Run the Ridges

 

Written by John Stewart

 

Run the Ridges is on The Day the River Sang, Appleseed, 2006, and on Trio Years, Homecoming Records (86), re-released as CD by NEC (88) under the title New Frontier with seven additional songs from Secret Tapes 86 (originally a Homecoming Records cassette) and by Folk Era (93) under the title Chilly Winds with seven songs from Revenge of  the Budgie (83).  The Kingston Trio recorded the song in the early sixties. 

Fine song.  Great fun to play.   

Three versions for you – two for the ‘new’ Run the Ridges, one in Em and one in Am (capo 7th to play along to the CD) and the ‘old’ version from Trio Years that Art and I worked out in 2002.

 

 

Bm7

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Em*

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Em9

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Run the Ridges     John Stewart (as played on The Day the River Sang)

 

(slow strum down the strings, only B-note on high E-string fingered)

Well, I (Em)hope(hold) to tell you, (Bm7)Johnny,(hold)

Better (C)lay(hold) that rifle (D)down,(hold)

Let's (Em)leave(hold) the noose

And the (Bm7)calaboose,(hold)

And head it for another town.(Em [fast single notes, based on (Em),

throw in some (Em7), (D) and (Bm)-notes])

 

Well, they’ve (Em)got your name in (D)San José,

And your (C)picture’s there to (D)see,

And they’re (Em)shootin´ men in (D)Texas

Just be(C)cause they look like (D)me.

 

And (G)I will (D)run the (C)ridges

Of our (D)green land Tennes(G)see, (D)

And (G)we will (G/F#)hide for (Em)forty (Em/D)years

If (C)that’s what’s meant to (D)be,

Meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (Em)be, meant to (D)be, meant to (C)be,

If (D)that's what's meant to (Em)be.

 

Well, they´ll rope and tie you, (Bm7)Johnny,

And they´ll (C)throw you to the (D)ground,

And they´ll (Em)let you hang a (Bm7)week or two

´Fore they´ll (C)cut your body (D)down,

Body (C)down, body (D)down,

Body (Em7)down, body down, body (D)down,

Body (Em)down, body (D)down, body (C)down,

´Fore they´ll (D)cut your body (Em)down.

(Em*)(Em*)(Bm7)(Bm7)(Em*)(Em*) (Bm7)

(bass notes on D-string:F#-E-D-E to…)

(Em*) (Em9) (Em*) (Em7) (Em)

(bass notes on D-string:F#-E-D-E to…)(Em)

 

Well, we could try for (Bm7)Mexico

And (C)cross the desert (D)sand,

But they're (Em)guarding close the (D)border

In case we (C)swim the Rio (D)Grande.

 

And (G)we will (D/F#)run the (Em7)ridges, (Em/D)yeah,(G)

Of our (C)green land (D) Tennes(G)see, (D) (G)(G) (D)

And (G)we will (G/F#)hide for (Em)forty (Em/D)years

If (C)that’s what’s meant to (D)be,

Meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (Em)be, meant to (Em/D)be, meant to (C)be, (D)

Meant to (Em)be, meant to (Em/D)be, meant to (C)be,

If (D)that's what's meant to (Em)be.

(highlight run on high E-string: [hammer on] G-G-[slide down to ]F#-E-G)

 

Well, I hope to tell you, (Bm7)Johnny,

Better (C)lay that rifle (D)down,

Let's (Em)leave the noose and the (Em/D)calaboose

And (C)head it for another (D)town.

 

And (G)we will (G/F#)run the (Em)ridges

Of our (Em/D)green land (D/F#)Tennes(G)see,

And we will (G/F#)hide for (Em)forty (Em/D)years

If (C)that’s what’s meant to (D)be,

Meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (Em)be, meant to (Em/D)be, meant to (C)be, (D)

Meant to (Em)be, meant to (Em/D)be, meant to (C)be,

If (D)that's what's meant to (Em)be.

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller

 

March 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Em7

E--xx--------

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Run the Ridges     John Stewart

 

Capo 7th fret

 

Fingerpicked with strong accents on the bass line.

Many pull-offs and hammer-ons using the bass notesof the chords,

 

(Am) strummed slowly (hold)

 

Well, I (Am)hope(hold) to tell you, (Em7)Johnny,(hold)

Better (F)lay(hold) that rifle (G)down. (hold)

Let's (Am)leave(hold) the noose

And the (Em7)calaboose,(hold)

And head it for another town.(Am[fast single notes, based on (Am),

throw in some (Am7), (G)and (Em)-notes])

 

Well, they got your name in (G)San Jose,

And your (F)picture's there to (G)see,

And they're (Am)shootin' men in (G)Texas

Just be(F)cause they look like (G)me.

 

And (C)I will (C/B)run the (C/A)ridges

Of our (G)green land Tennes(C)see, (G)

And (C)we will (C/B)hide for (Am7)forty (Am7/G)years,

If (F)that's what's meant to (G)be,

Meant to (F)be, meant to (G)be,

Meant to (Am)be, meant to (G)be, meant to (F)be,

If (G)that's what's meant to (Am)be.

