The Oldest Living Son

Written by John Stewart

“A song from the Willard album…”

Enough information for Stewart fans to know which song follows. ‘The Oldest Living Son’ makes its debut on the “Willard” album, Capitol, 1970, best CD-re-issue is the double CD “California Bloodlines/Willard”, BGO Records, 2001. There is an excellent live version (just John and his guitar) on “The Phoenix Concerts”, RCA 1974, CD re-release with two bonus tracks and a nice booklet as a single CD by Bear Family Records, 1990. The song is also on “The Last Campaign”, Homecoming, 1985, CD re-issue as “American Hero”, NEC, 1988 and on “The Americans”, Neon Dreams, 2002.

This is cinema for the mind. So many vivid images. Should the verses seem disjointed at first reading, read again. They´ll fall into place, sooner or later. Literature

of the highest order. And a mighty song.

This is the version from “The Phoenix Concerts”. A little bit easier to play than it looks.

Chords

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

B------2-------

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

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

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

E-XXXXXX-

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

B---------------

G--1------------

D---------------

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

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

E7+D

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

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

G---1-----------

D---------------

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

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

The Oldest Living Son John Stewart

Capo 2nd fret

(D)(D4)(D5)(D)(D4)(D) (G) (D) (A)(A7)

(D)(D4)(D5)(D)(D4)(D) (G) (D) (A7)

(D)Syc(D/Eb)amores (D/B)grow (D)

In(D/A) the (G/D)long (E7/B)planted (A7)rows,

(Bass run A hammer on C# middle E to…)

(D)Out (D/Eb)there to (D/B)break the (D/A)April (E7/G#)wind.(E7+D) (A7)

Still, the (D)dust, it (D/Eb)always (D/B)blows (D/A)

In our (G)eyes and (E7/B)in our (A7)clothes,

And it's (D)in our (G)very (F#m)souls

Like a (E7/D) song about (E7+D/B)me and (A7)Jim.

(highlight high notes c#-d-e-c#)

(D)The back (D/Eb)of my (D/B)hand (D/A)

Started (G/D) lookin' (E7/B) like a (A7)man's

(Bass run A hammer on C# middle E to…)

(D)Way (D/Eb)back when (D/B)I was (D/A)only (E7/G#)ten.(E7+D) (A7)

Still the (D)lonesome (D/Eb)in me (D/B)cries (D/A)

Like a (G)little (E7/B)boy some(A7)times,

(Bass run A hammer on C# middle E to…)

And (D) you can (G)hear it (F#m)scream

When I come out (E7/D)screaming (E7+D/B)like the (A7)wind.

(highlight high notes c#-d-e-c#)

Me and (D)Jim, getting (D9)thin,

Oh, (G)fare thee (E7/B)well to (A7 short)him.

(D)Fare thee (D/Eb)well now, (D/B)Mama, (D/A)

I'm gonna (G)take good (E7/B)care of (A7)him.

(highlight high notes c#-d-e-c#)

Me and (D)Jim, getting (D9)thin,

Oh, (G)fare thee (E7/B)well to (A7)him,

But there (D)ain't no(G)where to (F#m)run

For the (G)oldest (A7)living (D)son. (D/Eb) (D/B) (D/A) (G) (A7)

(Bass run A hammer on C# middle E to…)

(Spoken) (D)Our (D/Eb)dad, he was a (D/B)gentle (D/A)man

(G)When we all (A)worked at the (D)store,

And the only (D/Eb)time that I (D/B)saw him (D/A)mad

Was when he (E7/G#)talked about the (A7)war.

(Bm)We lost a boy at (F#m)Belleau Wood,

I (G)guess he just never really (D)understood (D/Eb) (D/B) (D/A)

(Sung)What the (E7/B)medals from the (E7+D/B)President were (A7)for.

(highlight high notes c#-d-e-c#)

Me and (D)Jim, getting (D9)thin,

Oh, (G)fare thee (E7/B)well to (A7 short)him.

(Bass run A hammer on C# middle E to…)

(D)Fare thee (D/Eb)well now, (D/B)Mama, (D/A)

I'm gonna (G)take good (E7/B)care of (A7)him.

(highlight high notes c#-d-e-c#)

Me and (D)Jim, getting (D9)thin,

Oh, (G)fare thee (E7/B)well to (A7)him,

But there (D)ain't no(G)where to (F#m)run (hold)

For the (G)oldest (A7)living (D)son.

(D)(D4)(D5)(D)(D4)(D) (G) (A)

Art Faller, Charlie Woodward & janhauenstein@gmx.de

9/2003