Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison

> Merrr-cy!

**Roy Orbison** was a singular force in music, unlike anyone before or since. He didnt chase fame through movies, rarely appeared on network television, and had no press agent splashing his name across fan magazines. Yet, his records, led by the iconic 1964 hit Oh, Pretty Woman, sold millions, captivating audiences worldwide.

It wasnt flashy clothes, styled hair, or manufactured headlines that sold his music. It was Orbisons raw talentpure and simplethat drew fans to his records. His voice was a marvel, shifting effortlessly from a thundering baritone to a tender, soaring tenor. One moment, it flowed like honey; the next, it turned sharp and arid, always laced with a rich, unmistakable tremolo that gripped listeners' hearts. In Oh, Pretty Woman, that voice brought to life a playful yet yearning melody that became a pop standard.

Orbison was also a masterful songwriter. His melodies broke free from the usual constraints of pop, weaving paths that were both unpredictable and unforgettable. His chords struck with emotional weight, and his lyrics carried the depth of poetry, telling stories of longing and heartbreak.

Early in his career, Orbison hustled in studios, offering songs to prominent artists. He penned [Claudette](https://youtu.be/sEXCLfzGMFE "") for his wife, which **The Everly Brothers** recorded as the B-side to their 1958 hit [All I Have to Do Is Dream](https://youtu.be/1HHB9VQOlWA ""), earning Orbison his first significant royalties. He also tried to pitch [Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)](https://youtu.be/7cz3nboPPwU "") to **Elvis Presley** in 1960 while passing through Memphis, but Presley was not at home. Undeterred, Orbison recorded it himself, transforming his career with his first major national hit.

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**Transpose by -3**
**Tempo: 126 BPM**

5 5 7 9 q ------ 5 5 7 9 q ------ 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5wf] [4qd] [1d] s [lxv] - 1 3 [lxv] - [5f] d d - [sjlx] f 1 [jlx] [3d] f [1d] s - [lxv] 1 3 [lxv] [5f] d d - [sjlx] f 1 [jlx] [3d] [1f] [4d] s - [gjl] 4 1 [1gjl] 2 1 4 j - [gjl] [4j] [5j] h - [hkz] 5 2 [2ghkz] [3d] [2g] [5h] - [hkz] 5 2 [2hjkz] 3 [2j] [5j] - [hkz] - 5 [2g] [2hkz] [3d] 2 [5h] - [hkz] - 5 2 [2hkz] 3 2 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5wf] [4qwd] [1d] s [lxv] - 1 3 [lxv] - [5f] d d - [sjlx] - f 1 [jlx] [3d] f [1d] s - [lxv] 1 3 [lxv] [5f] d d s - [jlx] f 1 [jlx] [3d] [1f] [4d] s - [gjl] 4 1 [1gjl] 2 1 4 j - [gjl] [4j] [5j] h - [hkz] 5 2 [2ghkz] [3d] [2g] [5h] - [hkz] 5 2 [2hjkz] 3 [2j] [5j] - [hkz] - 5 [2g] [2hkz] [3d] 2 [5h] - [hkz] - 5 2 [2hkz] 3 2 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] [5wyoa] - [5wyoa] - [5wyoa] - [5wyoa] -

**Transpose by 0**

[2yipd] jzgx [3gc] [4g] x - [6fz] l [5ryoaf] [dk] z x - [4dc] f 3 x [2z] k [1tuos] lz[fx] - [1fv] [3f] x [1dz] l [etupd] [sj] l z [sx] 1 z [3l] [@j ] [2yipd] jz[dx] - [3dc] [4d] x [6sz] j [5ryias] - [ak]zc - [4pv] 3 c - [2az] [sk] - [1tuos] h l x [1v] c x z l 1 hlx - [1v] [2c] x [3z] [@l ] [2yipd] jz[fg]x g [3c] [4g] x - [6fz] l [5ryoaf] [dk] z x - [4dc] f 3 x [2z] k [1tuos] lz[dfx] - [1fv] [3f] x [1dz] l [etupd] [sj] l z [sx] 1 z [3l] [@j ] [2yipd] jzs[dx] d [3c] [4d] x [6sz] j [5ryoas] [ak]zc - p [4v] 3 a c - [2z] [sk] - [1tuos] h l x [1v] [3c] x - [1z] l

