Much More Music: Whitesnake - "Here I Go Again" (1987)

"This is just like in the Whitesnake video!" - Ricky Bobby, "Talladega Nights", 2006.

It wasn't the first time "Here I Go Again" was referenced in a Will Ferrell movie. The first time, if you would recall, was in the 2003 comedy "Old School".

"Here I Go Again" was a massive hit for Whitesnake in 1987. It was first released in the UK in 1982- David Coverdale just left Deep Purple at the time, and decided to form the band (while he was still popular, I suppose- and it did make a lot of sense). As opposed to the original release, the 1987 US version sounded more slick- mixed with better production elements and backing vocals, giving it that more radio-friendly sound.

The video was particularly memorable because it featured a rather scantily-clad (well, for its time, at least anyway) Tawny Kitaen prancing on the hood, and inside two Jaguars (one belonged to David, and the other belonged to director Marty Callner). It was a huge hit for the MTV-viewing audience, and somehow set the trend for rock bands to use more sexy women in their videos from that point onwards.

Aside from the two Will Ferrell movies, "Here I Go Again" was also referenced in an episode of "American Dad", the "1985" music video of Bowling For Soup, alluded to in "Death Proof", and more recently, in the modern-warfare-themed PC real-time strategy game, "World In Conflict".

Here's Whitesnake with "Here I Go Again". Enjoy!

Whitesnake
"Here I Go Again" (1987)

Intro  :        G   D   C       G   D   C


G       D              C     D
I don't know where I'm going,
G       D                    C    D
but I sure know where I've been.
G                D           C                    G Am
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday.
                  D
And I've made up my mind.
Am                        D
I ain't wasting no more time,
         Em
here I go again.
Am            G     Em Am C D
Here I go again.

G             D                C       D
Though I keep searching for an answer,
G                  D                     C   D
I never seem to find what I'm looking for.
G           D                 C                    G Am
Oh Lord I pray you give me strength to carry on,
                     D
'cause I know what it means,
Am                                       D   C   D
to walk along the lonely streets of dreams.

                  G          C           D   C   D
CHORUS :        And here I go again on my own,
                    G              C               D   C   D
              going down the only road I've ever known.
                       G             C           D     C 
              Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
            Am7                     D 
              And I've made up my mind,
            Am7                         D    C    D
              I ain't wasting no more time.

    G                  D                C        D
      I'm just another heart in need of rescue,
    G            D                 C      D
      waiting on love's sweet charity.
    G               D               C                  G  Am7
      And I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days,
                              D
      'cause I know what it means,
         Am7                                D       C   D
      to walk along the lonely street of dreams.

                
                  G          C           D   C   D
CHORUS :        And here I go again on my own,
                    G              C               D   C   D
              going down the only road I've ever known.
                       G             C           D   C 
              Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
            Am7                     D 
              And I've made up my mind,
            Am7                         D
              I ain't wasting no more time.
                  C      D   Em  Am             Em
              but here I go again,  here I go again.
           Am             Em  Am           Em   Am  C  D
              Here I go again,  here I go.


REPEAT AND FADE:
                  G          C           D   C   D
CHORUS :        And here I go again on my own,
                    G              C               D   C   D
              going down the only road I've ever known.
                       G             C           D   C 
              Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
            Am7                     D 
              And I've made up my mind,
            Am7                         D
              I ain't wasting no more time.

I hope you liked this one. Here are a couple of factoids about Whitesnake:

Did You Know?

1. Whitesnake featured an ever-changing roster of musicians ever since they started out in 1977, but the one constant in the line-up to this day has been lead singer David Coverdale himself.

2. Tawny Kitaen appeared in at least three other Whitesnake videos, including "Is This Love" in 1987.

3. David Coverdale and Tawny Kitaen actually ended up getting married in 1989, but divorced two years later in 1991.

4. The name "Whitesnake" was actually a euphemism for male genitalia.

So there you have it. Also cool from Whitesnake: "Is This Love" (1987). Check out the band's official website here.

Cheers!