You Can’t Go Back to Kansas

 

Written by John Stewart

 

Time for the weekend song.  Ah, I see that some of you have already gotten hold of your guitars, banjos and autoharps.  That´s the spirit. 

'Kansas' is a mighty song, a real gem, a sparkling diamond.  John recorded the song (only) twice, first time for “The Phoenix Concerts”, originally a double LP,  RCA, 1974, re-released as one CD with two bonus tracks by Bear Family Records, 1990 (still in print, “The Complete Phoenix Concerts”).  The song is also on “The Last Campaign”, Homecoming, 1985.  There´s a CD- release titled “American Hero”, NEC, 1988.  Same album, really. 

The two versions have some different words and chords.  Art and I had the “Phoenix”-version, Charlie had done the one from “Hero”, so you´ll get both and can pick the one you prefer. 

Imagine that I didn´t know why I couldn´t go back to Kansas when I first heard the song in 1974 – I hadn´t read Frank L.´s book back then. 

That first verse has some lines I quote a lot.  Some things should – maybe – not be changed…“And a wise person learns to forgive her?”

 

 

(C) (G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) Time (G)moves like a (Am)river,(C7)

(F) You can (G)either sink or (C)swim.(G)

(C) And a wise man (G)learns to for(Am)give her(C7)

(F) For (G)all she's done to (C)him.(C7)

And (F)no-one's getting (C)younger,

And a (F)few aren't (G)getting (C)old,

It's (Am)all in what you (Em)feel,

And (D)not in what you're (G)told.

 

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

It just (D)up and blew a(G)way.

Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,

It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,

But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(C)day.

(G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C) (G)

 

(C) I see the (G)sun rise and (Am)fall,(C7)

(F) And I feel the (G)earth beneath my (C)shoes.(G)

(C) Still I´m (G)stuck in my be(Am)lieving(C7)

(F) That some were (G)born and cursed to (C)lose.(C7)

But (F)nothing´s gonna (C)happen here,

That´s (F)all I´ve (G)got to (C)say,

It´s (Am)nothing to be (Em)down about,

It´s (D)always been that (G)way.

 

Oh, I (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,

Oh, I (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

It just (D)up and blew a(G)way.

Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,

It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,

But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(Am)day. (Em) (F)(G)(C)

(Am) (Em) (D) (G) (F) (C) (F)(G)(C) (Am) (Em) (F)(G)(C)

 

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

It just (D)up and blew (G)away.

Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,

It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,

But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(C)day.

(G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Art Faller, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Charlie Woodward

 

 

When you play the next one, please WATCH OUT:  I have written out the distinctive high-notes run John plays during the chord change from (G) to (C) only once, see first line of intro.  I´ll probably play most of the runs on the bass-strings, “it´s easier that way.”

 

 

(C) (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G, highlight high notes:g-b-c-d)

(C) "And across the (G)plains of Wichita,

(C)at the farms being (Em7/B)sold at auction,(Am7)

they listened to the (Am7/G)clear New England voice (F)

cut the cold (G)Kansas sky."(C) (Em7/B)

 

(C) Time (Em7/B)moves like a (Am7)river,(Am7/G)

(F) You can (G)either sink or (C)swim. (G)

(C)And a wise (Em7/B)man learns (Am7)to forgive her(Am7/G)

(F) For (G)all she's done to (C)him. (C7)

(F) No one's getting (Cj7)younger,

(Dm7) But a (G)few aren't getting (C)old, (high notes:e-d)(Am)

It's all in what you (Em)feel  (D)

It's not in what you're (G)told.(G/F) (G/E) (Bass run: G-A-B-D)

 

(Am) But you can't go back to (Em)Kansas,

(F) I was (G)there just yester(C)day.(Bass run: G-A-B-D)

(Am) You can't go back to (Em)Kansas,  (D)

It just up and blew a(G)way.  (Fj7)

So I will go on (Cj7)loving you,   (F)

It's (G)easier that (C)way,(run, start on G-string:g-a-b-d)

(Am) And you can't go back to (Em)Kansas,  (F)

'Cause (G)that was yester(C)day. (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

 

(C) I see the (Em7/B)sun rise and (Am7)fall,(Am7/G)

(F) And I feel the (G)earth beneath my (C)shoes. (G)

(C) There's no (Em7/B)need in you be(Am7)lieving(Am7/G)

(F) That you were (G)born and cursed to (C)lose.(C7)

(Fj7) So why not go on (Cj7)dreaming then? 

(F) Yeah, take (G)anyone you (C)choose. (Am)

There's nothing to be (Em)down about, (D)

'Cause you either (G) win or lose.(G/F) (G/E) (Bass run: G-A-B-D)

 

(Am)You can't go back to (Em)Kansas,(high notes:g-f-e-d-f)   

(F) I was (G)there just yester(C)day.(high notes:g-g g-g g-g)

(Am You can't go back to (Em)Kansas,  (D)

It just up and blew (G)away.    (Fj7)

So I will go on (Cj7)loving you,   (F)

'Cause it's (G)easier that (C)way,(single notes:g-a-b-d-a)

(Am) But you can't go back to (Em)Kansas,  (F)

'Cause (G)that was (C) yesterday.

(Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller