Ballad of the Quiet Fighter

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘Ballad of the Quiet Fighter’ is on “The Kingston Trio #16”, Capitol, 1963, also on the Bear Family box set “The Stewart Years”, 1999. 

A gentle, quiet protest song.  This is one of my favourite early John Stewart songs.  Great melody in the chorus (been running in my head for days now).  Pickers, there are a couple of great chord progressions here.

 

 

Capo 2nd fret

 

(Bm) (F#m) (Bm) (F#m) (Bm) (Gj7) (Em7) (A7)

Oh, (G/B)I (A7/C#)stood (D)wat(Em7)chin',

(F#m)Oh, (Em)I stood (D)wai(G)tin',

And as the (D)rivers of (G)freedom run through this (C)land,

I'll be (Bm)there for to (Em)lend (D)you (G)my (A)hand.

(Bm) (F#m)  (Bm) (F#m)

 

(Spoken)

(Bm) Well, I listened to the (F#m)shouting

(Bm) Of those with their (F#m)lies

(Bm) Who tore at the (F#m)heart

(Bm) Of this country of (F#m)mine.

 

(Sung)

But (Dj7)here's where a (G)quiet man (Dj7) with truth in his (G)hand

(D) Can make a (Bm)stand and be (Em7)heard in this (A7)land.

 

So, (G/B)I (A7/C#)stood (D)wat(Em7)chin',

(F#m)Oh, (Em)I stood (D)wai(G)tin',

And as the (D)rivers of (G)freedom run through this (C)land,

I'll be (Bm)there for to (Em)lend (D)you (G)my (A)hand.

(Bm) (F#m)  (Bm) (F#m)

 

(Spoken)

(Bm) So I stood by the (F#m)watch road

(Bm) Till the October (F#m)of their days,

(Bm) With the (F#m)winds to my left

(Bm) And then, (F#m)far from the right,

(Bm) Were (F#m)blowing my way.

 

(Sung)

But (Dj7)now is the (G)hour, (Dj7) the time I can (G)see

when we'll (D)win with the (Bm)truth that has (Em7)made us so (A7)free.

 

So, (G/B)I (A7/C#)stood (D)wat(Em7)chin',

(F#m)Oh, (Em)I stood (D)wai(G)tin',

And as the (D)rivers of (G)freedom run through this (C)land

I'll be (Bm)there for to (Em)lend (D)you (G)my (A)hand.

 

Oh, (G/B)I (A7/C#)stood (D)wat(Em7)chin',

(F#m)Oh, (Em)I stood (D)wai(G)tin'…

(Bm)  (F#m) (Bm)  (F#m) (Bm)  (F#m) (A[5^th fret])

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Art Faller, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Charlie Woodward

 

July 2005