The Man Who Would be King

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘The Man Who Would Be King’ is on “Bullets in the Hour Glass”, Shanachie, 1992, and there is a live version on “Deep in the Neon – John Stewart Live at McCabe´s”, Homecoming Records, 1991.  Noel Paul Stookey (The Paul in Peter, Paul and Mary) sings with John. 

Is this a song about war, power, money and corruption and about the things that are so much more important?  And/or about the children, who know which things are really important, until they are told otherwise?

Good song to start you thinking.  Be careful what you say to children.  Good song. Time to learn it.

 

 

(C) (C5) (G)  (C) (C5) (G)

(C) (C5) (G)  (C) (C5) (G)

 

Oh, it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That it's (G)not about the war,

That it's (Cj7)not about the (C)winning,

That it's (G)not about the score.

Oh, it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That it's (G)not about the rings

That we (D)put upon the fingers

Of the (Em)man who would be (C)king. (C5) (G) (hold)

 

And it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That it's (G)not about the gold,

That it's (Cj7)not about the (C)money,

(G)Things that are bought and sold.

Oh, it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That (G)these don't mean a thing,

Just like the (D)rings upon the fingers

Of the (Em)man who would be (C)king. (C5) (G) (hold)

 

And it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That it's (G)not about the plan

To (Cj7)see who is the (C)richest

Or the (G)baddest in the land.

Oh, it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That the (G)birds upon the wing,

They would (D)never give their power

To the (Em)man who would be (C)king,

They'd (D)never give their power

To the (Em)man who would be (C)king. (G)

(banjo solo)

(Cj7)  (C5)  (G)  (Cj7)  (C5)  (G)

 

Don't you real(D)ize

When you see the (G)clues

Right before your (D)eyes

On the evening (G)news?

Don't you real(D)ize

That the children (Em)know,

What the children (C)see

Is where the children (D)go? (hold)

 

And it's (Cj7)time to tell the (C)children

That it (G)is about the heart,

That it (Cj7)is about the (C)people

Of this (G)world we are a part,

That it (Cj7)is about for(C)giving

(G)Those who (G/F#)stole the (Em)rings

To (D)put upon the fingers

Of the (Em)man who would be (C)king,

To (D)put upon the fingers

Of the (Em)man who would be (C)king. (G)

(banjo solo)

(Cj7)  (C5)  (G)  (Cj7)  (C5)  (G)

(Cj7)  (C5)  (G)  (Cj7)  (C5)  (G)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller