Melissa, played in the key of E major, standard tuning, sounds best on the 12 string acoustic, but sounds fantastic on pretty much any acoustic. This song utilizes some great sliding chord shapes that require just three fingers, but sound great because the open strings really resonate and the chord notes follow the melody, too. So, be sure to sing along.
Try playing the E, Bmin7, and C#m/E with your middle, ring, and pinkie fingers, as if you were playing a barre chord and just lifted up your index finger. This makes it much easier to play the F#min7 and Emaj7 with the index, ring and pinkie fingers, instead of stretching the E chord shape across three frets.
Chord E A D G B E Full Chord Name
E [0 2 2 1 0 0]
F#min7: [0 4 4 2 0 0] F#min7/11/E
Emaj7: [0 6 6 4 0 0]
Bmin7: [0 0 4 4 3 0] Bmin7/11/E
C#m/E: [0 0 6 6 5 0]
A/E: [0 7 7 6 0 0]
B [x 2 4 4 4 x]
Bsus4 [x 2 4 4 0 0]
C#m [x 4 6 6 5 4]
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
Crossroads, seem to come and go, yeah.
E F#min7
The gypsy flies from coast to coast
A Bmin7 C#m/E Bmin7
Knowing many, loving none,
E F#min7 Emaj7 A/E
Bearing sorrow havin' fun,
Cmaj7 Bsus4
But back home he'll always run to sweet melissa...
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
mmm...
E F#min7
Freight train, each car looks the same,
Emaj7 F#min7
all the same.
E F#min7
And no one knows the gypsy's name
A Bmin7 C#m/E Bmin7
No one hears his lonely sigh,
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
There are no blankets where he lies.
Cmaj7 Bsus4
In all his deepest dreams the gypsy flies
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
with sweet melissa... mmm...
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7 (repeat 2x)
E
Again the morning's come,
D
Again he's on the run,
A
Sunbeams shining through his hair,
B
Appearing not to have a care.
C#m A B Bsus4
Well, pick up your gear and gypsy roll on, roll on.
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
Crossroads, will you ever let him go? (lord, lord)
E F#min7
Will you hide the dead man's ghost,
A E7Ssus2 C#m/E Bmin7
Or will he lie, beneath the clay,
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
Or will his spirit roll away?
Cmaj7 B E F#min7
But I know that he won't stay without melissa.
Cmaj7 B E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7
Yes I know that he won't stay without melissa.
E F#min7 Emaj7 F#min7 (repeat until end)
