Clive Leyland Songs - Better Part of Me

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The better part of me

Words and chords

Guitar tuning: EADGAE
Capo: fret 2, play in D
Actual key: E

- INTRO -

D(1)---- G9--- D(1)---- G9---

- VERSE ONE -

D(1)---- If G9you will walk with Dme, D(1)---- if G9you will take my Ano3hand,
Emsus4Stay -- with me through G9all my days, Ano3----- know my mind and Bno3all -- my ways,
G9--- I will Emsus4always be your Ano3man.

- VERSE TWO -

D(1)---- G9Though the way is Dlong, D(1)---- G9it's so plain to Ano3see
Emsus4It ---- won't be a G9rich man's road, Ano3----- but it's paved with Bno3gold
G9--- If you'll be the Emsus4better -- Ano3part of Dme.

- BRIDGE -

G9--- You'll be the Emsus4better -- Ano3part of Dme
G9--- And I will Emsus4try --- to be the Ano3man you need. D(1)----

- VERSE THREE -

(Chords as verse two)

And when the children grow, they will carry on
As the seed lies in the ground and the seasons turn around -
Part of you and part of me.

- BREAK -

(Chords as verse two)

- REPEAT BRIDGE -

- VERSE FOUR -

D(1)---- And G9when the evening Dcomes, D(1)---- G9when the race is Ano3run,
Emsus4Dreaming by the G9fire's glow, Ano3----- watch the embers Bno3burning low
G9--- With the Emsus4better -- Ano3part of Dme, G9--- with the Emsus4better -- Ano3part of Dme,
G9--- With the Emsus4better -- Ano3part of Dme.

- OUTRO -

D-- Ano3----- D(high)------

Info and tips

I PLAY this with a pick and a extensive right-hand damping. It's very rhythmic and syncopated, with the emphasis on beats 1 and "2-and-a-half" of each bar. The tuning and simple chord shapes allow the left hand to do a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs.

The guitar break is based on the basic chords with a few passing notes thrown in. Didn't really know what to call that final chord in the outro (D high) - just see the blobs on the chord shape and note it's at the 10th fret.

Credits for "The better part of me"
on Clive's CD "A northern man"

Clive Leyland: lead and harmony vocals, acoustic, high-strung & electric guitars, piano, percussion.

Terry Bowles: bass, bass pedals, percussion design.

- background -

MY GREAT great grandfather, Lewis Wilcock, was the son of Thomas Wilcock, the farmer who's the subject of the song "Farewell to the plough". He was born in 1817. I don't know exactly how he wound up in Bolton by 1841 but in that year he married Jane Hart who'd been born in Rivington, so there were clearly still ties with the family's origins.

Lewis was a carter and this song imagines him proposing to Jane, able to offer her nothing more than his loyalty and the continuation of their families. They had two daughters and a son, the latter born in 1847 and a few months later Lewis died. Jane remarried, had 3 further children, was widowed again within a couple of years and lived for another 40 years.

I don't have a photo of Lewis and Jane (not surprising, given the date of their marriage) but above is their son John Wilcock with his wife Jane Holt (my great grandparents).

"The better part of me"
Available on Clive's CD "A northern man"

- northern man songs -

If your favourite song isn't in here yet, please contact Clive and he'll add it as soon as possible.

Clive Leyland