Life Is Hard

Music by Bob Dylan, lyrics by Bob Dylan and Robert Hunter
Released on Together Through Life (2009)
Tabbed by Eyolf Østrem

Some playing suggestions:

1. The chords in the beginning of the verses can be expanded to follow the melody:
   Ebmaj7 . . Eb6 | Dm7 . Eaug E
2. The record has the chromatic descent beginning at ‘I’m always …’ played both in the bass line and in a higher register. It is probably best to choose one of them; see chord suggestions below.
3. The chords to that descent could be conceived of (and played) either as notated below, or as Am Ammaj7 C/g D9/f#.

Chords:

Ebmaj7     xx1333 or x65333
Ammaj7     x02110 or 4x2210
Am7/g      x02010 or 3x2210
Am6/f#     x04210 or 202210 (or D9/f#: 200210)

Bb .  A7 .  Dm .  D7 .
Gm .  C7 .  F  .  .  .

Ebmaj7
 The evening winds are still
Dm7            E7
 I've lost the way and will
Am              D7
 Can't tell you where they went
Gm           C7
 I just know what they meant
Am         Ammaj7/g#
I'm always on my guard
Am7/g     Am6/f#
Admitting life is hard
Gm  C7       F
 Without you near me

The friend you used to be
So near and dear to me
You slipped so far away
Where did we go astray
I passed the old school yard
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

Bb              A7
 Ever since the day
    Dm            D7
The day you went away
Gm             C7        F
I felt that emptiness so wide
Bb                  A7
I don't know what's wrong or right
  Dm               D7
I just know I need strength to fight
Gm           C7                  Am
 Strength to fight that world outside

Since we've been out of touch
I haven't felt that much
From day to barren day
My heart stays locked away
I walk the boulevard
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

The sun is sinking low
I guess it's time to go
I feel a chilly breeze
In place of memories
My dreams are locked and barred
Admitting life is hard
Without you near me

Bb    A7    Dm    D7 

Gm   C7      F
 Without you near me