POEMS PRAYERS AND PROMISES
(RCA Victor LSP-4499)
March/1971
Produced by Milton Okun & Susan Ruskin
John Denver - ac.guitar/vocal
Mike Taylor - guitar
Eric Weissberg - steel/banjo
Richard Kniss - bass
Gary Chester - drums
Frank Owens - piano
Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert - vocals
Arrangements by Lee Holdridge
1.
POEMS PRAYERS AND PROMISES
(John Denver)
« © '71 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP / WB Music, ASCAP »
I've been lately thinking about my life's time
All the things I've done and how it's been
And I can't help believing in my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end
I've seen a lot of sunshine slept out in the rain
Spent a night or two all on my own
I've known my lady's pleasures had myself some friends
And spent a time or two in my own home
I have to say it now it's been a good life all in all
It's really fine to have a chance to hang around
Lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire
While all my friends and my old lady sit and pass a pipe around
And talk of poems and prayers and promises and things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone how right it is to care
How long it's been since yesterday what about tomorrow
And what about our dreams and all the memories we share
The days they pass so quickly now the nights are seldom long
Time around me whispers when it's cold
The changes somehow frighten me still I have to smile
It turns me on to think of growing old
For though the life's been good to me there's still so much to do
So many things my mind has never known
I'd like to raise a family I'd like to sail away
And dance across the mountains on the moon
I have to say it now...
**********
2.
LET IT BE
(John Lennon - Paul Mc Cartney)
« © '70 ATV Tunes, ASCAP »
When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom let it be
In my hours of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom let it be
Let it be let it be let it be let it be whsiper words of wisdom let it be
When all the brokenhearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer let it be
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer let it be
Let it be let it be let it be let it be whsiper words of wisdom let it be
Let it be let it be let it be let it be whsiper words of wisdom let it be
[ ac.guitar ]
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow let it be
And I wake up to the sound of music Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom let it be
Let it be let it be let it be let it be whsiper words of wisdom let it be
Let it be let it be let it be let it be there will be an answer let it be
Let it be let it be let it be let it be there will be no sadness let it be
**********
3.
MY SWEET LADY
(John Denver)
« © '70 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP / WB Music, ASCAP »
Lady are you crying do the tears belong to me
Did you think our time together was all gone
Lady you've been dreaming I'm as close as I can be
And I swear to you our time has just begun
Close your eyes and rest your weary mind
I promise I will stay right here beside you
Today our lives were joined became entwined
I wish that you could know how much I love you
Lady are you happy do you feel the way I do
Are there meanings that you've never seen before
Lady my sweet lady I just can't believe that's true
And it's like I've never ever loved before
Close your eyes...
Lady are you crying...
**********
4.
WOODEN INDIAN
(John Denver)
« © '70 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP / WB Music, ASCAP »
Use 'em throughout but with a hammer on effect on the
5th string from the 5th fret to the 7th fret
throughout the intro and the first halves of each verse
Normal Em on second half of each verse
On the chorus pull from 7th fret to 5th to 2nd fret
I hope this is clear try it and see
I was a red man I was proud I was strong
You were the white man and you took away my home
Now I am a wooden Indian painted dreams inside my head
Times the way you bring me down make me wish that I was dead
Na na na na na na...
I was a red man in my passing made no sound
You were the white man and you drove me in the ground
Now I am a wooden Indian standing silent in the rain
I swear by my grandfathers father we're gonna rise again
Na na na na na na...
I was a red man I was proud I was strong
You were the white man and you took away my home
Now I am a wooden Indian standing silent in the rain
I swear by my grandfathers father we're gonna rise again
**********
5.
JUNK
(Paul McCartney)
« © '71 ATV Tunes, ASCAP »
Motorcars handlebars bicycles for two brokenhearted jubilee
Parachutes army boots sleeping bags for two sentimental jamboree
Buy buy says the sign in the shop window why why says the junk in the yard
Ya da da da da da la da da da
Buy buy says the sign in the shop window why why says the junk in the yard
Ya da da da da da la da da da
Candlesticks building bricks something old and new memories for you and me
**********
6.
GOSPEL CHANGES
(John Williams)
« © '71 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP »
The Prodigal Son he'd been away a while
He was working his way back home now over many a ragged mile
When he finally crossed the river and his father saw him near
There was a joyful sound for all the world to hear
I listened to what the Good Book said and it made good sense to me
Talking bout reaping what you're sowing people trying to be free
Now we've got new names and faces,this time around
Gospel changes Lord still going down
Jesus he did not doubt his gifts though he knew that he had not long to live
He took care of the business of teaching us how to fly
Then fe bowed fis head and laid down to die
I listened to what the Good Book said...
Jerusalem I see you standing high
But if you lose your salvation there'll be no tears left to cry
Now some men worship a Golden Calf while others are bought and sold
And if we live like that brother we'll pay the toll
I listened to what the Good Book said...
Gospel changes Lord still going down
Yeah yeah yeah gospel changes Lord still going down
**********
7.
TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS
(John Denver - Bill Danoff - Taffy Nivert)
« © '71 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP / WB Music, ASCAP »
Almost heaven West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains Shenandoah River
Life is old there older than the trees
Younger than the mountains blowing like a breeze
Country roads take me home to the place I belong
West Virginia mountain mama take me home country roads
All my mem'ries gather round her miner's lady stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty painted on the sky misty taste of moonshine teardrop in my eye
Country roads take me home...
I hear her voice in the morning hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
Driving down the road I get a feeling that I should have been
Home yesterday yesterday
Country roads take me home...
Country roads take me home...
Take me home country roads take me home down country roads
**********
8.
I GUESS HE'D RATHER BE IN COLORADO
(Bill Danoff - Mary Danoff - - Taffy Nivert)
« © '71 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP »
I guess he'd rather be in Colorado
He'd rather spend his time out where the sky looks like a pearl after a rain
Once again I see him walking once again I hear him talking
To the stars he makes and asking them for busfare
I guess he'd rather be in Colorado
He'd rather play his banjo in the morning when the moon is scarcely gone
In the dawn the subway's coming in the dawn I hear him humming
Some old song he wrote of love in Boulder Canyon
I guess he'd rather be in Colorado
[ ac.guitar ]
I guess he'd rather be in Colorado
I guess he'd rather work out where the only thing you earn is what you spend
In the end up in his office
In the end a quiet cough is all he has to show he lives in New York City
**********
9.
SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS
(John Denver - Mike Taylor - Dick Kniss)
« © '71 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP / WB Music, ASCAP »
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely sunshine almost always makes me high
If I had a day that I could give you I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you I'd sing a song to make you feel this way
Sunshine on my shoulders...
If I had a tale that I could tell you I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while
Sunshine on my shoulders...
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high sunshine almost always
**********
10.
AROUND AND AROUND
(John Denver)
« © '71 Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / Music Of 1091, ASCAP / WB Music, ASCAP »
Time as I've known it doesn't take much time to pass by me
Minutes into days turn into months turn into years they hurry by me
Still I love to see the sun go down and the world go around
Dreams full of promises hopes for the future I've had many
Dreams I can't remember now hopes that Ive forgotten faded mem'ries
Still I love to see the sun go down and the world go around
And I love to see the morning as it steals across the sky
I love to remember aAnd I love to wonder why
And I hope that I'm around so I can be there when I die when I'm gone
I hope that you will think of me in moments when you're happy and you're smiling
That a thought will comfort you on cold and cloudy days if you are crying
Still I love to see the sun go down and the world go around and around and around
**********
11.
FIRE AND RAIN
(James Taylor)
« © '69 Country Road Music, ASCAP / Blackwood Music, BMI »
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susan and the plans they made put an end to you
Walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just couldn't remember who to send it to
Cause I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I'd see you again
Won't you look down upon me Jesus you gotta help me make a stand
You just gotta see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand I jut can't make it any other way
I've seen fire and I've seen rain...
I've been working my mind through an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
There's a lotta time on the telephone lines to talk about the times to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines and pieces on the ground
Oh I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought I'd see you one more time again
**********
12.
BOX
(Kendrew Lascelles - Charles Stillwell)
« © '71 Universal MCA Music, ASCAP »
Once upon a time, in the land of hush-a-bye, around about the wondrous days of yore, they came across a kind of box, bound up with chains and locked with locks and labeled "Kindly do not touch it's war."
A decree was issued round about, and all with a flourish and a shout and a gaily-colored mascot tripping lightly on before. Don't fiddle with this deadly box, or break the chains, or pick the locks. And please don't ever play about with war.
Well, the children understood. Children happen to be good and they were just as good around the time of yore. They didn't try to pick the locks or break into that deadly box. They never tried to play about with war. Mommies didn't either, sisters, aunts, grannies neither. They were quiet, and sweet, and pretty in those wondrous days of yore. Well, very much the same as now, not the ones to blame somehow for opening up that deadly box of war.
But someone did. Someone battered in the lid and spilled the insides out across the floor. A sort of bouncy, bumpy ball made up of guns and flags and all the tears, and horror, and death that comes with war. It bounced right out and went bashing all about, bumping into everything in store. And what was sad and most unfair was that it didn't really seem to care much who it bumped, or why, or what, or for.
It bumped the children mainly. And I'll tell you this quite plainly, it bumps them every day and more, and more, and leaves them dead, and burned, and dying, thousands of them sick and crying. Cause when it bumps, it's really very sore.
Now there's a way to stop the ball. It isn't difficult at all. All it takes is wisdom, and I'm absolutely sure that we can get it back into the box, and bind the chains, and lock the locks. But no one seems to want to save the children anymore.
Well, that's the way it all appears, cause it's been bouncing round for years and years. In spite of all the wisdom ‘wiz since those wondrous days of yore and the time they came across the box, bound up with chains and locked with locks, and labeled "Kindly do not touch, it's war."
**********