I Remember America

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘I Remember America’ is on the “Rocket Roy in the Real World” cassette, Crow, 1993, CD re-release with extra songs “Rocket Roy in the Real World Plus”,  Neon Dreams, 1999.  There´s a great live version on the “Bandera” CD, Feegie, 1995, re-released by Folk Era, 1998.  Also on “Airdream Believer”, Shanachie,  1995, same song on the compilation double CD “Gold”, Wrasse Records, 2000. 

I am not an American, as you know.  Still, I remember America.  This is a song written by a patriot.  “I remember America like you remember the dead.”  Listen closely.

 

 

(G) (G/F#) (C) (D) (G) (G/F#) (C) (D) (G) (G/F#)

 

(C) I  re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#)
(C) I re(D)member it (G)well, (G/F#) (C) (D)
When you could (G)walk down(G/F#)town in the (C)middle of the (D)night
Without (G)  the (G/F#)smell of (C)fear on your shoul(D)der
(G) As you (G/F#)jump at every (C)sound (D)
(G) And you (G/F#)never look in the (C)eye of any (D)stranger
(G)Who could (G/F#)easily gun you (C)down.
I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C)
I re(D)member every (G)town, (G/F#) (C) (D)
When (G)crack was the (G/F#)sound that (C)caps would (D)make
(G) In the (G/F#)only (C) guns that (D)kids would (G)have a(G/F#)round.(C)

I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C)

I re(D)member my (G)friends, (G/F#) (C) (D) (G)
I re(G/F#)member A(C)merica, (D)
And I (C)want to be safe(hold) again.
(Bass run B-A-G-A to…) (G) (G/F#) (C) (D) (G) (G/F#) (C)

I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C)
I re(D)member the (G)time (G/F#) (C) (D)
When (G)Rock N' (G/F#)Roll was (C)cool and (D)fun

And we'd (G) read be(G/F#)tween the (C)lines.
I re(D)member A(G)merica (G/F#) (C) (D)
(G) Like you re(G/F#)member the (C)dead, (D) (G) (G/F#) (C) (D)
When (G)freedom of (G/F#)speech wasn't (C)every four-letter (D)word

A (G)sailor (G/F#)never (C)said.
I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C)

And I re(D)member my (G)school, (G/F#) (C) (D)
Now it's (G)graf and (G/F#)gangs and (C)guards and (D)guns

And (G) needles (G/F#)in the (C)pool.
I re(D)member A(G)merica (G/F#) (C) (D)
When (G)kids could (G/F#)walk a(C)lone, (D)
(G)Go to the (G/F#)corner for a (C)root beer (D)float

And (G)safely (G/F#)make it (C)home.

I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C) (D)

(G) And I re(G/F#)member my (C)friends,  (D) (G)
I re(G/F#)member A(C)merica, (D)
And I (C)want to be safe(hold) again.
(Bass run B-A-G-A to…) (G) (G/F#) (C) (D) (G) (G/F#) (C)

 
I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C)
I re(D)member my (G)home, (G/F#) (C) (D)
That any (G)working (G/F#)man would (C)proudly (D)say

It was (G) something (G/F#)that he (C)owned.
I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C)

And I re(D)member the (G)day, (G/F#) (C) (D)
No(G)vember twenty (G/F#)second, (C)nineteen sixty (D)three,
(G) (G/F#) When they (C)blew the (D)dreams a(G)way. (G/F#) (C)

I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C) (D)

(G) And I re(G/F#)member my (C)friends,  (D) (G)
I re(G/F#)member A(C)merica, (D)
And I (C)want to be safe(hold) again.
(Bass run B-A-G-A to…) (G) (G/F#) (C)

I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C) (D) (G)
I re(G/F#)member A(C)merica, (D) (G) (G/F#) (C)

I re(D)member A(G)merica, (G/F#) (C) (D) (G)
I re(G/F#)member A(C)merica, (D) (G) (G/F#) (C) (D) (G)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller

 

April 2004