artists of many different genres. When storms roll in on me, whether I'm by myself or with somebody, I get my banjo/uke and make a poor attempt to sing some of their songs, along with some of my own, to remind me that the world can take away my health and my wealth, they can take away almost everything in life that gives me pleasure or makes me happy, but as long as I can sing, I will be OK.

As long as I can play the Juke Box at the Local Watering hole, while throwing darts and shooting pool and not at people, the Music will Someday unite a bunch of ragged souls I meet while watering my thirst.
As long as the barmaid plays it loud over the news out to program US.
Just Us is just-ice for me. Don't ask what i mean there cause I don't no.

I was trying to guess the chords too but the D G D line wasn't what I came up with. I tried for a bass run.

(D) In times like these (D/E) when night sur(D/F)rounds me


Let's see if I can do this with typing The D is good old XX0232 and the D/E is XX2232 and the D/F is XX4232 with X is don't play this string, 0 is open string and otherwise which fret.

kurt...

There is a guy here with the screen name of "adg" that knows lots of this kinda stuff , and lots of stuff regarding Arlo in general,and he is real good at sharing. I'll bet if you asked him, he would tell you.

What's the question?

adg

I think they was looking for the chords, unless they already got 'em right?

It's about the journey, Larry, it's all about the journey.

kurt...

No wonder I ain't getting anywhere........but I sure am getting there fast!

And like I was saying before, this adg guy knows ALMOST more stuff about Arlo than even Cheryl Harrell!

Arlo knows the answer! Hi Arlo see ya soon!