China Sky
Written by John Stewart
'China Sky' is from the "Secret Tapes
´86" cassette, Homecoming Records,
1986, CD reissue by Neon Dreams, 2002, titled "Secret Tapes CD" -
together with "Secret Tapes II" (also a Homecoming cassette, 1987).
The song is also on "A Night at Jimmy Duke´s - Johnny and the Nasty
Britches" (the gentlemen with the naughty legwear being bass player Dave
"Dave" Batti and drummer Dennis "The D-Man" Kenmore), Neon
Dreams, 2002,
and last, but not least, on the "Tanforan" album, Neon Dreams, 2003,
same song also on the excellent live double CD "Even the Band Had Fun
That Night At Dark Thirty", Neon Dreams, 2003, where Mr. Stewart
is accompanied by the same Wicked Trousers plus guitarist John Hoke.
Ah, you´ve made it this far...
This is a great song. Watch your feet. Don´t will them to move or be still
(my beating foot, spot the almost-quote).
They´ll begin to tap.
This song has RHYTHM.
And John plays guitar in a way that delights me no end on "China
Sky".
Excellent guitar interplay.
We´ve prepared two versions for you, the one from "Secret Tapes"
directly below, the one from "Tanforan" and "Dark Thirty"
follows.
Play it SNAPPY.
C9 short
E----------
B-------3--
G----------
D----2-----
A-------3--
E—xx-------
(D)(A)(D) (D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A)(D)
(D)(A)(D) (D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A4)(D)
Catman dances, Jakarta (F#m)run,
Taking (D)chances, yeah, oh, and I take (F#m)none.
And you know they (Em)fly (A) in the China (F#m)sky,
Where I heard (Em)tell (A) Angels (F#m)cry,
Where I heard (Em)tell (A) Angels (C9)cry. (C)(D)
(D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A)(D)
(D)(A)(D) (D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A4)(D)
Flying tiger, circle (F#m)low,
And the midnight (D)riders, smoking (F#m)gold.
Oh, you know they (Em)fly (A) in the China (F#m)sky,
And I heard (Em)tell, (A) that´s where Angels (F#m)cry,
And I heard (Em)tell, (A) Angels (F#m)cry,
Oh, I heard (Em)tell, (A) Angels (C9)cry. (C(D)
(D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A)(D)
(D)(A)(D) (D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A4)(D)
(D)(A)(D) (D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A4)(D)
The Catman dances, Jakarta (F#m)run,
Taking (D)chances, yeah, oh, and I take (F#m)none.
And you know they (Em)fly (A) in the China (F#m)sky,
Where I heard (Em)tell,(A) Angels (F#m)cry,
And I heard (Em)tell,(A) Angels (F#m)cry,
I heard (Em)tell,(A) I heard (F#m)tell,
I heard (Em)tell (A) Angels (C9)cry. (C)(D)
(D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A)(D)
(D)(A)(D) (D)(A)(G) (G)(D)(A) (A7)(A4)(D)
© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved
janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller
In the Tanforan version there are a couple of
chord variants, often played higher up the neck.
If that poses a problem for you, play the “normal” chords.
Capo 2nd fret – so count “plus two” for fret positions below.
G*
(mostly B and E strings, so D4 would sometimes do, too)
E-----3------------
B-----3------------
G--------4---------
D-----------5------
A--xx--------------
E--xx--------------
A*
(often similar as above – sometimes with D-bass)
E-----------5------
B-----------5------
G-------------6----
D---------------7--
A--xx--------------
E--xx--------------
G’
E---------------7---
B-----------------8-
G---------------7---
D-------------------
A--xx---------------
E--xx---------------
A/D
E-------------------
B----2--------------
G----2--------------
D-------------------
A-------------------
E-xx----------------
G5*
E-------------------
B-------3-----------
G-------------------
D-------------------
A----2--------------
E-------3-----------
(Intro before the song “really begins”:
(D)(G*)(A*), “sliding” up the neck, 3x; last two are “echoes”)
(G*)(G*)(D) (G’)(G’)(A*)(A*) (A)(G)(A)(D)(A)(D)
(D)(G*)(A*),“sliding” up the neck - (G’)(G’)(A*)
(G’)(G’)(A*)(A*)(A)(G)(A)(D)(A7)(D)
Catman dances, Jakarta run,(D)(A/D)(A/D)(D)
Taking chances, yeah,(D)(A/D)(D) I take none, (D7)
And you know they (Em7)fly, (A7 short) China (F#m)sky,
Oh, I heard (Em7)tell(Em7/D)(A7) Angels (F#m)cry,
Yeah, I heard (Em7)tell (A7) even Angels (G)cry.(G5*) (G*)
(slide D to E on B-string)(D)(“echo”) (G´)(G´)(D)
(G´)(G´)(A*)(A*)(A)(G)(A)(D)(A)(D)
(repeat last two lines with minor variations)
Flying tiger, circle low,(D)(A/D)(D)
And the midnight riders,(D)(A/D)(D) chasing gold,(D7)
And you know they (Em7)fly (Em7/D)(A7) in the China (F#m)sky,
Where I heard (Em7)tell (A7) Angels (F#m)cry,
Ooh, yeah, I heard (Em7)tell (A7) Angels (F#m)cry,
Oh, where I heard (Em7/D)tell (A7) even Angels (G)cry.
(here follows a mostly single-notes solo with some
“Chinese” notes. Not that difficult to follow, but
I suggest playing the chord progression noted above –
you´ll be able to play along with the CD that way, too)
The Catman dances, Jakarta run, (A/D)
Taking (D)chances, (A/D) oh well, I take (D7)none,
Oh, and you know they (Em7)fly, (A7 short) China (F#m)sky
Where I heard (Em7)tell, (Em7/D)(A7)oh, I heard (A*)tell,
Where I heard (Em7)tell (A7) even Angels (G5*)cry...
(play the signature chord progression with variations or solo, fade out)
© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved
janhauenstein@gmx.de, Art Faller & Charlie Woodward