Joni Mitchell - Edith And The Kingpin

edith and the kingpin
joni mitchell
i would not disagree with howard wright , and disagree ever so slightly with
version 2 , but this is how i play it .
it is a bit easier and more simple to play on piano or guitar and bass
intro Cm7 / G# maj7 / A#2 add 6 / Cm7 repeat

Cm7
the big man arrives
Gm7sus4 Cm7/G#
disco dancers greet him
Cm7/F
plainclothes cops greet him
Cm7/G# Cm7/A#
small town , big man , fresh lipstick glistening
Cm7
sophomore jive
Gm7sus4 Cm7/G#
from victims of typewriters
Cm7/F
the band sounds like typewriters
Cm7/G# Cm7 Dm7/C
the big man he’s not listening ooh ooh etc
Cm7/G#
his eyes hold edith
G7sus4 G7
his left hand holds his right
D#maj7
what does that hand desire
Cm7/G# G7sus4 G7
that he grips it so tight

edith in the ring
the passed – over girls are conferring
the man with the diamond ring is purring
all claws for now withdrawn
one by one they bring
his renegade stories to her
his crimes and his glories to her
in challenge they look on
women he has taken grow old too soon
he tilts their tired faces
gently to the spoon

edith in his bed
a plane in the rain is humming
the wires in the walls are humming
some song – some mysterious song
bars in her head
beating frantic and snowblind
romantic and snowblind
she says – his crime belongs
edith and the kingpin
each with charm to sway
are staring eye to eye
they dare not look away
you know they dare not look away

coda Cm7 / G# maj7 / A#2 add 6 / Cm7 repeat