One Particular Harbor – Jimmy Buffett
Tempo: 92 bpm
Strumming Pattern: This one is a little tricky, so I’ve broken it down a bit. This one might take a bit of
time to get down right, but overall you can play it using the patterns I provide below.
Pattern 1 (muted) this pattern is played during the E – A – B- A progression: D, DUD, DU, UD, DUDU
Pattern 2 (strummed) this patter is played for the E – D progression: DDD, DU (roughly)
Pattern 3 (reggae) this pattern is played during the “but now I think about the..” and is a little tricky.
Note that I included a duplicate B (indicated in parenthesis) to keep you in time. This pattern is:
DDD, DU, UDU, DUDU (lightly mute chords)
Chords Used:
Note the A Major I provide below. It’s MUCH easier to play it by barring your 1
st
finger. Just be sure not
to play the high E string as it would then be an A6 chord.
OR
OR
Intro: E A-B-A (x2)
(all chords in formation of E-A-B-A are muted)
E A B A
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E A B A
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
E A B A
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E A B A
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
(begin strumming)
E D
I know I don't get there often enough
E D
But God knows I surely try
E D
It's a magic kind of medicine
A G E
That no doctor could prescribe
B – A – E
(E) D
I used to rule my world from a payphone
E D
And ships out on the sea
E
But now times are rough
D
And I got too much stuff
A G E
Can't explain the likes of me
Chorus:
A B E
But there's this one particular harbor
A B E
So far but yet so near
A B E A
Where I see the days as they fade away
B E
And finally disappear
(reggae strumming here)
B
But now I think about the good times
E
Down in the Caribbean sunshine
B
In my younger days I was so bad
(B) A E
Laughin' about all the fun we had
B
I've seen enough to feel the world spin
E
Mixin' different oceans meetin' cousins
B
Listen to the drummers and the night sounds
(B) A E
Listen to the singers make the world go round
E A B A
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E A B A
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
E A B A
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E A B A
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
(begin strumming)
E D
Lakes below the mountains
E D
Flow into the sea
E D
Like oils applied to canvas
A G E
They permeate through me
A B E
But there’s this one particular harbor
A B E
Sheltered from the wind
A B E A
Where the children play on the shore each day
B E
And all are safe within…
A B E
A most mysterious calling harbor
A B E
So far but yet so near
A B E A
Where I see the day when my hair's full gray
B E
And finally disappear…
(no chords)
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
(begin chords again)
E A B A
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E A B A
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
E A B A
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
E A B A (end on E)
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
English Translation (no clue the origin of the language though):
NATURE LIVES (LIFE TO NATURE)
IA ORA TE NA-TURA
HAVE PITY FOR THE EARTH (LOVE THE EARTH)
E MEA A-ROHA TEIE AO NEI
In the original word “mea” the “m” is silent.