**Transpose by -3**

[1tuosf] - [lxv] - 1 3 [dlxv] 5 [%s] [6a] - s [jlx] 6 3 [3jlx] 6 5 4 - [Hsdgl] 4 [%d] [Hgl] - [%s] - [5a] - [hkz] 5 2 [2hkz] 3 2 1 - [dflxv] - 1 [3d] [lxv] [5s] % [6a] - [jlx] [6s] 3 [3jlx] 6 5 4 - [Hsdgl] [4d] [%d] [Hgl] [%s] - [5a] 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] [5d] 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] [5h] 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5wdf] [4qwd] [1d] s [lxv] - 1 3 [lxv] - [5df] d d s - [jlx] f 1 [jlx] [3d] f [1d] s - [lxv] 1 3 [lxv] [5df] d d s - [jlx] f 1 [jlx] [3d] [1f] [4d] s - [gjl] 4 1 [1gjl] 2 1 4 - [ghjl] 4 [5j] h - [hkz] [5h] 2 [2hkz] [3g] [2h] 5 - [hkz] 5 2 [2hkz] 3 2 5 - [hkz] 5 2 [2hkz] [3d] 2 [5d] s a [hkz] 5 2 [2hkz] 3 2 5 - [hkz] 5 2 [2ghkz] [3h] [2g] [5h] - [ghkz] - 5 [2d] s [2hkz] 3 [2sd] 5 o - [hkz] 5 2 [2hkz] 3 2 5 - [hkz] 5 2 [2ahkz] [3s] [2a] [5s] a - [hkz] [5s] [2a] [2hkz] [3s] [2sd] 5 - [hkz] 5 2 [2ghkz] [3h] [2g] [5h] - [ghkz] - 5 [2d] [2shkz] 3 s [2d] o -- g d g h ---- 5 5 7 9 q ---- 5 5 7 9 q --- [hj] j - [5j] 5 [7h] [29] [4qg] [6ed] [5w] [4qg] 5 [5h] 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] [5j] [5h] 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4qhj] [5j] 5 [7h] [29] [4qg] [6ed] [5w] g [4q] [5h] 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] 5 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] [5h] 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5w] [4q] [5g] 5 7 [29] [4q] [6e] [5wd] [4qf] [18tuod] [18tuos]

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His early years were marked by struggle and shyness. As a young songwriter at Acuff-Rose Music in Nashville from 1958 to 1959, Orbison was described by songwriter **Boudleaux Bryant** as a timid, shy kid who sang softly, prettily but almost bashfully, as if afraid of disturbing anyone. Signed to RCA Victor in 1958 with help from publisher **Wesley Rose**, he worked briefly with **Chet Atkins**, recording songs like Bryants [Seems to Me](https://youtu.be/r2Jb7bjZy3E ""). But his releases, still delivered in that reserved style, underperformed, and RCA dropped him in 1959.

Everything changed when Wesley Rose secured Orbison a contract with the independent Monument Records in 1959. Under producer **Fred Foster**s guidance, the lamb became a lion. Orbisons voice roared to life, unleashing a string of phenomenal hits like [Running Scared](https://youtu.be/E7M-g1fW9XM ""), [Crying](https://youtu.be/yMATM0A5Ask ""), and [Its Over](https://youtu.be/-Jm3Tq_q4yU ""). His diffident demeanor gave way to a commanding presence in the studio, his operatic voice resonating across the globe. Yet, offstage, he remained the mild, pleasant fellow, a gentle soul whose music spoke louder than he ever did.

Roy Orbison proved that true talent needed no gimmicks. Young fans flocked to his music, drawn by the authenticity of an artist who offered nothing but his God-given gift. His legacy endures, with Oh, Pretty Woman cementing its status as a timeless classic through its pivotal role in the soundtrack of the 1990 box office hit Pretty Woman, introducing his genius to new generations.