The Last Hurrah

 

Written by John Stewart

 

This one is dedicated to the gentleman with a name like an excellent French wine.  One of the finest songs ever written (don´t contradict me- I mean it).  "The saddest words I´ve ever spoken were the words "It might have been" "- became one of my mottos.  Made me found a band and play live.  Which in turn gave me some of the happiest hours of my life.  Only being there when my daughter was born was better in terms of shear happiness.
’The Last Hurrah’ is on the RSO LP “Fire in the Wind” (77), reissued as CD (with additional songs) by Wrasse 2001.  I learned the song from the LP a long time ago.  It is also on “Front Row Music: Before the War”, Neon Dreams, 2001.
John plays in Bb, I have it in G.  Capo 3rd fret.  I´ve got a "full" version with all the chords I hear John playing (quite difficult, this one- the big guy sure can pick!) and a "version-I-can-play-without-breaking-my-fingers."  This is the latter.  Verse and chorus with more chords added below.  Learn this song today.

Instrumental intro: full verse.

(G/B)Clear the (D)tracks, the (C)song's (G/B)been ta(D/A)ken,
(G/B)This may (D)be the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah.
(G/B)In Tennes(D)see, they (C)were (D)for(G/B)sa(G)ken,
(G/B)L.A. (D)was the (C)coup (G/B)de (D/A)grace.

(G/B)Clean your (D)guns, the (C)bat(G/B)tle's o(D/A)ver,
(G/B)They be(D)long now (C)to (G/B)the (D/A)wind.
(G/B)The saddest (D)words I've (C)e(D)ver (G/B)spo(G)ken
(G/B)Were the (D)words, "It (C)might (G/B)have (D/A)been."

(Em)And it's al(D)right, it's (C)only (G)music.
(Em)It is (D)singing (A)in the (D)stars.
(Em)Keep your (D)dreams as (C)clean (D)as (G/B)sil(G)ver,
(G/B)This may (D)be the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah.

-Instr. verse-

(G/B)Loyal (D)friends and (C)front-(G/B)row dan(D/A)cers,
(G/B)Hitch your (D)wagon (C)to (G/B)a (D/A)star.
(G/B)Chilly (D)wind blew (C)cold (D)this (G/B)mor(G)ning,
(G/B)This may (D)be the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah.

(Em)And it's al(D)right, it's (C)only (G)music,
(Em)It is (D)singing (A)in the (D)stars.
(Em)Keep your (D)dreams as (C)clean (D)as (G/B)sil(G)ver,
(G/B)This may (D)be the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah,
(G/B)This may (D)be the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah

-Instr. verse,last chord:(G)

© John Stewart

janhauenstein@gmx.de

Quick pickers, this is for you:

(G/B)Clear (C)the (D)tracks, (G)the (C)song´s (G/B)been ta(D/A)ken,
(G/B)This (C)may (D)be (G)the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah.
(G/B)In Ten(C)nes(D)see, (G)they (C)were (D)for(G/B)sa(G)ken,
(G/B)L.A. (D)was (G)the (C)coup (G/B)de (D/A)grace...

(Em)And it´s al(D)right, it´s (C)only (G)music,
(Em)It is (D)singing (A)in the (D)stars.
(Em)Keep your (D)dreams as (C)clean (D)as (G/B)sil(G)ver,
(G/B)This (C)may (D)be (G)the (C)last (G/B)hur(D/A)rah.

Yes, "Keep your dreams as clean as silver" is also a very, very good motto.