Missouri Birds

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘Missouri Birds’ is from the fabulous “California Bloodlines” album, Capitol 1969, best re-release as a double CD together with “Willard” (originally Capitol 1970) on BGO Records 2001.  The song is also on the very fine live double CD “Front Row Music – Before the War”, Neon Dreams Music, 2001, as part of the medley 'Looking Back Johanna – Missouri Birds – Cowboy in the Distance – If You Should Remember Me'.  John plays the song in the key of C both times. 

This version mainly follows the guitar playing on “California Bloodlines”, but Charlie Woodward and I have added some notes the piano plays and a little high notes run from the live version.

 

 

(Cj7)  (Fj7)  (Cj7)  (Fj7) (G)

Missouri (Cj7)birds, (Fj7) (Cj7)

Flying over (Fj7)old Saint Louis, (Cj7)

Hear that song they're (Fj7)singing to me, (E)

”Go into the (Am)world (G)

While (Cj7)you're young.” (Fj7) (G)

 

But the preacher's (Cj7)words (Fj7) (Cj7)

Echo from the (Fj7)old church steeple, (Cj7)

"Stay here with the (Fj7)decent people, (E)

Settle down and (Am)marry (G)

While (Cj7)you're young." (high notes run: EEDBC)(Am)

 

If I (Gm)go into the (C)world, Su(C7)sanna,

Oh,  (F)will you (G)wait for (Cj7)me? (Am)

If I (Bb)go in(Gm)to the (C)world, Su(Gm7)sanna, (Cm7) (hold)

I'll come back (Fj7) (hold)

And tell you what I've (E)seen…(hold)

 

The (Fj7)seeds (G)of (Cj7)change (Fj7) (Cj7)

Blow across the (Fj7)churchyard to me, (Cj7)

Tombstone faces (Fj7)see right through me, (E)

Today's so soon to(Am)morrow, (G)

And (Cj7)you're old. (high notes run: EEDBC)(Am)

 

If I (Gm)go into the (C)world, Su(C7)sanna,

Oh, (F)will you (G)wait for (Cj)me? (Am)

If I (Bb)go in(Gm)to the (C)world, Su(Gm7)sanna, (Cm7) (hold)

I'll come back (Fj7) (hold)

And tell you what I've (E)seen…(hold)

 

Missouri (Cj7)birds, (Fj7) (Cj7)

Flying over (Fj7)old Saint Louis, (Cj7)

Hear that song they're (Fj7)singing to me, (E)

”Go into the (Am)world (G)

While (Cj7)you're young, (Fj7)(G)

While (Cj7)you're young, (Fj7)(G)

While (Cj7)you´re young.” (Fj7)(G) (Cj7)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

janhauenstein@gmx.de and Charlie Woodward

 

9/2002