Wind on The River

 

Written by John Stewart

 

‘Wind on the River’ is on “Dream Babies Go Hollywood”, RSO, 1980, CD re-release under the misleading title “The Best of John Stewart – Turning Music Into Gold” by PolyGram, 1995 – two albums on one CD, the other album being “Bombs Away Dream Babies”, also RSO, 1979.  There are two extra tracks on the CD – 'Hard Time Town' and “Children of the Morning'.  The song resurfaces on the limited release CD “Tanforan and Other Works in Progress” that was (up to now) only sold during John Stewart´s east coast tour in the fall of 2003.  We proudly present both versions.  This is a beautiful song, quite hypnotic, too. 

Cozette Haggerty writes: “The words are strong and sensual. "Wind" is a tribute to the love for his woman, it honors their love in a respectful way. 

"Down by the river taking all I can give her

And I'm dancing in the eyes of the girl for me

Dancing in the eyes of the girl for me..."

 

"...Here is the heart of why John's music is timeless – they can be applied to yesterday, today, and endless future scenarios.  And it's really cool knowing John wanted to keep Wendy Waldman's background breathing on the record "to keep it real."  Adds just one more element to the reality of this song (translated: sexiness).”

 

Cozette asked me to add this by way of explanation: The only thing I think I'd correct is my reference to "Wendy Waldman's background breathing".  She was a background singer, and her long ooooooh's and ahhhhhhh's forced her to take deep breaths to continue, thus the deep breathing in the background which John opted to leave in because it added to the reality of the song.

 

- Thank you, Cozette!

 

 

 

Capo 2nd fret

 

High E-string often not played

 

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(Sing Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm the last two times

and for interludes between verses, play the bass run

on A-string where appropriate)

 

She's as (D)golden as the jewels of a (G/B)Hollywood fool,

A (D)highway out to the (G/B)sun.

She is (D)somewhere to stand for a (G/B)rock and roll man,

(D)Living his life on the (G/B)run.

(D) (G/B) (D) (G/B)

 

She's as (D)silver as the flight of a (G/B)comet in the night,

A (D)stairway out to the (G/B)stars.

She is(D)heaven on the run who was (G/B)captured by the sun,

A (D)cool mist over my (G/B)scars.

And she's (F#m)ooh, free and easy

As the (G)wind on the (A7 short)river to (D)me (G/B) (D) (G/B)

 

(Bm)Moonlight's (Em7)alright,

(A)Radio is (D)all night,

(Em)Seems like (A7 short)heaven to (D)me. (D7)

(G)Down by the (A7 short)river,

Taking (F#m)all I can (G)give her,

And I'm (D)dancing in the eyes of the (G/B)girl for me,

(D)Dancing in the eyes of the (G/B)girl for me.

(D) (G/B) (D) (G/B)

 

She's as (D)golden as the jewels of a (G/B)Hollywood fool,

A (D)highway out to the (G/B)sun.

She is (D)somewhere to stand for a (G/B)rock and roll man,

(D)Living his life on the (G/B)run.

And she's (F#m)ooh, free and easy

As the (G)wind on the (A7 short)river to (D)me, (G/B)

She's (F#m)ooh, free and easy

As the (G)wind on the (A7 short)river to (D)me. (G/B)

 

(Bm)Moonlight's (Em7)alright,

(A)radio is (D)all night,

(Em)Seems like (A7 short)heaven to (D)me. (D7)

(G)Down by the (A7 short)river,

Taking (F#m)all I can (G)give her,

Like the (D)wind on the river she is (G/B)home to me,

Like the (D)wind on the river she is (G/B)home to me,

Like the (D)wind on the river she is (G/B)home to me,

Like the (D)wind on the river she is (G/B)home to me.

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...)

(D, high notes on B-string D-D—C#-D-C#, on G-string A)

(G/B, on B-string B) (Bass run on A-string A-B-C# to...

fade...)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

janhauenstein@gmx.de, Charlie Woodward & Art Faller

 

 

 

Drop D tuning, capo 2nd fret on "Tanforan."

 

Em7/B (D)

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

(D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B)

She's as (D)golden as the jewels of a (Em7/B)Hollywood fool,

A (D)highway out to the (Em7/B)sun.

She is (D)somewhere to stand for a (Em7/B)rock and roll man,

(D)Living his life on the (Em7/B)run.

And she's (F#m)ooh, free and easy

As the (Em)wind on the (A7 short)river to (D)me (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B)

 

She's as (D)silver as the flight of a (Em7/B)comet in the night,

(D)Highway out to the (Em7/B)stars.

She is(D)heaven on the run, (Em7/B)captured by the sun,

A (D)cool mist over my (Em7/B)scars.

And she's (F#m)ooh, free and easy

As the (Em)wind on the (A7 short)river to (D)me. (D7)

 

(G)Moonlight's (Em7)alright,

(A)Radio is (D)all night,

(Em)Seems like (A7 short)heaven to (D)me. (D7)

(G)Down by the (A7 short)river,

Taking (F#m)all I can (G)give her,

Like the (D)wind on the river she is (Em7/B)home to me,

Like the (D)wind on the river she is (Em7/B)home to me.

Hmm, hm(D)m. (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B)

 

She's as (D)golden as the jewels of a (Em7/B)Hollywood fool,

(D)Highway out to the (Em7/B)sun.

She is (D)somewhere to stand for a (Em7/B)rock and roll man,

Who´s (D)living his life on the (Em7/B)run.

And she's (F#m)ooh, free and easy

As the (Em)wind on the (A7 short)river to (D)me. (D7)

 

And (G)moonlight's (Em7)alright,

(A)Radio is (D)all night,

(Em)Seems like (A7 short)heaven to (D)me. (D7)

(G)Down by the (A7 short)river,

Taking (F#m)all I can (G)give her...

 

And I´m (D)dancing in the eyes of the (Em7/B)girl for me,

(D)Dancing in the eyes of the (Em7/B)girl for me,

(D)Dancing in the eyes of the (Em7/B)girl for me,

(D)Dancing in the eyes, (Em7/B)dancing in the eyes,

(D)Dancing in the eyes of the (Em7/B)girl,

The girl for (D)me. (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B)

(D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B)

(D) (Em7/B) (D) (Em7/B) (D)

 

© John Stewart, All Rights Reserved

 

Charlie Woodward, janhauenstein@gmx.de & Art Faller