Calamity John
Words and music by Dar Williams
From All My Heroes are Dead

Transcription by: Ron Greitzer
Date: May 2001
 

(G)Come lovers, come (C)loners, re(G)member your(D)selves
As (G)lusty tem(C)pestuous (G)fools
When to dream was to conjure an (Em)ocean
From your (Am)small secre(C)tarial (D)pools(Dsus)(D)

When you (G)stood at the (C)gulf of un(G)knowing
When you saw the great (C)tundra of (G)time
And you cried for the (B7)winds to come (C)blowing
And you (G)called a (D)monsoon
From the (G)tides of the (D)moon
'Cause the (G)roads were all (D)dusty and (G)dry (C)(G)

Come (D)lame dancing lonely to(G)night
When (D)what should appear in the (C)distance
Blown (G)hither and yon its Ca(D)lamity John
And he's (C)coming to (D)sweep you a(G)way(D)
(C)Aye (D)Aye Aye (C)Ay(D)y (G)

He'll (G)tear through the (C)homefront
He'll (G)lift you up (D)laughing
He'll (G)blow every (C)signpost a(G)way
As the weather report says high (Em)drama
With a (Am)five percent (C)chance that he'll (D)stay(Dsus)(D)

Now the (G)floor starts to (C)rock and the (G)roof floats
And your friends say he's (C)bad for your (G)health
And they've warned you (B7)about him on (C)talk shows
So you (G)told him to (D)pack
Hit the (G)road, don't come (D)back
And he (G)said "Hey, don't (D)flatter your(G)self" . . . (C)and you (G)say:

I am (D)closing my door to the (G)storm
I am (D)saving myself from its (C)freedom
I've (G)put the chain on, oh Ca(D)lamity John
I (C)don't want you to (D)dance me a(G)way(D)
(C)Aye (D)Aye Aye (C)Ay(D)y (G)

So it's seven months (C)later you've (G)bolted your (D)hair back
You're (G)almost (C)immune to the (G)moon
And at parties you stay in the (Em)kitchen
Common (Am)sense with a (C)big wooden (D)spoon(Dsus)(D)
All at (G)once you can (C)feel the storm (G)coming
As you (G)burst out into the (C)old re(G)frain
To the sound of (B7)America (C)drumming

Call it (G)pain, call it (D)art
Call it (G)open your (D)heart
Let it (G)go, let it (D)fly, let it (G)rain (C)(G)

He (D)smiles and the clouds turn to (G)black
With the (D)wind through the flowers come (C)blowing
The (G)warning bell's on
What's your (D)name? Oh, it's John
That's (C)such an un(D)usual (G)name(D)
(C)Aye (D)Aye Aye (C)Ay(D)y (G)
(C)Ay(D)y (G)(D)(G)


This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song.
You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.
Words and music copyright © 1991 Burning Field Music (administered by Bug Music).


Last updated May 9, 2001
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