Hero from the War

Written by John Stewart

‘Hero from the War’ is on “Willard”, Capitol Records, 1970, best re-release as BGO Records double CD, 2001 (together with the fantastic “California Bloodlines” album, 1969) and on “The Americans Plus”, Neon Dreams, 2002 (paired with Oldest Living Son there).

This is a mighty song. Saw John play it live in London, 15 May 2003. The war in Iraq. When you change the number of years accordingly, this has been and will be a topical song for a long, long time.

Fmaj7 variant

E--1---------

B--1---------

G-----2------

D-----2------

A-------------

E---X--------

Capo 1^st fret

(C)(C/D)(C/E)(C/E)(C4)(C)(C9)(C)(C/D)(C/E)(C/E)(C4)(C)

(Am) (Fmaj7)(Am)(A4)(Am) (Dm7) (G7) (hold)

Oh her (C)voice was cracked and broken,

But some(Cj7)how she sang the song,

And she (C7)clung to every word,

But she (F)couldn't hold ´em (Dm7)long.

They could (C)crash about her (G)heart

Where she (Bb)cradled them so long...(hold)

(Am)Waiting for her (F)hero from the (C)war,

(Am)She's been waiting (G)now

(Bb/D)Twenty years or (G7)more.(hold)

And she (C)read to me the letter

Turning (Cj7)yellow in the light,

(C7)Read to me the letter

Now en(F)graved upon her (Dm7)sight.

(C)I believe she (G)almost hears

A (Bb)bugle in the night.(hold)

(Am)Waiting for her (F)hero from the (C)war,

(Am)She's been waiting (G)now

(Bb/D)Twenty years or (G7)more.(hold)

(C)(C/D)(C/E)(C/E)(C4)(C)(C9)(C)(C/D)(C/E)(C/E)(C4)(C)

(Am) (Fmaj7)(Am)(A4)(Am) (Dm7) (G7) (hold)

(Am)Waiting for her (F)hero from the (C)war,

(Am)She's been waiting (G)now

(Bb/D)Twenty years or (G7)more.

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller

September 2004