Draft Age

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘Draft Age’ is from "Signals Through the Glass – The Songs of John Stewart And Buffy Ford", Capitol Records, 1968.  Recently re-released as a CD by Folk Era. 

This is an old song? Yes.  In 2003, it´s also a topical song, a song for this day and age.  John played it live again this year (2003), I heard him singing it in London in May.  Mighty song.  It´ll touch you and worry you, especially if you have a son who IS draft age today.  There are rumblings in Congress.  ´Nuff said.

 

Capo 2nd fret

 

(D bass, D on B-string) (C bass, C on B-string)

(B bass, B on B-string) (A bass, A on G-string)

(D bass, D on B-string) (C bass, C on B-string)

(B bass, B on B-string) (A bass, A on G-string)

 

(D)Clarence Mul(D/C)loy (D/B)stands in his (A)bedroom and (D)stares,

(D/C) He is (D/B)going a(A)way.

(D) Clarence Mul(D/C)loy (D/B)stands at the (A)mirror and (D)shaves,

(D/C) To(D/B)day is the (A)day.

Oh, it (Em)had to come sooner or (F#m)later

That the (Em)letter of greetings would (A7 short)say,

"Clarence, my (D)boy,(D/C) (D/B) you are (A)draft age (D)today."

(D/C) (D/B) (A)

 

(D)Clarence Mul(D/C)loy (D/B)looks at his (A)shelves and the (D)soldiers

(D/C) (D/B)Made out of (A)clay.

(D)Clarence Mul(D/C)loy (D/B)looks at his (A)Ma and they (D)know

(D/C) There is (D/B)nothing to (A)say.

(Em)Boarding the bus on the (F#m)corner,

Every (Em)face on the street seemed to (A7 short)say,

”Clarence, Mul(D)loy,(D/C) (D/B) you are (A)draft age (D)today."

 

And the (Em)boys have all gone to Bal(F#m)boa

With some (Em)girls that they met on the (F#m)way,

And A(Em)lexis stayed home like you (A7 short)told her.

”Clarence Mul(D)loy,(D/C) (D/B) you are (A)draft age (D)today.

(D/C) (D/B) (A)

 

(D)Clarence Mul(D/C)loy (D/B)looks out the (A)window and (D)sees

(D/C) What is (D/B)passing him (A)by.

(D) Clarence Mul(D/C)loy how in(D/B)credibly (A)short it can (D)be,

(D/C) It is (D/B)making you (A)cry.

And the (Em)dirty small boy that has (F#m)seen you

Looks (Em)up from his baseball to (A)say,

"Clarence Mul(D)loy,(D/C) (D/B) you are (A)draft age (D)today."

 

And the (Em)boys have all gone to Bal(F#m)boa

With some (Em)girls that they met on the (F#m)way,

And A(Em)lexis stayed home like you (A7 short)told her.

Clarence Mul(D)loy,(D/C) (D/B) you are (A)draft age to(D)day,

(D/C) (D/B) You are (A)draft age (D)today,

(D/C) (D/B) You are (A)(hold)draft age  to(D)day. (D/C) (D/B) (A) (D)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller

 

10/2003