Richie Havens - Ooh Child Ukulele

OOH CHILD


This is the first song on Richie's album Mixed Bag 2, which was originally 
released in 1974. At the time of writing (December 2010) it has just been re-
released after being unavailable for many years. Despite being of a different 
generation my son had always liked this song when he listened to my old vinyl copy 
(now sadly lost but replaced with a new cd) and this prompted me to attempt my own 
version in Open D tuning. I have used Richie's chord fingerings and this is what I 
have come up with so far. It is still a work in progress but is satisfying to play 
and sing. Any improvements would be welcomed.

Tuning  D       A       D       F#      A       D

I =     Index finger
M =     Middle finger 
T =     Thumb
L =     Little finger

Chords for the song

Bminor                                                          
  D       A       D       F#      A       D                       
                          I
  T        T      T               M       M     Fret 9    
Thumb bars top 3 bottom 3 strings 9th fret                      
Index finger holds down 3rd string 8th fret
Middle finger holds down 1st and 2nd strings 9th fret

A
D         A       D       F#      A       D

T         T       T       T       T       T     Fret 7
Thumb bars bottom all strings 7th fret

G
D         A       D       F#      A       D                     
        
T         T       T       T       T       T     Fret 5
Thumb bars all strings 5th Fret
                                 
E
D         A       D       F#      A       D


T         T       T       T       T      T      Fret 2 
Thumb bars all strings 2nd Fret


E suspension
D        A        D       F#      A       D

T        T        T       T       T             Fret2
Thumb bars top 5 strings 2nd fret



                                                                
Intro

Bm      A       G       A       

Try using the following strumming pattern for most of the song to begin with:-

D       DU DU    for each chord with a slight emphasis on the single Downs.

The Song

Bm      A       G                        A
Ooh       child things  are  gonna   get         easier

Bm      A                       E       Esuspension
Ooh     child   things'll  get  better


Bm      A       G                       A

Ooh     child   things  are gonna  get  easier

Bm      A                      E                Esus
Ooh     child   things'll        be brighter


G          A    G                       A
Some…….day      we'll put it together and we'll get it  all     done    


G          A    G                               E       Esus
Some…….day      when  your  head  is   much     lighter                         
                                        
G         A     G                               A
Some……day  we'll  walk  in the rays  of         the beautiful sun       


G          A    G                  E               Esus
Some…….day      when  the world will  be          brighter                      




Ooh     child   things  are     gonna   get     easier
Ooh     child   things'll        get    better

Guitar only next line
Bminor  A  G  A Bminor  A       E       Esus     

Some…….day we'll put    it together and we'll get it  all       done    
Some…….day when your  head      is  much lighter                

Some…….day we'll walk   in the rays of the  beautifulsun
Some…….day when the world will  be      brighter 

(Softer)
Ooh     child   things  are     gonna   get     easier
Ooh     child   things'll         get   better

Ooh     child   things  are     gonna   get     easier
Ooh     child   things'l l get  better

Finish on BMinor