 

Well, they´ll rope and tie you, (G)Johnny,

And they´ll (F)throw you to the (G)ground,

And they´ll (Am)let you hang a (Em7)week or two

´Fore they´ll (F)cut your body (G)down,

Body (F)down, body (G)down,

Body (Fj7)down, body down, body (G)down,

Body (Am)down, body (G)down, body (F)down,

´Fore they´ll (G)cut your body (Am)down.

(Em7)  (F)  (G)  (Am)  (Em7)  (F)  (G)  (Am)

 

Well, we could try for (Em7)Mexico

And (F)cross the desert (G)sand,

But they're (Am)guarding close the (G)border

In case we (F)swim the Rio (G)Grande.

 

And (C)we will (Em7)run the (C/A)ridges, (Am7/G)yeah,

Of our (F)green land (G) Tennes(C)see, (G) (C)(C) (G)

And (C)we will (C/B)hide for (Am)forty (Am7/G)years,

If (F)that's what's meant to (G)be,

Meant to (F)be, meant to (G)be,

Meant to (Am)be, meant to (G)be, meant to (F)be, (G)

Meant to (Am)be, meant to (G)be, meant to (F)be,

If (G)that's what's meant to (Am)be.

 

Well, I hope to tell you, (Em7)Johnny,

Better (F)lay that rifle (G)down,

Let's (Am)leave the noose and the (Am7/G)calaboose

And (F)head it for another (G)town.

 

And (C)we will (C/B)run the (Am)ridges,

Of our (G)green land Tennes(C)see,

And we will (C/B)hide for (Am)forty (Am7/G)years,

If (F)that's what's meant to (G)be,

Meant to (F)be, meant to (G)be,

Meant to (Am)be, meant to (Am7/G)be, meant to (F)be, (G)

Meant to (Am)be, meant to (Am7/G)be, meant to (F)be,

If (G)that's what's meant to (Am)be.

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller

 

March 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Run the Ridges     John Stewart (as played on Trio Years)

 

Capo 2nd fret

 

(Em)  (Em7)(Em)(Em7) [10x altogether- accentuate  the  high notes EE DBD]

(John ends this instrumental intro on “hope” and sings the first section

a capella. Since this is not everybody´s kettle of fish, chords are given here.)

 

Well, I (Em)hope(hold) to tell you, (D)Johnny,(hold)

That I (C)lay(hold) that rifle (D)down,(hold)

But to (Em)leave(hold) the noose

And the (D)calaboose,(hold)

And I (C)headed(hold) for another (D)town,(hold)

For another town, yeah.(Em)  (Em7)(Em)(Em7) [4x altogether]

 

Well, I’ve (Em)got(hold) your name in (D)San(hold) José,

And your (C)picture’s(hold) there to (D)see,(hold)

And they’re (Em)shooting(hold) men in (D)Texas(hold)

Just be(C)cause(hold) they look like (D)me,(hold)(high notes F#-E-D) (hold)

´Cause they look like (Em)me. (Em7)(Em)(Em7) [4x altogether]

 

And (G)we will (Bm)run the (C)ridges

Of our (D)green land, (C)Tennes(G)see,

And (C)we will hide for (G)forty years

If (C)that’s what’s meant to (D)be,

Meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (G)be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (G)be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,(hold)

If it´s meant to (Em)be, yeah.(Em7)(Em)(Em7) [8x altogether]

 

Well, they’ll (Em)rope(hold) and tie you, (D)Johnny,(hold)

And they’ll (C)throw you to the (D)ground,(hold)

And they’ll (Em)let(hold) you hang a (D)week(hold) or two

‘Fore they (C)cut your body (D)down,

Body (C)down, body (D)down,

Body down, body (C)down, body (D)down,

Body (G)down, body (C)down, body (D)down,

Body (G)down, body (C)down, body (D)down …(hold)

Cut your body (Em)down.(Em7)(Em)(Em7) [10x altogether]

 

And (G)we will (Bm)run the (C)ridges

Of our (D)green land, (C)Tennes(G)see,

And (C)we will hide for (G)forty years

If (C)that’s what’s meant to (D)be,

Meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (G)be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (G)be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (G)be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be,

Meant to (G)be, meant to (C)be, meant to (D)be…(hold)

If it´s meant to (Em)be.(Em7)(Em)(Em7) [4x altogether]

 

(John repeats (Em) (Em7)(Em)(Em7) over and over for the last section.

I play the chords of the first section)

 

Well, I (Em)hope to tell you, (D)Johnny,

That I (C)lay that rifle (D)down,

But to (Em)leave the noose

And the (D)calaboose,

And I (C)headed for another (D)town,(hold)

For another town, yeah.(Em) (Em7)(Em)(Em7) (fade out)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Art Faller & janhauenstein@gmx.de

 

2002