Nebraska Widow

Written by John Stewart

‘Nebraska Widow’ is from “Signals Through the Glass” – The Songs of John Stewart and Buffy Ford”, Capitol Records (68).

Buffy sings it beautifully. Behold how the artist paints a picture with only a few words. I started learning this one some time ago, but somehow didn´t really get past the first few lines – listener´s block, maybe because I had chosen it as the 100^th JS-song I tried to learn. Guess what? I sent it to Charlie Woodward, moaning loudly (me, not Charlie). He sent it back in no time at all and all that was left for me to do was suggest a few small changes and polish the song so that it shines. We hope it does.

D/F#: Play the F# bass-note on the D-string (4th fret)

E----2------------

B-------3---------

G----2------------

D----------4------

A----x------------

E----x------------

Fj9

E--------3--------

B-1---------------

G----2------------

D-------3---------

A---x-------------

E---x-------------

E--------3--------

B-1---------------

G-----------------

D----2------------

A-------3---------

E---x-------------

Fj7

E-----------------

B-1---------------

G----2------------

D-------3---------

A-----------------

E-(1)-------------

Em7/B

E-----------------

B-------3---------

G-----------------

D---x-------------

A----2------------

E---x-------------

Capo 2nd fret

Bass run: E E D C A -slide on B-string: 3rd to 5th fret-.

Repeat 1x (I use the Am chord as a “starting point”

for the bass run. Gets the fingers in the right mood)

(Am)Leigh(Am/E)lie's living (D/F#) on

The (Am/E)farm she was (C)born (Fj9)on.

-downstrokes, alternate between F bass and A bass (A on G-string!)

(Am)Leigh(Am/E)lie's clothes were (D/F#)torn

From the (Am/E)morn they were (C)first (Fj9)worn.

-downstrokes, alternate between F and A bass

And she (Dm)stands by the (Am)window,

(Em)Watches by the (C5)door,

(G7)Asking "Is there (C/E)any(C)bo(C/E)dy

(F)Going (Am7/E)to the (Em)store?"

-downstroke(Em7)

Bass run: E E D C A –slide on B-string: 3rd to 5th fret-. Repeat 1x

The (Am)wind blows through the (D/F#)cracks

In the (Am/E)walls of the (C)tool (Fj9)shack.

–downstrokes…

(Am)Leigh(Am/E)lie folds the (D/F#)sacks

As they (Am/E)bring all the (C)grain (Fj9)back.

–downstrokes…

And she (Dm)works 'till the (Am)sun

Is (Em)sinking from the (C5)sky,

I've (G7)never heard her (C/E)laugh

(C)and (C/E)I've (F)never (Am7/E)seen her (Em)cry.

Let the chord ring out, then (hold!)

Nebraska (F)widow, (Dm)on(D7)ly a (G)girl,

Ne(C)braska (F)widow, (Dm)yet this (D7)is her (G)world.

Ne(C)braska (Fj7)widow, she's (Am)living(hold)

And (Em7/B)dying(hold) in its (F)whirl.(hold)

- you can either do a soft downstroke for the three (hold) chords

or softly pick a few notes.

Nebraska (F)widow, (Dm)on(D7)ly a (G)girl,

Ne(C)braska (F)widow, (Dm)yet this (D7)is her (G)world,

Ne(C)braska (Fj7)widow, she's (Am)living(hold)

And (Em7/B)dying(hold) in its (Fj7)whirl.(hold)

Bass run: E E D C A –slide on B-string: 3rd to 5th fret-. Repeat 1x

(Am)Leigh(Am/E)lie's living (D/F#)on

The (Am/E)farm she was (C)born (Fj9)on.

-downstrokes…

(Am)Leigh(Am/E)lie's clothes were (D/F#)torn

From the (Am7/E)morn they were (C)first (Fj9)worn.

–downstrokes…

And she (Dm)stands by the (Am)window,

(Em)Watches by the (C5)door,

(G)Asking "Is there (C/E)any(C)bo(C/E)dy

(Fj7)Going (Am7/E)to the (Em7/B)store?"

Charlie Woodward & janhauenstein@gmx.de

2002