Clack, Clack

Written by John Stewart

‘Clack, Clack’ is on “Willard”, Capitol Records, 1970, best re-release as BGO Records double CD, 2001 (together with the even better “California Bloodlines”, 1969).

A great song; John´s tribute to Bobby Kennedy. John and James Taylor play the guitars (and how, and there´s Russel Kunkel on drums). I tried to come up with something that can be played on one guitar and still has the important elements that make this song so much fun to listen to. If the key of F is a bit difficult for you, transpose to G (or C). Great song – your guitar (or banjo) will like it!

(Bass run F-C-Ab[bend]-C F-C-Ab[bend]-C F-C-Ab[bend]-C

F-C-Ab[bend]-C F-C-Ab[bend]-C F-C-Ab[bend]-C)

(either continue into verse or play F-chord)

Clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (Bb)rolling down the (Gm)track

To carry me (C)home, (F)(Gm)

Back where (C)I be(F)long. (Bb)(F) (Bass run C-D-E to...)

(F)Clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (Bb)rolling down the (Gm)track

To carry me (C)home, (F)(Gm)

Back where (C)I be(F)long.(Bb)(F)(hold)

Dakota (Gm)sky (C)

Made us (F)feel (Am7)like the (Dm)river,

(F)Running (Gm)free, (C) running (F)free. (Bb)(F)(hold)

And when I (Gm)die, (C)

Bring the (F)wheels (Am7)that de(Dm)liver

(F)Restless (Gm)me, oh, restless (Bb)me.(C5)(hold)

And let me hear the (F)clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (Bb)rolling down the (Gm)track

To carry me (C)home,(F)(Gm)

Back where (C)I be(F)long. (Bb)(F) (Bass run C-D-E to...)

(F)Clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (Bb)rolling down the (Gm)track

To carry me (C)home,(F)(Gm)

Back where (C)I be(F)long.(Bb)(F)(hold)

It was Bobby's (Gm)song (C)

That I (F)wrote (Am7)without (Dm)trying,

(F)Every (Gm)word, (C) every (F)word. (Bb)(F)(hold)

Now that Bobby's (Gm)gone, (C)

This is (F)my (Am7)way of (Dm)crying,

(F)When I (Gm)heard, when I (Bb [add high G-note])heard. (hold)

Mmm, and listen to the (F)clack, clack, clack,

As the train was (Bb)rolling down the (Gm)track

To carry him (C)home,(F)(Gm)

Ah, back where (C)he be(F)longed. (Bb)(F) (Bass run C-D-E to...)

(F)Clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (Bb)rolling down the (Gm)track

To carry me (C)home,(F)(Gm)

Back where (C)I be(F)long.(Bb)(F)(hold)

Yeah, to carry me (Gm)home,(C)

Back where I be(F)long.(Am7)(Dm)(F/C) (Bb)(Am7)(Bb)(Gm)(C)(F)

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller

August 2004

Ain´t over yet!

Charlie wrote:

I have it in D capoed at 3rd fret. I'm not sure that it's not both. I've listened to the Willard/Bloodlines cd a lot this week. I've noted a verse and a chorus below and it seems like we're on the same page. Maybe use your version and throw in a verse of mine explaining it's best played with two guitars. I like your line about coming up with something that's playable by one guitar. Both of these albums have incredibly tight interplay between the guitars.

Here it is:

(D) Clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (G)rolling down the (Em)track

To carry me (A7short)home,(Em11)(A7 short)

Back where I be(D)long. (A7 sus4)(D) (Bass run A-B-Db to...)

(D)Clack, clack, clack,

As the train is (G)rolling down the (Em)track

To carry me (A7short)home,(Em11)(A7 short)

Back where I be(D)long.(A7 sus4)(D) (hold)

Dakota (Em7)sky (A7 short)

Made us (D)feel (F#m)like the (Bm)river,

Running (Em7)free,(Em7/D) (A7 short) running (D)free.

(single notes F# hammer on G pull off to F#-E-D-F#)

And when I (Em)die,(Em7) (A7 short)

Bring the (D)wheels (F#m)that de(Bm)liver

Restless (Em)me, (G) oh, restless (Em)me.(Em7/D)(A7 short)(hold)

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller

August 2004

So, invite a friend who plays guitar and tell her/him (Em11) is the guitar played “empty”…