Signals to Ludi

Written by John Stewart

This one is far from easy to play...

‘Signals to Ludi’ is from “Signals Through the Glass – The Songs of John Stewart and Buffy Ford”, Capitol Records, 1968, CD re-issue by Folk Era, 2004.

A difficult song – coming of age, the horrors of being a sensitive child, the cruelty of the world. The angels can´t always be on the way. A great song.

And how many singer-songwriters, especially in 1968, came up with such a guitar track? I still can´t play it, at least not that fast, and we´ve been working on Ludi for a while now. (Too long! Too long! I shouted in our b/c mails more than once.)

We hope we have come close to what John played, and this is a joy - for an accomplished player.

D/F#

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

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

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

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

A---X-------------

E---X-------------

Play D-string, then G-string – B-string - E-string – B-string

Em11

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

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

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

D---X-----------

A---X-----------

E---X-----------

Play G-string, then E-string – B-string

D/hammer on G 2nd fret

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

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

G-----h2--------

D---X-----------

A---X-----------

E---X-----------

Play the G-string, then E-string – B-string

A sus 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

G* (a G-variant)

E---X---------------

B--------------5----

G-----------4-------

D--------------5----

A--------------5----

E-------(3)---------

D* (a D-variant)

E--------------5--------

B--------------5----7---

G--------------5----7---

D--------------5----7---

A--------------5--------

E--------------5--------

E-------------------5--

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

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

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

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

E---X------------------

Signals To Ludi John Stewart

Capo 3rd fret

(D/F#) (Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11)

They were (D/F#)burning black (Em11) widows

In the (D/hammer on G 2nd fret)Alderman (Em11)cave-in (D/F#)today,

(Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11)

(D/F#)Ludi was (Em11)crying,

She (D/hammer on G 2nd fret)told me she (Em11)ran all the (G)way. (G/F#) (Em) (hold)

Yeah, she knew they were (D)dying, (Am7) (hold)

So what could I (D/F#) say? (Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11)

A (D/F#)woodpecker (Em11)mama

Was (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) nesting up (Em11)high in the (D/F#)leaves,

(Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11)

Some (D/F#)kids with an (Em11)air gun

Were (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) shooting her (Em11)out of the(G)tree (G/F#) (Em) (hold)

And they called over (D)Ludi, (Am7)(hold)

Just so she could (D/F#) see. (Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11)

(F#m)Fall(Em7)ing (G)sta(D)r (G)fade a(F#m)way, (A7 short)

(F#m)Falling (Em)sta(G)r(hold) fade a(A7)way. (A) (Asus4)(A)(A)(Asus2)(A)

They are (D)signals to (G)Ludi,

An (D)angel's (F#)on its (G)way.

See the (F#m)fall(Em7)ing (A7 short)star (D) (G)fade a(D)way.(D4)

Some (D)guy down in (G*)Texas,

I (D*)hear went right (G*)out of (D)his head. (G*) (D*) (G*)

I (D)see by the (G*)paper

That (D*)six sorry (D7)people are (G)dead.(G/F#) (Em) (hold)

Thank the Lord little (D) Ludi (Am7)

Can't read what it (D)said. (D4) (D5) (D4)

(F#m)Fall(Em7)ing (G)sta(D)r (G)fade a(F#m)way, (A7 short)

(F#m)Falling (Em)sta(G)r fade a(A7)way.

They are (D)signals to (G)Ludi,

An (D)Angel’s(hold) (F#)on(hold) its (G)way.(hold)

See the (F#m)fall(Em7)ing (A7short)star(hold) fade a(D/F#)way.

(Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11)

They were (D/F#)burning black (Em11) widows

In the (D/hammer on G 2nd fret)Alderman (Em11)cave-in (D/F#)today,

(Em11) (D/hammer on G 2nd fret) (Em11) (D/F#)

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller

March 2005