I Want to Learn a Love Song

With finals week going on, I keep going back to this song. I would much rather be learning a love song that cramming for theology and physics and such.

Harry wrote this song about how he met his wife, Sandy. I don't need to much explaining, the whole story is right there in the song. It has up upbeat tempo, its a song that is easy to tap your foot to and belt at the top of your lungs. It's always been a favorite of mine. 

I say this with all of Chapin's work. His songs are MUCH better live than recorded. I was in a store one time, a while ago, and Cats in the Cradle came on. And for a hot second, I wondered who would ever think to cover this song. No one did, it was Harry's recorded version. He just sounds better live.

In fact, listen to any of his live stuff. He adds stories, improves, and makes his songs different. I listened to a version of 30,000 pounds of bananas where he added a fourth verse and it was hilarious! I actually laughed out loud. The longer the version of that song, the better. Don't be daunted by how long the song is, it is totally worth it!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30,000_Pounds_of_Bananas

Check it out, its a fun story to read about. I tried to find the actual story, but that incident happened a while ago, and who knows if it was archived to an online database.

She sings songs without words

I struggle not to make this a gushing worship of Harry, but rereading my stuff, that exactly what it sounds like. I mean this whole blog is about Harry Chapin, why would I make a blog if I didn't have some sort of worship towards him?

I just started his biography, Taxi the Harry Chapin Story, written my Peter Coan. I've read terrible reviews about it, but only because the author had a falling out with Sandy Chapin, Harry's widow. He was also unable to get permission for the use of the lyrics from the Chapin estate. (he still used the lyrics however). I also read that there was a lot of grammatical mistakes...I found three in the first chapter. I guess the book was rushed to publication after Harry died. For a book that was seven years in the making, it should have just taken its sweet time to work out all the legal issues and grammatical mistakes. That all being said, I have yet to finish it. It's a thick book and with the end of school, finals, and my MRI boards coming up it will be slow going with the book. I'll post my review when I'm finished with it. If any one wants to read it with me it can be bought on amazon for a fair price. Click the link on Peter Coan's name to get to the site. 

I haven't listen to Harry in a few days. I like to give myself a break so I don't get burned out. That being said, there's still a few songs that I haven't given my full attention too.

The old six string was all I had...

The other day my boyfriend and our friend picked up their guitars and started to learn Harry Chapin songs. Words cannot even describe how hearing Mr. Tanner "live" felt. We found this website, harrychapinmusic.com that had everything we needed. Chords, lyrics, and then we supplied the life into it. It was one of the best afternoons I've had in a long time.

They decided to learn 12 songs. Now they didn't learn all twelve songs in one afternoon. This will be a process. I'm very excited for them to start playing it. Maybe I'll even sing a little. Nick, my boyfriend, would make an excellent Big Jon Wallace to my Harry Chapin. 

Flowers Are Red

Flowers are Red was written after Harry heard a shocking story. "Your son marches to the beat of his own drum, but we'll break him of that."

 Shocked Harry had a disheartening new thoughts and feelings towards the school system. Flowers are Red was born.

It was the beat that originally attracted me to this song. It starts of with some fancy guitar picking and than Harry describes what I envision to be, the cutest little boy ever. "I'm paining flowers he said". The more I listen to this song the more that I have to thank Harry for addressing the problem. Do school squash the originality out from its students? I would hope not. As the older sister of an autistic child I hope that her imagination is allowed to flourish at her school. The teacher wants her to be "normal". I just hope Abbie doesn't come out a clone of the other children at her school. Abbie is a child that see the colors in the flower for sure.

Flowers are Red

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And all responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen. 
 

My first time

Of course the first song I heard about Harry Chapin was Cats in the Cradle. I don't remember if it was on the radio or though the many "jam" sessions I had with my father. I do know that it was through these jam sessions that I was introduced to the other works of Harry Chapin.

I recommed starting of your Harry experience with Greatest Stories Live. This album is completely live and has a great selection of some of the better Harry Chapin songs. Yes, Cat's and the Cradle is featured on this album. What makes this song so great on this particular album is that it is a live version. I hesitate to listen to Harry recorded and you'll understand why once you listen to enough of him.

Give Greatest Stories Live a chance, and then we'll move on to some more Harry experiences.