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] C D Eb D C C C Bb G Bb C [Chords] Cm Bb Cm Cm Gm Cm Gm C [Notes] C D Eb F G Eb D C D C Bb Eb D C D C Bb 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] C D Eb Bb G Bb C D Eb Bb G Bb C D Eb Bb Ab G 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] C D Eb Bb G Bb C D Eb Bb G Bb C D Eb Bb Ab G F Eb D [Chords] G G Ab Bb C [Notes] G Ab Bb Ab G F G Ab Bb Ab G F Ab Bb C Bb Ab G Bb C D C Bb Ab 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.
