Three Chords and the Truth - Music - Forums : Best Ever Albums

gtroda

So I'm listening to Keep the Faith by Bon Jovi yesterday and in the song I Want You for the bridge he sings "all I've got is my guitar, these chords, and the truth".

And I say hey, Bono sings something like that on Rattle & Hum in the middle of U2's cover version of All Along the Watchtower. He adds a verse that says "all I've got is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth".

And I know there are other references to three chords and the truth in music.

Anyone know where this saying comes from?

Mr. Shankly

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Age: 51
Location: Auburn, Washington

gtroda wrote:

So I'm listening to Keep the Faith by Bon Jovi yesterday and in the song I Want You for the bridge he sings "all I've got is my guitar, these chords, and the truth".

And I say hey, Bono sings something like that on Rattle & Hum in the middle of U2's cover version of All Along the Watchtower. He adds a verse that says "all I've got is a red guitar, three chords, and the truth".

And I know there are other references to three chords and the truth in music.

Anyone know where this saying comes from?

The first time I ever heard that expression was in regards to punk rock, sort of ironic when you consider where you heard it. Laughing

ShaneSpear
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Moderator

TVTropes wrote:

While the phrase "three chords and the truth" was first coined by Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard (to describe country music), the real Trope Namer is a verse added by U2 to their cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," absent in both the original and the famous Jimi Hendrix version.

source: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M...ndTheTruth

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Bork
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Location: Vinson Mountain, GA

I believe it is generally attributed to the legendary songwriter Harlan Howard. Great guy if you haven't heard him, although with a strong flavor of hay.

EDIT: Whoops. Read past the first post before adding.

Jackwc
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ShaneSpear wrote:

TVTropes wrote:

While the phrase "three chords and the truth" was first coined by Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard (to describe country music), the real Trope Namer is a verse added by U2 to their cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," absent in both the original and the famous Jimi Hendrix version.

source: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M...ndTheTruth

WARNING: Links to TVTropes
DOUBLE WARNING: YOU WILL BE SUCKED IN
(don't say i didn't tell you...)

Funny, we were JUST talking about TVTropes...
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Jackwc wrote:

ShaneSpear wrote:

TVTropes wrote:

While the phrase "three chords and the truth" was first coined by Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard (to describe country music), the real Trope Namer is a verse added by U2 to their cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," absent in both the original and the famous Jimi Hendrix version.

source: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/M...ndTheTruth

WARNING: Links to TVTropes
DOUBLE WARNING: YOU WILL BE SUCKED IN
(don't say i didn't tell you...)

Funny, we were JUST talking about TVTropes...

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