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One Time and One Time Only

C   Csus4   C   Csus4   C


C                 Csus4               C
I spent my hungry young years running wild.
C           Csus4         G - G6 - G7 - G6
There was a lot I had to do.
C                         Csus4      C
And I spent cities like a handful of change,
      C          G7           C - Csus4 - C
But I never quit looking for you.


C            Csus4
One time and one time only,
C           Csus4
Been such a long time lonely.
C            Csus4            G - G6 - G7 - G6
One time and all time it will be.
C            Csus4
Been waiting such a long time,
C             Csus4
Each time has been the wrong time,
C         G7      C - Csus4 - C
Until you came to me.

I looked for you in every face I saw;
I could not find you anywhere.
Then finally one day I quit trying at all,
And looked up and saw you standing there.

One time and one time only,
Been such a long time lonely.
One time and all time it will be.
Been waiting such a long time,
Each time has been the wrong time,
Until you came to me.

I don't mind telling you what's on my mind,
It's no big secret anymore:
I've got no plans at all for moving on,
That's the one thing I was never looking for.

One time and one time only,
Been such a long time lonely.
One time and all time it will be.
Been waiting such a long time,
Each time has been the wrong time,
Until you came to me.

(Words and music by Tom Paxton, 1965)

Notes: Tom Paxton's album version of this song was in the key of F, the Mitchell Trio (with John Denver) sang it in E (Mike Kobluk did the lead vocals), as was Tom's single version. Better to place the capo wherever it fits.

There are several ways to play the chorus:

1. [C]One time and [F]one time [G]only, [C]been such a [F]long time [G]lonely.
2. [C]One time and [F]one time only, [C]been such a [F]long time lonely.
3. [C]One time and [F]one time [C]only, been such a [F]long time [C]lonely.

All three would work well for this song. I prefer the first one.

All these above ways are obsolete - I did not realize at the time that nothing works better than the suspended chords in this tune! If you prefer strumming the song rather than fingerpicking it, you can substitute the Csus4 chords with F/C chords (like in Tom's single version).

Please forward any correction or suggestion to ddpro@163.com. Thank you!