Lyr Req: How Have You Been

Subject: How Have You Been
From: GUEST,cheryl
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 02:48 PM

I've searched the Internet for lyrics (and chords, but that's optional) to a song that appeared on John Sebastian's first album. The name of the song is "How Have You Been?" How have you been my darling children/while I have been away in the west/though you are strangers I feel like I know you...

My girlfriends and I listened to that album a zillion times growing up. We're gathering in Las Vegas for our 25th high school reunion next month and I would love to surprise them with the entire song. As far as I know the album was never rereleased on tape or cd and the vinyl is long gone. The ultimate would be a fresh copy of any media of that album ... I think it was called "John B. Sebastian" But I think that's a snowball's chance in Vegas. Many thanks for any help.

Subject: Lyr Add: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN (John Sebastian)
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 14 Sep 00 - 07:41 PM

How have you been my darling children?
While I have been away in the west?
Although that we're strangers, I feel like you know me
By the way that you great me & offer to treat me
And ask me how long I'll stay for a rest.

Here are some stones from the throat of a princess,
Who reigned in the year 200 BC.
Wear them & love them & don't forget (most of all share them?) to share them
And I hope that you'll grow to be lovely,
As lovely as the lady who gave them to me

Here is a string from a mysterious guitar
That I found on a floor in a club in Marseilles.
It's too fat for the third string to skinny for the fourth string
But I had hopes of playing it some day
It's funny how people keep things that way

And here is a turtle from the New Jersey turnpike
Who says that his home been all cover with tar
So I gave him a ride on the back of my suitcase
And he says that he'd like to live in your yard
At long last his life wouldn't be very hard

Repeat 1st verse.

I've always love this, used to sing it to the kids when they were little. I'm sure my memory has failed me in places. This is the best I can recall. Maybe others could jump in to correct any of the mistakes. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Have You Been
From: GUEST,cheryl
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 01:31 PM

Barry -- Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I've got shivers!

Subject: Lyr Add: HOW HAVE YOU BEEN (John Sebastian)
From: Lanfranc
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 06:48 PM

This is the version I remember and play. I use open D, accompanying the first verse with 12th 7th and 5th fret harmonics to simulate the autoharp on the original recording, then using barre 5th and 7th (G & A), a hammered-on/pulled off E7 shape and open strings for the rest - Thanks for the memory!

How have you been, my darling children,
While I have been away in the west?
Although we are strangers, I feel like I know you
From the way that you greet me and offer to treat me
And eagerly ask if I'll stay for a rest.

Come sit yourselves down in a pile here before me.
I wish I had presents for each of your smiles,
But I have been travelling without much to carry,
'Cept a battered guitar case with paint on the side,
A bag, and a few signs to help me get rides.

But here are some beads from the throat of a princess,
Who reigned in the years round 200 BC.
Divide them and share them and make sure you wear them
I want you to have them in hopes that you'll be
As lovely as the lady who gave them to me.

And here is a strange European guitar string
I found on a floor in a club in Marseilles.
It's too fat for the third string; it's skinny for the fourth string,
But I keep in hopes I might use it some day.
It's funny how people just keep things that way.

And here is a turtle from the Long Island Expressway.
He says that his home been covered with tar,
So I gave him a ride on the back of my suitcase,
And he says that he'd like to stay here in your yard.
At long last, his life might not be quite so hard.

Repeat first verse.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 3-Sep-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Have You Been
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 15 Sep 00 - 08:55 PM

Thanks Lanfranc, the 2nd verse had faded completely from my memory & the rest after reading this is how I now remember, thanks for the refresher. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Have You Been
From: Lanfranc
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 05:52 PM

Glad to be of service - shame the original album is no longer available. All I have to remember it by is a rather battered cassette - the vinyl was stolen, or borrowed and never returned (which adds up to the same thing!) about 30 years ago!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: How Have You Been
From: Lucius
Date: 16 Sep 00 - 08:55 PM

It was a great album. I was just searching for the discography--to no avail. I remember "Red eyed Express; She's a Lady; The room nobody lives in; Fa-fa-fa; Rainbows all over your blues" What else was on the album, (and anyone have MP3's--NO I DIDN'T ASK) ???

Lucius