Quixote,

Due to some unforseeable circumstances, I almost have to break my promise. However, I have managed to come up with the lyrics and the chords the best that I can. Here's the explanation (and some background) :

I first listened to this song about 25 years ago when a friend of mine who was teaching me how to play the guitar, taped it for me and showed me how to play it. At first I thought it was a song by James Taylor but later found out it's John Dawson Read.

About ten years ago, I bought a copy of 'A friend of mine is going blind' together with many other used records for $0.25 each at a record store. It was still tightly wrapped in the plastic wrap when I bought it. However, I haven't listened to it since. Last weekend, I finally got around to dug it out from one of the boxes and put it on the turntable. But instead of John's voice, what came out of the speaker was some instrumental music featuring a saxphone. In fact, the whole side-A was like that and only side-B was him. Fortunately, the lyrics are on the back of the cover. So I picked up the guitar and reached deep into my memory for the chords. I must admit that I am not sure how some of the melody lines go but this is the best that I can do. Anyway, hope this could help. By the way, any corrections are welcome.

^^ A FRIEND OF MINE IS GOING BLIND
(John Dawson Read)

(G) A friend of (G) mine is going (G) blind
But through the (G) dimness
He (Am) sees so much (Am) better than (Am) me (Am)
And how he (G) cherishes each (G) new thing that he (Em) sees
They are (Em) locked up in his (C) head
He will (C) save them up for (D) when
He's in (C) darkness a(G) gain (G) (G)

(G) He can't read (G) books
And he can't paint (G) pretty pictures(G)
But he (Am) understands so much (Am) clearer than (Am) I (Am)
For he (G) knows that all he's (G) missing with his (Em) eyes
Is more (Em) vivid in the (C) mind
of the (C) man who's going (D) blind
(D) And that's (C) why he doesn't (G) mind (G) (G)

Won't you (C) sing Tommy (G) Davidson of (D) things that you have (G) seen
Sing of (C) winter's bite and (G) summer nights and (D) places you have (G) been
Of (C) dew drops and for(G)get-me-nots and (D) silver silky (G) sheen
Lain (C) across the morning (G) meadow on the (D) hillside (D)

And this (G) friend of mine, he (G) plays guitar
And (G) sing his song so (G) well
And he (Am) sing so much (Am) better than (Am) I (Am)
He can (G) sing you any (G) picture in your (Em) mind
He will (Em) sketch them out in (C) rhyme,
draw the (C) details in the (D) lines (D)
And he'll (C) color it in (G) time (G) (G)

(G) And oh how (G) he loves his (G) guitar
And it loves (G) him
And they (Am) play so much (Am) sweeter than (Am) me (Am)
As if to (G) say, that come the (G) day that he can't (Em) see
He will (Em) have at his (C) command
so much (C) beauty in his (D) hands (D)
That the (C) loss won't come so (G) hard (G) (G)

Won't you (C) sing Tommy (G) Davidson of (D) things that you have (G) done
Sing of (C) silver seagulls (G) sailing into (D) evening's golden (G) sun
Sing of (C) city streets and (G) villages and (D) people on the (G) run
Tell the (C) people how you (G) know it Tommy (D) Davison (D)