Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Hilcrest Mine by James Keelah
From: Keith D
Date: 31 Aug 99 - 07:19 PM

Sorry I cant help with this but have you got Lyr/Cords for his "KIRI'S PIANO??From his "My SKIES" CD

Subject: ADD: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 06:28 AM

Here's a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Lx7mjwNr0

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Here are the lyrics from one of "those" lyrics sites. I listened to the recording and cleaned up the transcription, so I think it's fairly accurate.

KIRI'S PIANO
(James Keelaghan)

Of all of Kiri Ito's joys, the thing she loved the best
Was to play her prized piano when the sun had gone to rest
I used to hear the notes drift down along the silent water
As Kiri played the notes and scales for her dear sons and daughters

Now me, I played piano, though not as good as Kiri
She went in for that long haired stuff but my she played it pretty
The old piano had a tone would set my heart to aching
It always sounded sweetest though when it was Kiri playing

That December when the Seventh Fleet was turned to smoke and ashes
The order came to confiscate their fishing boats and caches
And Kiri's husband forced to go and work in labour camps
And Kiri left alone to fend and hold the fort as best she can

But the music did not drift as often from up the cove at Kiri's house
And when it did it sounded haunted, played with worry, played with doubt
For Kiri knew that soon she, too, would be compelled to leave
And the old upright would stay behind, and Kiri she would grieve

I loaded Kiri on the bus with stoic internees
The crime that they were guilty of was that they were not like me
And if I was ashamed I didn't know it at the time
They were flotsam on the wave of war, they were no friends of mine

And I went up to Kiri's house to tag all their belongings
And set them out for auctioneers who'd claim them in the morning
One piece that I thought I'd keep and hold back for myself
Was that haunting ivory upright that Kiri played so well

But Kiri had not left it there for me to take as plunder
She'd rolled it down onto the dock and on into the harbor
The old upright in strangers' hands was a thought she couldn't bear
So she consigned it to the sea to settle the affair

So many years have come and gone since Kiri's relocation
I look back now upon that time with shame and resignation
For Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free
Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity

Yes Kiri knew what I did not that if we must be free
Then sometimes we must sacrifice to gain our dignity

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 07:21 AM

Those are the lyrics I sing, Joe.

The chords in C are:-

C G/B C Am Am/G F
C G/B Am Am/G D F
C G/B C Am Am/G F
C G/B Am Am/G D F
F G C Am Am/G F
C G/B Am Am/G D F
C G/B C Am Am/G F
C G/B Am Am/G D F

Fill between verses...

G G C C/F G (repeat)

That's as good as I'm able to write them - I use a few twiddles built around the chords, but those above are the basic chords for the song. I don't know how to tie them up with the words in html, but a bit of listening to James' track and fiddling around with them should enable you to make them fit.

I believe James plays it using C chords capoed at F2 or 3 (i.e. in D or Eb). If C doesn't fit with your voice, do as I do and capo around until it works.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 15 Apr 15 - 03:51 PM

http://keelaghan.com/2013/09/eugenes-guitar/

The lyrics checked I presume by James himself are about half way down the page that opens.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Apr 15 - 06:58 PM

There are 2 copies of the lyrics in the thread Chords Req: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan). I haven't compared them in detail, but I notice they have the lyrics arranged as 4 8-line verses instead of 8 4-line verses. This corresponds to the way I hear the melody, and I see it also corresponds to the chords that Backwoodsman posted.

One minor correction: "In December" not "That December".

I listened on Spotify.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Apr 15 - 12:59 AM

When I was learning 'Kiri's Piano', I transcribed the lyrics from my copy of the album 'History - The First 25 Years', and James indeed sings "In December".

The structure of the song is quite clearly 4 x 8-line verses, with each verse having 2 x 4-line A and B sections.

Here's the Great Man himself, talking about the song and performing it...

James Keelaghan - 'Kiri's Piano'

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 02 Jul 17 - 03:14 PM

C                               Am                         F   
Of all of Kiri Ito's joys,         the thing she loved the best
       C       ~       Am          D7               F    C
Was to play her prized piano when the sun had gone to rest
                                          Am                  F    C
I used to hear the notes drift down         along the silent water
       ~          Am                   D7                F          C
As Kiri played the notes and scales for her dear sons and daughters

          ~       C          Am                      F    C
Now me, I played piano,         though not as good as Kiri
            ~       Am                     D7               F       C
She went in for that long haired stuff, but my she played it pretty
    ~         C                Am                      F       C
The old piano had a tone,         would set my heart to aching
          ~       Am                     D7          F      
It always sounded sweetest, though, when it was Kiri playing

The rest of the lyrics are in another comment on this page.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords: Kiri's Piano (James Keelaghan)
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 02 Jul 17 - 03:17 PM

Sorry, my chords didn't come out in the right places. Here is the link

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/j/james_keelaghan/kiris_piano_crd.htm