folk, folk rock, mellow gold, singer-songwriter
Corey's Coming (short version)
Words and Music by Harry Chapin
(capo 5th fret)
D - C/D - Am - C - G - A(9)
D
Old John Joseph was a man with two first names
Em A G Em A7sus4 - A7
They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains
D
And only one run a week comes on roarin' down that line
Em A G D
So all he's got to worry about is time
Em A7 Bm F#m
I come by in the evening to hear 'bout where he's been
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7
He says come on sit down kid where shall I begin
Em A7 Bm F#m
He starts telling me the stories and the glories of his past
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7sus - A7
But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last
D Em
And he says, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you
A D
She enfolds you in her world
D - C/D - Am - C - G - A
D
I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew
Em A G Em A7sus - A7
So I asked the town's folk if his stories were true
D
Well they said old John was born here, he's lived here all his life
Em A G Em D
He's never had a woman, let alone a wife
Em A7 Bm F#m
And very soon you'll find out as you check around
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7
That no one named Corey's ever lived in this town
Em A Bm F#m
I chided the the old man about the truth that I had heard
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 Asus4 - A7
Well he smiled and said reality is only just a word
D Em
Can't you see my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em
And like I told you, when she holds you
A Dm
She enfolds you in her world
Dm/E Dm/C DmaddG
I came by one evening but he did not hear my shout
Gm A#6/F Em7b5 A7addG
I looked in the window and I saw the fire was out
Dm Dm/E Dm/C DmaddG
When he would not wake up I forced in the door
Gm A#6/F Em7b5 A7addG
And I found that old John Joseph would tell stories........ no more
Dm Dm/E Dm/C DmaddG
The scene at the graveyard just three of us were there
Gm A#6/F Em7b5 A7addG
Me and the grave digger we heard the parson's prayer
N.C.
He said we need not grieve for this man
D
For we know that God cares
D
They put the cold dirt over him and left me on my own
Em A G Em A7sus4 - A7
When at last I looked up I saw I was not alone
D
So I said if you're a relative he had a peaceful end
Em A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
That's when she said my name is Corey,
G Em D
You can say I'm just a friend
D Em
Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em
And like I told you, when she holds you
A D C/D - Am - C - G - A
She enfolds you in her world
D
So that's the old man's story, I'm glad you came tonight
Em A7 G Em A7sus4 - A7
You see a busted down old railroad yard sure makes a lonely sight
D
You may wonder why a young man would work out here alone
Em A7 G Em D
Well the job pays enough to keep some flesh on my bones
Em A7 Bm F#M
And I confess I get to missing the old man a bit
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7sus4 - A7 - Em7 - A7
And there's one other reason I guess I could admit
D Em
Can't you see my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em
And like he told me, when she holds me
A Em7 A D C/D - Am - D
She enfolds me in her world
(Long Version Extension)
D - C/D - Am - C - G - A
D
I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew
Em A G Em Asus4 - A7
So I asked the townfolk if his stories were true
D
They said Old John was born here, he's lived here all his life
Em A G Em D
He never had a woman, let alone a wife
Em A7 Bm F#m
And very soon you'll find out, as you check around
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7
That no one named Corey's ever lived in this town
Em A7 Bm F#m
So I chided the old man about the truth that I had heard
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7sus4 - A7
He smiled and said reality is only just a word
D Em
Can't you see, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you
A Dm
She enfolds you in her world
Dm/E Dm/C DmaddG
I came by one evening but he did not hear my shout
Gm A#6/F Em7b5 A7addG
I looked in the window and I saw the fire was out
Dm Dm/E Dm/C DmaddG
When he would not wake up I forced in the door
Gm A#6/F Em7b5 A7addG
And I found that old John Joseph would tell stories........ no more
Dm Dm/E Dm/C DmaddG
The scene at the graveyard just three of us were there
Gm A#6/F Em7b5 A7addG
Me and the grave digger we heard the parson's prayer
N.C.
He said we need not grieve for this man
D
For we know that God cares
D
They put the cold dirt over him and left me on my own
Em A G Em A7sus4 - A7
When at last I looked up I saw I was not alone
D
Standing there in silence, with a shawl around her head
Em G G Em D
Was a beautiful young woman, I remember what she said
Em A Em - A
Is that John Joseph there?
A D
I nodded my head yes
A A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
That brought a soft smile from her
G A7 D
She said it's time he got some rest
D
So I said if you're a relative he had a peaceful end
Em A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
That's when she said my name is Corey
G A7 D
You could say I'm just a friend
D Em
Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you
A D
She enfolds you in her world
D - C/D - Am - C - G - A
D
So that's the old man's story, I'm glad you came tonight
Em A7 G Em A7sus4 - A7
You see a busted down old railroad yard sure makes a lonely site
D
You may wonder why a young man would work out here alone
Em A G Em D
The job pays enough to keep some flesh on my bones
Em A7 Bm F#m
And I confess I get to missing the old man a bit
Em Cmaj7 Fmaj7 A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
Yes there's one other reason I guess I could admit
D Em
Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming
A G Em A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?
D Em7
And like he told me, when she holds you
A D
She enfolds me in her world
D - C/D - Am - D