Children of the Morning

 

Written by John Stewart

 

Ken Swiatek sent me this one.  Hereīs what he wrote: Jan: Here is my version of the chords to Children of the Morning.  While they may have changed over the years, I originally got them from John, himself, after a Kingston Trio concert in Buffalo, New York around 1967.

(D) Dance to the (Am)circle, watch it (D)grow,
(Am)Turning like for(C)ever moving (G)slow.
For itīs (C)on(G)ly a (C)moment, (G)yes, I (Dm7)know,
(G)Children of the (C)morning told me (G)so. D-C-G

So these are the chords for the Kingston Trio version.  Ken was right - they have changed over the years.  Starting with the chords Ken sent, I worked out a first draft of the two other versions I know and sent them to Charlie Woodward (good ears, Charlie!).  Here is the result. These words and chords have crossed the mighty ocean more than once.

Children of the Morning is on "Trio Years", Homecoming Records (86), re-released as CD by NEC (88) under the title "New Frontier" with seven additional songs from "Secret Tape 86" (originally a Homecoming Records cassette) and by Folk Era (93) under the title "Chilly Winds" with seven
songs from "Revenge of  the Budgie" (83).  The song is also on "The Best of John Stewart - Turning Music into Gold", which is really not a "best of" compilation but a pairing of "Bombs Away Dream Babies" (RSO 1979) and "Dream Babies Go Hollywood" (RSO 1980) plus two "bonus tracks" (one of them being 'Children of the Morning').  The CD was released by Polydor in 1995.  The song was also played and sung by the Kingston Trio,
LP title "Children of the Morning", Decca 1966 (I wouldnīt have known - got this from the John Stewart lyrics database).

This is the version from "Trio Years"- Charlie notes: "To me, it sounds like itīs capoed at 3rd fret and played in A, but that would basically be the  same anyway.  I think your draft is fine.  It sounds good." (Someone had to say it, the editor).



(C)  (Gm)  (C)  (Gm)  (C)  (Gm)  (C)  (Gm)
(C)Dance to the (Gm)circle, watch it (C)grow,
(Gm)Turning like for(Bb)ever moving (F)slow,
For it's (Bb)on(F)ly a (Bb)moment, (F)that I (Cm7)know,
(F)Children of the (Bb)morning told me (F)so.
(C)  (Bb)  (C)  (Bb)  (C)  (Bb) (C)  (Bb)

(C)Burn with the (Gm)fire, make it (C)bright,
(Gm)Lost within the (Bb)spaces out of (F)sight.
And it's (Bb)one (F)lonely (Bb)flame a(F)gainst the (Cm7)night,
(F)Children of the (Bb)morning make it (F)light.
(C) (Bb) (C) (Bb) (C) (Bb) (C) (Bb)

(C)Warned by a (Gm)voice upon the (C)breeze,
(Gm)Christened by the (Bb)waters rolling (F)free.
And it's (Bb )hidden (F)in the (Bb)colors (F)of the (Cm7)trees,
(F)Children of the (Bb)morning, it is (F)thee.
(C) (Bb) (C) (Bb) (C) (Bb) (C) (Bb)

(C)Stand upon the (Gm)mountain, it is (C)done,
(Gm)Watch them at the (Bb)crossroads as they (F)come.
They were (Bb)blinded (F)by a(Bb)nother (F)winter's (Cm7)sun,
(F)Children of the (Bb)morning, you have (F)won.

And itīs (C)dance to the (Gm)circle, watch it (C)grow,
(Gm)Turning like for(Bb)ever moving (F)slow,
It's (Bb)on(F)ly a (Bb)moment, (F)that I (Cm7)know,
(F)Children of the (Bb)morning told me (F)so,
Children of the (Bb)morning told me (F)so,
Children of the (Bb)morning.    told me (F)so.

 janhauenstein@gmx.de

Here is the version from " The Best of...".  Charlie and I both like it even better than the one on "Trio Years".  Charlieīs recommendation: "This version is a WHOLE lot better played on a 12-string like John uses on the recording than it is on a 6.  It just rings out."  (I believe you should try that. Shame! Iīve got a couple of 6-strings, no 12...).

 



Capo 3rd fret

(G)(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)
(G)(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)
(Em)Dance to the (G)circle, watch it (A)grow,
(Em)Turning like for(G)ever moving (D)slow,
For it's (G)on(G/F#))ly a (G)moment, that I (Am7)know,
(D)Children of the (G)morning told me (D)so.

(Em)Burn with the (G)fire, make it (A)bright,
(Em)Catch it on the (G)wind when itīs in (D)flight.
Oh, it's (G)one (G/F#)lonely (G)flame against the (Am7)night,
(D)Children of the (G)morning, make it (D)light,
Make it (G)ooooh.(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)
(G)Ooooh.(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)

(Em)Stand upon the (G)mountain, it is (A)done,
(Em)Watch them at the (G)crossroads as they (D)come.
They were (G)blinded (G/F#)by a(G)nother winter's (Am7)sun,
(D)Children of the (G)morning, you have (D)won.

(Em)Dance to the (G)circle, watch it (A)grow,
(Em)Turning like for(G)ever moving (D)slow,
And it's (G)on(G/F#))ly a (G)moment, that I (Am7)know,
(D)Children of the (G)morning told me (D)so,
Children of the (G)morning.(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)
(G)Ooooh....(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)
(G)Ooooh....(G/F#)(G/F)   (C)(Am7)(Am7/G)(D)(G-'highlight' high notes
D-C-C-A, downstrum full chord G)

Đ John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 janhauenstein@gmx.de & Charlie Woodward