One Grain of Sand

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘One Grain of Sand’ is from “Rocket Roy in the Real World Plus” (Neon Dreams, 1999). 

An overlooked great song.  Lovely guitar, quite intricate at times (we had our work cut out for us and we are, at best, close).  Great heartfelt vocal by Buffy.  Had to listen many, many times until I could do it with dry eyes.  Ah, that second verse.

 

Highlight notes in [ ]

Playing hint: high E-string often unplayed.

Sounds good without the high note and bass runs, too – but go for them.

 

 

(Cj7) (high notes run e-e-d-e-c, b-hammer on c pull off to b hammer on c) (Fj7) (G)

(Cj7) I will never forget Aunt De(Fj7)lores,

(Cj7) In the dusty white Plymouth she (Fj7)sat,

(Cj7[e]) Or the [d]dozen [b]white lilies [c]and ribbons[b-g-E(on D-string-a(on G-string)]

(D/F#) Carefully held in her lap.(G)  (bass notes:A-F)

(F) And she smiled (Fj7)serenely at no one(C)(Cadd9)(Am7short)

(F) As her (D/F#)memories faded away,(G)

(C) You see, (E7short[b])she´s [d]having a party,(Am[c]) (D bass-note to…)

(D/F#) It's her ninety-first birthday today.(G)

 

(Cj7) See the hearse stalled out there on the highway.(Fj7)

(Cj7) Some neighborhood boys looked in(Fj7)side.

(C[c]) [e] The long [d]metal [b]box was so (Am[c])shiny, [b]

(D/F#) They wonder who's taking the ride.(G) (D-bass note to…)

(F) And (G)Henry has found a brown ,(Cj7[b])lizard,(Cadd9[d])(C[c])

(D-bass note to…)

(F) Sunning it(D/F#)self on the (G)ground,

(F) And the hearse pulls a(E7short)way quite unnoticed (Am) (Am/G)

(D/F#) As they're passing the lizard a(G)round. (hold)

 

(Cj7) (hold) One tiny grain of (Dm7)sand (G/D)

(G)Cast against the (C[e] [e])sky, [d] [b] (Am[c] [c])(Am/E to…)

A (Am/G)million stars [D bass note]a(F)round it(Dm7) (F# bass note)

To (G)see that it can (C)fly, (C[f][e])  (C7)

(F) And around the (G)stars, the (C[e])heavens[b] [c] [b]

[b hammer on a pull off to b] (Am)

And (E7short)all that lies be(Am)yond,(Am/G)

(Cj7) All around this (F)grain of sand

(Dm7) We are standing (G)on.

(Cj7)  (Fj7)   (Cj7)   (Fj7)

 

(Cj7) And if you turn off on Glen (Fj7)Annie Road

(Cj7) And a pretty young girl comes your way,(Fj7)

(C) It's [e]just E[d]laine out [b]chasing the [c]morning,

(D/F#) It´s her favorite time of (G)day.(hold)

 

(Cj7) (hold) One tiny grain of (Dm7)sand (G/D)

(G)Cast against the (C[e] [e])sky, [d] [b] (Am[c] [c])(Am/E to…)

A (Am/G)million stars [D bass note]a(F)round it(Dm7) (F# bass note)

To (G)see that it can (C)fly, (C[f][e])  (C7)

And a(F)round the (G)stars, the (C[e])heavens[d] [c] [b] (Am)

Oh, and (E7short)all that lies be(Am)yond,(Am/G)

(C) All a(C/B)round this (Am)grain of sand (Am/G)

(F) We (Dm7)are standing (G)on.

 

(C[e-e-d-b](Am) (Am[c-d-e])(F[f-f-c](G5[d])(C[e])

(C [c-c  e-c])(G5[d-d])(C[c-c-b]) (Am[bass notes E-F  E-F#  E to…](G)

 

(F) And around the (G)stars, the (C)heavens  (Am)

And (E7short)all that lies be(Am)yond,

(Cj7) All around this (F)grain of sand

(Dm7) We are standing (G)on. (hold)

(Cj7 [b hammer on c pull off to b hammer on c pull off to b])

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward  Art Faller

 

January 2005