It's something called Numbered Musical Notation, aka The Rousseau System (it's invention is often attributed to Jean-Jacques Rousseau). Basically, it seems like the numbers above represent the melody, and the numbers below represent the chords in the usual Roman numeral fashion. It seems more trouble than it's worth to me-it seems like all but the most basic melodies would quickly become messy-but I guess it has it's adherents, and is quite popular in Asia. That chart came from this page, where you can find more info: http://www.normanschmidt.net/
and of course there's a Wiki about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbered_musical_notation
Comments
Version 2
MAN I LOVE, THE
Key of Eb 4/4
[: Eb / / Eb7 | Ebm7 | Gm7b5 | C7+ |
1._________________________
| Fm7b5 | Bb7 | Eb C7 | Fm7 Bb7 |
2._________________________
| Eb Abm | Eb G7 | Cm | D7 G7 |
| Cm | G7 | Cm | D7 G7 |
| Cm C7 | Fm7 Bb7 || Eb / / Eb7 | Ebm7 |
| Gm7b5 | C7+ | Fm7b5 | Bb7 |
| Eb | Eb |
Version 3
This last one is pretty close to the version we do:
| G69/// | G69/// | Gm/// | Gm/// | F69/// | F69/// | E7/// | E7/// |
| Cm7/// | Cm7/// | D7/// | D7/// | G6/// | Bb7/// | Eb9/// | D7/// |
| G69/// | G69/// | Gm/// | Gm/// | F69/// | F69/// | E7/// | E7/// |
| Cm7/// | Cm7/// | D7/// | D7/// | G6/// | D7/// | G69/// | C7/ B7/ |
| Em7/// | EMm7/// | F#0/// | B7/// | Em7/// | EMm7/// | B7/// | F#0/ B7/ |
| Em7/// | EMm7/// | F#0/// | B7/// | E7/// | E7/// | Am7/// | D9/// |
| G69/// | G69/// | Gm/// | Gm/// | F69/// | F69/// | E7/// | E7/// |
| Cm7/// | Cm7/// | D7/// | D7/// | G6/// | Bb7/// | Eb9/// | D7/// ||
The melody is an easy one to pick out, but it's also in most fake books...
best,
Jack.
http://www.normanschmidt.net/
and of course there's a Wiki about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbered_musical_notation
best,
Jack.