Lyr Add: Less than the Song (Hoyt Axton)

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: LESS THAN THE SONG (Hoyt Axton)
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 05:31 PM

Joan Baez said that she and sister Mimi (Fariña) learned this song "from" Hoyt Axton, and I've seen him listed as the songwriter at cowboylyrics.com, so I'm guessing he did write it. If anyone knows otherwise, please post that info.

I can't find the song in the forum or DT, but I think it's a keeper.

Here are the lyrics as sung by Hoyt Axton.

LESS THAN THE SONG
(Hoyt Axton)

                   E                         A                E
        I am less than the song I am singing;
                A                                                   E
        I am more than I thought I could be.
                                E                 A                        E
        Spent some time as a child in daydreamin';
                    A                                                 E
        As a young man I sailed on the sea.

                E                                      A                         E
        Then come stand by my side where I'm going,
                          A                                        E
        Take my hand if I stumble and fall.
                          E                               A                                  E
        It's the strength that you share when you're growing
                             A                                                E
        That gives me what I need most of all,
         E                    A                                               E
        That gives me what I need most of all.


        E
Different minds, different changes,

Different reasons to believe.
                      A
Some far journeys we have taken,
                          E                                     B
Some sweet dreams we've had to leave.
    E
And I want you to be happy
                                          A
And I hope you always will,

For I cannot rest easy
                            F#m
'Til all your dreams are real,
       A                                 E
'Til all your dreams are real.

         E
        All your dreams are real, pretty mama,
         E
        All your dreams are real,
         E
        All dreams are real, sweet mama,
         E
        All your dreams are real.

(Repeat)

(Repeat 1st verse)

And if you go to
this Cowboy Lyrics link you'll see where the chords are supposed to go. ( I can't vouch for their accuracy 'cause I don't have a guitar handy.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Less Than The Song (Hoyt Axton)
From: Genie
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 05:36 PM

Here are
JOAN BAEZ & MIMI FARINA singing "Less Than The Song "

And here are their, slightly modified, lyrics:

LESS THAN THE SONG (Axton)

I am less than the song I am singing.
I am more than I thought I could be.
Spent some time as a child in daydreaming;
As a young one I sailed on the sea.

So come stand by my side where I'm going,
Take my hand if I stumble too far.
It's the strength that you share when you're growing
That gives me what I need most of all,
That gives me what I need most of all.

Different minds, different ways,
Different reasons to believe,
Some far journeys we are taking,
Some sweet dreams we have to leave.

And I want you to be happy
And I hope you always will,
For I cannot rest happy
Till all your dreams are real,
All your dreams are real.

All your dreams are real,
All your dreams are real,
All your dreams are real,
All dreams are real,
All your dreams are real.

I am less than the song I am singing.
I am more than I thought I could be.
Spent some time as a child in daydreaming;
As a young one I sailed on the sea.

I am less than the song I am singing.
I am more than I thought I could be.
Spent some time as a child in daydreaming
As a young one I sailed on the sea.

So come stand by my side where I'm going,
Take my hand stumble too far.
It's the strength that you share when you're growing
That gives me what I need most of all,
That gives me what I need most of all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Less than the Song (Hoyt Axton)
From: Genie
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 05:56 PM

Sorry. That last chorus should be just like the first one. DK wha hoppen the second line.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Less than the Song (Hoyt Axton)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 06:23 PM

The song is his.
Re-issued on the album "Flashes of Fire," Hoyt's very Best, 1962-1990.