Tanforan

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘Tanforan’ is the title song of the November 2003 Neon Dreams CD.  Damn fine song.  It´s about Seabiscuit.  I don´t think it´s “only” about horses.  “And here´s to all the losers who gathered wings to fly...”  Damn fine playing (I love the banjo), one of those hypnotic Stew songs.  John often doesn´t play full chords here, high E-string almost unplayed throughout. 

A few playing hints – yes, it also sounds extremely good with high E.  The (Am7/G) in the intro is/can be added in that chord progression when it´s played during the verses a couple of times, too.  Some of the (C7)s are more a feeling than something I hear – but eagle-eye Art saw them when he watched John play the song live recently.  And finally, the (Em) might just, might just be a (Cj7) some of the time.  Play this one.  You´ll find it´s very difficult to stop playing...and playing...

 

 

Capo 4th fret

 

(C) (G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) (G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G7)

(C) It was (G)post time in the (Am)meadows,

(F) I had my (G)wager in my (C)hand. (G)

(C) I was (G)trying to keep the (Am)sun out

(F) Of my (G)eyes the best I (C)can.(C7)

(F) And I could hear the (Em)cheering  (Am)

>From the (F)people (G) in the (C)stands, (G)yeah,

(F) Who were waiting for the (Em)pony (Am)

(F) Who (C)won at Tanfo(G)ran.

 

(C) He was (G)roughed and he was (Am)beaten,

(F) He was (G)'buked and he was (C)scorned. (G)

(C) He was the (G)horse nobody (Am)wanted

(F) From the (G)day that he was (C)born.(C7)

(F) And somewhere deep in(Em)side him

A (Am)voice said, (F) (G)"I don't give a (C)damn,"(G)

(F) The (G)broken little (Em)pony (Am)

(F) Who (C)won at  Tanfo(G)ran,

(F) The (G)broken little (Em)pony, (Am)yeah,

(F) Who (G)won at Tanfo(C)ran.

(G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) (G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C)(C7)

 

(F) And there were (G)rainbows in the (Em)infield, (Am)yeah,

(F) There were (G)kids upon the (C)rail. (G)

(F) Clark (G)Gable's in the (Em)club house (Am)

(F) With a (C)blonde named Lucy (G)Gale.

(F) There were (G)bookies in (Em)fedoras (Am)

Writing (F)numbers (G)on their (C)hands (G)

(F) For that broken little (Em)pony, (Am)yeah,

(F) Who (C)won at Tanfo(G)ran,

(F) For that (G)broken little (Em)pony (Am)

(F) Who (G)won at Tanfo(C)ran.

(G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) (G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

 

(C) (G)You can smell the (Am)tanbark

(F) Where the (G)jockeys all (C)parade, (G)

(C) And you (G)know they call the (Am)horses

(F) When you (G)hear the bugle (C)played.(C7)

(F) And (G)here's to all the (Em)losers (Am)

(F) Who (G)gathered wings to (C)fly, (G)yeah,

(F) Like that little broken (Em)pony (Am)

(F) Who just (C)looked me in the (G)eye.

 

(F) He's in the (G)hearts of all the (Em)people, (Am)

Every (F)woman, (G)child and (C)man, (G)

(F) That (G)broken little (Em)pony, (Am)yeah,

(F) Who (C)won at Tanfo(G)ran.

 

(F)He's in the (G)hearts of all the (Em)people, (Am)

Every (F)woman, (G)child and (C)man, (G)yeah,

(F) That (G)broken little (Em)pony  (Am)

(F)Who (G)won at Tanfo(C)ran.

(G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) (G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C)

 

(F) And there were (G)rainbows in the (Em)infield (Am)

(F) With (G)ponies left to (C)run, (G)

(F) Where the (G)jockeys' silks were (Em)dancing (Am)

(F) As they (C)rode into the (G)sun.

 

(F) He's in the (G)hearts of all the (Em)people, (Am)yeah,

(F) Every (G)woman, child and (C)man, (G)

(F) That (G)broken little (Em)pony (Am)

(F) Who (C)won at Tanfo(G)ran.

(F) He's in the (G)hearts of (Em)all the people, (Am)

Every (F)woman, (G)child and (C)man, (G)yeah,

(F) That (G)broken little (Em)pony, (Am)yeah,

(F) Who (C)won at Tanfo(G)ran.

 

(F) He's in the (G)hearts of all the (Em)people, (Am)yeah,

Every (F)woman, (G) child and (C)man, (G)yeah,

(F) That (G)little broken (Em)pony, (Am)yeah,

(F) Who (G)won at Tanfo(C)ran.

(G) (Am) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Art Faller, Charlie Woodward & janhauenstein@gmx.de