Lyr Req: In Tall Buildings (John Hartford)

Subject: John Hartford's song
From: Fern
Date: 16 Nov 98 - 11:06 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to John Hartford's song "Tall buildings" or "I'm going to work in tall buildings?" Chorus goes something like: So it's good bye to sunshine, goodbye to the dew, good-bye to flowers and goodbye to you. I'm off to the subway, I must not be late, I'm going to work in tall buildings. Probably from one of his albums in the early 70's. Thanks

Subject: RE: John Hartford's song
From: harpgirl
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 08:25 AM

As the resident John Hartford fanatic, I do indeed have the lyrics! I'll post them tonight when I get time...harpgirl

Subject: RE: John Hartford's song
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 11:08 AM

Howdy Harp,

Say, Did you ever ride on the Julia Belle Swain out of LeClair, Iowa when I was doing the songs & tales and John'd come on board as a pilot? There were many Hartford fans who took those 2-day trips whenever John was on board. Were great years.

Art

Subject: RE: John Hartford's song
From: Len
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 07:20 PM

I do recall one verse... the others may come to me later.

When I am an old man and my time is my own When I've paid all my bills and its time to go home I'll wonder what happened betwixt and between When I went off to work in tall buildings

Subject: Lyr Add: IN TALL BUILDINGS (John Hartford)
From: harpgirl
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 07:42 PM

Hey Art,
I never did take any of those boat trips Art, though I knew about them. I saw you a bunch at the Ark and I followed John around for years, going to every concert I could. But I don't recall ever being introduced to you and I was too shy to meet John either. How I wish I could ride with you and John down the Mississippi. Then my life would be complete! Here's the words, Fern:

IN TALL BUILDINGS

Someday, my baby, when I am a man,
And others have taught me the best that they can,
Sell me a suit, cut off my hair,
And send me to work in tall buildings.

CHORUS: So its goodbye to the sunshine, goodbye to the dew,
Goodbye to the flowers, and goodbye to you.
I'm off to the subway. I must not be late.
I'm going to work in tall buildings.

When I'm retired, my life is my own.
I've made all my payments. its time to go home.
Wonder what happened betwixt and between,
When I went to work in tall buildings? CHORUS TWICE

It can be found on "Me Oh My How The Time Does Fly"
A John Hartford Anthology.

I keep trying to write you Art, but my Prodigy Classic won't let me. I'll try your other e-mail address. I don't recall any of John's records which you may have played on? Did you record together? harp

Subject: RE: John Hartford's song
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 09:43 PM

No, Harp, I rarely played with John. Not on his records at all. When he got on the boats I was singing on it was mainly to relax & pilot the boat. (Check out the lyrics to "Kentucky Pool")---that's a true song! The "footsteps on the stairs" was Dinnis Trone, the Captain, heading FAST up to the pilothouse 'cause John was all over the river & out o' the channel.)Of course, John would pick and sing some---especially if I'd done my thing and was gettin' ready to be landed on an island to glory in the wonderful solitude of the moments I'd spend there alone waiting for the other boat, (the Twilight) to pick me up on its downbound journey. I'd do another show on the Twilight and be back where I'd left my car in the morning so's to drive home. Truly, I do believe Mr. Harford is a musical genius. Whew, the tales I could tell!! But better not.

I'm at [e-mail] I'll take any chance I can to mentally re-live those years of 16 hour days "working?" on the river. Weren't work at all. It was sad when the Julia Belle Swain had to be sold due to pressure on the excursion boats from the gambling ones. But it's still around---runs out o' LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Just not owned by the folks who built it--the Trone family.

Subject: River Rats
From: harpgirl
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 11:24 PM

On Fiddler's Green (for John Hartford)

Last summer I found you up in the Missouri woods
dancing and fiddling with old Homer Dillard
under a gazebo in the moonlight.
Two common fiddlers.


On a muddy street in Portage de Sioux
hung out on a curve of the river
I saw you in the misty future
working horse hair into a bow.

I thought I saw you in the pilothouse of a
riverboat
beyond the stilthouses, dancing a deckhand's waltz.


Winter, I looked for you in Natchez.
Were you fiddling or sipping gumbo in a damp
cajun club?


Meet me in Ponchartrain for oysters and sasparilla
when the river sluices down its muddy secrets.
My love is common, like the river.

harp, Fayetteville, Arkansas 1980

Subject: RE: John Hartford's song
From: northfolk
Date: 17 Nov 98 - 11:40 PM

Friends, I experienced the trip aboard the Julia Belle Swain, to Galena and back, and got to say that it was " an experience" that would have been more enjoyable had John or Art or almost anybody been aboard, to drown the drone of the jetski's on the river with real music. Recently do-si-do'd at a hartford performance in northern Michigan. Truly memorable event, where the performer and the audience really came together and made the sum greater than the total of the parts...Told John and I'll share with you all, my dad and uncle built the only paddle wheel boat to have sunk in Michigan. (it sank thirty years and much neglect after they built it) so NO blame must accrue!!!neither should we blame the crew.

Subject: RE: John Hartford's song
From: fern
Date: 18 Nov 98 - 09:09 PM

Many thanks, Harpgirl! I appreciate your taking the time. fern

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Tall Buildings (John Hartford)
From: GUEST,rukind
Date: 03 Aug 05 - 06:18 PM

how about the guitar tab?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Tall Buildings (John Hartford)
From: GUEST,smothermon(at)cox.net
Date: 28 Dec 05 - 05:51 PM

I play a repeating 3/4 chord progression of
C, Em, Am, C, Dm, G, C, G
Plenty of opportunity for "playin'little runs, and funny little fills"...
If anybody has any other tabs I'd appreciate them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Tall Buildings (John Hartford)
From: GUEST,Mick
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 12:40 AM

IN TALL BUILDINGS

[Key of D]
D            A/C#          Bm      A
Someday, baby, when I am a man,
       G                A                  D                  A
and other's have taught me the best that they can
D                   A/C#       Bm          A
they'll sell me a suit and cut off my hair
       G               A                D          A
and send me to work in tall buildings

and it's goodbye to the sunshine, goodbye to the dew
goodbye to the flowers and goodbye to you
I'm off to the subway, I must not be late
going to work in tall buildings

[Key change - up a full step to E]

E               B/D#          C#m         B
now when I retire and my life is my own
   A                  B                E             B
I made all the payments, it's time to go home
    E                   B/D#          C#m          B
and wonder what happened betwixt and between
    A               B                E             B
when I went to work in tall buildings

and it's goodbye to the sunshine, goodbye to the dew
goodbye to the flowers and goodbye to you
I'm off to the subway, I mustn't be late
going to work in tall buildings

chords [relative to the capo]
A/C# = x20003
B/D# = x42220 or x4222x

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Tall Buildings (John Hartford)
From: GUEST,Tim "movinmtns" Blocher
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 05:58 PM

I miss him I miss him I miss him. I miss Jerry too. Tryin to walk in their footsteps, a bit wobbly at times! Its hard to get the exposure with the frantic outpouring of crap out there, but with faith the size of a mustard seed, one can move mountains.
Love to All worthy of love,
Timothy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In Tall Buildings (John Hartford)
From: peregrina
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 06:37 PM

John Hartford himself sings 'Goin' to work in Tall Buildings' (1987)