A Song for You – On the Rocks

by Leon Russell

Russell wrote this song for the singer Rita Coolidge, whom he was dating at the time. They met in the late ’60s when Russell was one of the top session piano players and Coolidge was getting started as a singer. Russell wrote a song called Delta Lady about her that Joe Cocker recorded in 1969. She was again his muse on A Song For You, which finds him singing about their deep connection when they are alone. It’s a very intimate love song that hits hard with a line in the last verse: “I love you in a place where there’s no space or time.” Coolidge called it “The most beautiful song ever written.”

[Verse 1]
 
Dm                                A
   I've been so many places in my life and time,
F                                                 G
   I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhyme,
     A#                   Am           Gm                  Am
I've acted out my love in stages, with ten thousand people watching,
Gm                 Am           A#                       F
   but we're alone now, and I'm singing this song to you.
 
 
[Verse 2]
 
Dm                         A
I know your image of me is what I hope to be,
F                                G
   I treated you unkindly, but darlin' can't you see,
        A#                    Am     Gm                           Am
There's no one more important to me, darlin' can't you please see through me,
Gm                 Am                  A#               F
   Cus we're alone now and I'm singing this song to you.
 
 
[Verse 3]
 
Dm                     A                 F                   G
You taught me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing,
A#                               C     F
   You came out in front and I was hiding,
    Dm              A              F                      G
But now I'm so much better, and if my words don't come together,
A#                Am               Gm              C
    Listen to the melody, cause my love's in there hiding.
 
 
[Instrumental 1]
 
(Descending Cascade in Dm (Harmonic Minor) 2 measures)
Line:  D A# , C# A , A# G , A F , G E , F D , E C# , repeat all the way down to    A
 
 
[Verse 4]
 
Dm                                        A
   I love you in a place where there's no space and time,
F                                      G
   I love you for my life, you are a friend of mine,
A#                     Am      Gm                    Am
   And when my life is over, remember when we were together,
Gm               Am                A#               F
   We were alone and I was singing this song to you.
 
 
[Instrumental 2]
 
D#         Dm           (Line:  D# D C A# A G F# D# D C A# A G F# G A)
Gm         D#m75          A
 
 
[Verse 5]
 
Dm                                        A
  But I love you in a place where there's no space and time,
F                                      G
   I love you for my life, you are a friend of mine,
A#                     Am      Gm                    Am
   And when my life is over, remember when we were together,
Gm               Am                A#               F
   We were alone and I was singing this song to you.
Gm               Am                A#               F
   We were alone and I was singing this song to you.
Gm               Am                D#           A#
   We were alone and I was singing my song
                      F   A#     F     C
singing this song to you.

I’ve been so many places in my life and time. I’ve sung a lot of songs, I’ve made some bad rhyme. I’ve acted out my life in stages, with ten thousand people watching, but we’re alone now and I’m singin’ this song for you.

I know your image of me is what I hope to be. I’ve treated you unkindly but girl can’t you see. There’s no one more important to me, so darling can’t you please see through me. ‘Cause we’re alone now and I’m singin’ my song for you.

You taught me precious secrets of the truth, withholdin’ nothin’. You came out in front and I was hiding, but now I’m so much better, so if my words don’t come together; Listen to the melody, cause my love’s in there hiding

I love you in a place where there’s no space or time. I love you for my life, ’cause you’re a friend of mine, and when my life is over, remember when we were together. We were alone and I was singin’ my song for you.

I love you in a place where there’s no space or time. I’ve loved you for my life, yes, you’re a friend of mine, and when my life is over, remember when we were together; We were alone, and I was singin’ my song for you.

Yes we were alone and I was singin’ this song for you, baby we were alone, and I was singin’ my song. Singin’ my song, singin’ my song. Singin’ my song, singin’ my song.