Harry was a great man who wrote amazing songs. Saw him several times in Dallas and he was as friendly and cool as he seemed. It was a great loss to fans when he died, but I'm so sorry he's gone. We need him now more than ever.
seems we have forgotten all the great solo artists now we have Ed Sheeran . don't hear them on radio but their music is still here ,RIP Harry one of the very best
It was my first night in that rooming house In the last room down the hall I heard a hoarse voice and an old guitar Coming through the paper thin walls A crazy nonsense nursery rhyme That did not mean a thing But for the first of what was to be a thousand times This is what I hear him sing Hold that D chord on the old guitar 'Til I found the G Drop it down to old E minor 'Til the A chord rolls back home around to D I had to lay there listening It seemed he was in the room This stranger with his melody Singing there in the gloom And he repeated it over and over again Such a soft and sinkin' sound It was kind of like a music box That was slowly winding down You see, he sang it, he hummed it Whistled it, and he strummed it He laughed it and he cried it He did everything but hide it And he sang Hold that D chord on the old guitar 'Til I found the G Drop it down to old E minor 'Til the A chord rolls back home around for me So I lay there in that lumpy bed Countin' choruses instead of sheep 'Til I banged on the wall and out I called "Hey bub, I need some sleep" The sudden void of silence Then I heard that hoarse voice say "It weren't so long ago, boy They paid me to play " I said, "It's kind of late for music, sir Two hours 'til it's daylight" He answered, "I need my music most In these dark hours of the night You see I've tried gettin' high on something son But it only brings me down Staying dry don't work out better, boy 'Cause my eyes get wet and I drown Won't you please let me continue And I'll be in your debt? You see I'm not singing to remember, son I'm just singing to forget" And he sang Hold that D chord on the old guitar 'Til I found the G Drop it down to old E minor 'Til the A chord rolls back home around for me That's when I said "If I'm supposed to listen to you sir Just one quick question then Why in the hell do you sing one song Over and over again?" And this is what he said He said, "I gave her the music, son She gave me the words Together we'd write the kind of songs The angels must have heard Of course we'd fight like cats and dogs But life ain't no rosebud dream Still whatever we'd do everybody knew We truly were a team I can't remember now if I done her wrong Or if she done wrong to me But all I know that when I let her go That it did not set me free'' That's when I said, "You sound like what's-his-name" He said, "That's who I am But you can't wrap a name around you, boy 'Cause it really don't mean a damn" "You see, a song don't have much meaning When it don't have nothing to say What she could do was magic, son All I could do was play" He started singing again That's when I drifted off Maybe I dreamed what I heard 'Bout this stranger with his melody Who'd gone and lost the words Hold that D chord on the old guitar 'Til I found the G Drop it down to old E minor 'Til the A chord rolls back home around to D
Harry was a great man who wrote amazing songs. Saw him several times in Dallas and he was as friendly and cool as he seemed. It was a great loss to fans when he died, but I'm so sorry he's gone. We need him now more than ever.
seems we have forgotten all the great solo artists now we have Ed Sheeran . don't hear them on radio but their music is still here ,RIP Harry one of the very best
It was my first night in that rooming house
In the last room down the hall
I heard a hoarse voice and an old guitar
Coming through the paper thin walls
A crazy nonsense nursery rhyme
That did not mean a thing
But for the first of what was to be a thousand times
This is what I hear him sing
Hold that D chord on the old guitar
'Til I found the G
Drop it down to old E minor
'Til the A chord rolls back home around to D
I had to lay there listening
It seemed he was in the room
This stranger with his melody
Singing there in the gloom
And he repeated it over and over again
Such a soft and sinkin' sound
It was kind of like a music box
That was slowly winding down
You see, he sang it, he hummed it
Whistled it, and he strummed it
He laughed it and he cried it
He did everything but hide it
And he sang
Hold that D chord on the old guitar
'Til I found the G
Drop it down to old E minor
'Til the A chord rolls back home around for me
So I lay there in that lumpy bed
Countin' choruses instead of sheep
'Til I banged on the wall and out I called
"Hey bub, I need some sleep"
The sudden void of silence
Then I heard that hoarse voice say
"It weren't so long ago, boy
They paid me to play "
I said, "It's kind of late for music, sir
Two hours 'til it's daylight"
He answered, "I need my music most
In these dark hours of the night
You see I've tried gettin' high on something son
But it only brings me down
Staying dry don't work out better, boy
'Cause my eyes get wet and I drown
Won't you please let me continue
And I'll be in your debt?
You see I'm not singing to remember, son
I'm just singing to forget"
And he sang
Hold that D chord on the old guitar
'Til I found the G
Drop it down to old E minor
'Til the A chord rolls back home around for me
That's when I said
"If I'm supposed to listen to you sir
Just one quick question then
Why in the hell do you sing one song
Over and over again?"
And this is what he said
He said, "I gave her the music, son
She gave me the words
Together we'd write the kind of songs
The angels must have heard
Of course we'd fight like cats and dogs
But life ain't no rosebud dream
Still whatever we'd do everybody knew
We truly were a team
I can't remember now if I done her wrong
Or if she done wrong to me
But all I know that when I let her go
That it did not set me free''
That's when I said, "You sound like what's-his-name"
He said, "That's who I am
But you can't wrap a name around you, boy
'Cause it really don't mean a damn"
"You see, a song don't have much meaning
When it don't have nothing to say
What she could do was magic, son
All I could do was play"
He started singing again
That's when I drifted off
Maybe I dreamed what I heard
'Bout this stranger with his melody
Who'd gone and lost the words
Hold that D chord on the old guitar
'Til I found the G
Drop it down to old E minor
'Til the A chord rolls back home around to D
Harry.chapin,the.greatest.ever
One of the best lyrical songs ever. Was able to see him many times live, from New London, CT to Concord, CA. Miss you Harry.
Happy belated 74th Birthday Harry 12/7/42-12/7/16...From Dayton....Dennis
Great and sad song
Yep. Still love this song.
Nice job. Underrated Harry song.
Great job. Thanks for sharing this. I enjoyed listening to a different version of one of my favourite songs
What date was this performed?
Harry was a blessed man who sang The Christian Movement his songs were Seeds to be planted to Aide in World PEACE