Chords: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok)

Subject: Chords for Turning Toward the Morning
From: GUEST,Puffenkinty
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 06:55 PM

Could somebody out there please give me the
chords to the Gordon Bok song, "Turning Toward the Morning",
preferably ones that my old arthritic fingers can play.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Chords for Turning Toward the Morning
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 09:48 PM

Well, this arrangement has the dreaded "F" chord (which I can't play), but maybe it will work for you. It's from the Gordon Bok songbook, Time and the Flying Snow. I think the songbook is out of print. You'll also find lyrics and chords for this song in the Rise Up Singing songbook.
-Joe Offer-

---

TURNING TOWARD THE MORNING
(Gordon Bok)

  
             C
  When the deer has bedded down
           F
  And the bear has gone to ground,
            C
  And the northern goose has wandered off
      F (or Dm)       G7   
  To warmer bay and sound,
           C
  It's so easy in the cold to feel
       F
  The darkness of the year
            C               G
  And the heart is growing lonely
           F    C
  For the morning
  
          G7
  Oh, my Joanie, don't you know
             C
  That the stars are swinging slow,
            C
  And the seas are rolling easy
           F            G7
  As they did so long ago?
        C
  If I had a thing to give you,
           F
  I would tell you one more time
             C               G
  That the world is always turning
              F    C
  Toward the morning.

Bok recommends a 12-string guitar in A with low E strings tuned down to D; recording sounds in G

Hmmm. Maybe you should try the chords in Rise Up Singing...

Actually, those chords are in C, too:

Assuming each verse is four lines, the slashes mark the end of each line. Dashes mean repeat the previous measure.

Verse:
C - F - / C - F G / C - F - / C G F C

Chorus:
G - C - / C - F G / C - F - / C G F C

Subject: RE: Chords for Turning Toward the Morning
From: Don Firth
Date: 11 Nov 03 - 11:09 PM

I've got the chords worked out, but what I'd like to know is the little doodly-doo bit of guitar work between the end of the chorus and the beginning of the next verse. Can't seem to figure that part out. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Chords for Turning Toward the Morning
From: kendall
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 07:01 AM

Join the club, Don!

Here again, what key do you want it in?

Subject: RE: Chords for Turning Toward the Morning
From: Don Firth
Date: 12 Nov 03 - 01:31 PM

G works for me. I find--happily--that I usually end up sing Gordon Bok's songs in the same key that he sings them in. Unhappily, I doubt that I sound anywhere near as good as he does.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok
From: GUEST,ray briand
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 04:40 PM

just wonderin if someone might have a chord pattern for gordon bok song old fat boat .i have tryed a few arrangements but just dont sound quite right .thank if so could you email me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok
From: banjoman
Date: 09 Nov 10 - 05:34 AM

A great song which I do occasionally. Its interesting to read the reason for its being written as it explains the "Joanie" in the chorus.
I usually follow the same chord pattern as given in C.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok
From: GUEST,Jeff Costello
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 06:19 PM

As long as you consider the "F" form "dreaded," it will elude you. Most certainly you've done many things far more difficult than mastering a basic chord fingering. One just does it until one has it. The form is useful far beyond its function as "F" and it's a shame to limit oneself so.

Subject: RE: Chords Req: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 08:59 PM

The song has to be sung. I eventually mastered it with an autoharp and then I could rest.

"Old Fat Boat" is an interesting one, one of the few Bok songs that has a good deal of Maine humor embedded in it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Chords: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok)
From: Chris in Portland
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 12:37 PM

I was just working on this for our song circle today, because Gordon will be here in Portland on Thursday! I've listened to his version.
I'm not trying to copy him, so I think it sounds really great if (based on the chords above in the key of C), the minor is used in the verse and chorus, and if the verse ends on F, and then goes right to G, and that the chorus ends on F. and then resolves to C after ending "morning." Just a thought! Also, try it in B-flat with G fingering (starts on high D and goes to low D), if you don't have a 12-string vocal range like Gordon.
Chris in Frozen Portland

Subject: RE: Chords: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok)
From: GUEST,daniel lapin
Date: 15 May 15 - 11:11 AM

Try beginning on
A maj: when the deer has bedded down
D maj: And the bear has gone to ground
A maj:... goose
E maj: ...warmer bay

No F chord, Joe

Subject: RE: Chords: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok)
From: GUEST,Bunny_Late-Leigh
Date: 15 May 15 - 11:22 AM

Beautiful

Subject: RE: Chords: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 16 May 15 - 12:43 PM

I have no time for F. It hurts my hand and is can't be relied upon to produce a nice sound. So here's what I do:

See that fat, low E string that's right under your chin? If you put your finger on the first fret, it plays the note F.

The string right below is an A. Now you have two of the notes of the F chord. Since in a song in C, the F chord usually occurs for only two beats at a time, it's easy to take those two notes and fake something.

One day I was doing that, and our harper complimented me on my cello sound.
====================
Although, for various reasons, when I get a good tune in C, I usually change it to D, and everybody's happier. That gets rid of the F's AND the C's.

Subject: RE: Chords: Turning toward the Morning (Gordon Bok)
From: Irthlingz
Date: 10 Jul 20 - 11:34 PM

What does this mean?

"Bok recommends a 12-string guitar in A with low E strings tuned down to D"

Does this mean open A tuning but with the low E string tuned to D?