Lyr Req: Be Not Too Hard (from Joan Baez)

Subject: Be not too hard
From: Brian
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 01:49 PM

Does anyone have the words to be not too hard. I seem to recall a Joan Baez version from wayback, possibly on David's Album. My vynil copy is unplayable so I can't check. Thanx. Brian.

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: belter
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 08:48 PM

I was just listening to it the other day. I'll see if I can transcribe it later. and I'll post it if no one beats me to it.

Subject: Lyr Add: BE NOT TOO HARD (Christopher Logue)
From: belter
Date: 27 Apr 97 - 02:22 PM

BE NOT TOO HARD
Sung by Joan Baez

Be not too hard, for life is short,
And nothing is given to man.
Be not too hard, when he's sold or bought,
For he must manage as best he can.
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Fighting for things he does not own.
Be not too hard when he tells lies,
Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone.
Be not too hard, for soon he'll die,
Often no wiser than he began.
Be not too hard, for life is short,
And nothing is given to man.

REPEAT

And nothing is given to man.


Sorry it took so long; I had trouble finding the album. It was on Joan Baez The Contemporary Ballad Book. By the way, I wouldn't be surprised if the words were from the bible. She sings it once through, then repeats it as part singing and part recitation. Sort of.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 29-Mar-02.

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: Brian
Date: 28 Apr 97 - 02:55 PM

Mnay thanks - I see now that it was just the first line that I couldn't get. Funny really - it's usually only the first lines that I can remember. Must be getting old.

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: belter
Date: 28 Apr 97 - 03:11 PM

I always have trouble rembering the first line of a song. If I get that down the rest is easier.

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 29 Mar 02 - 06:20 PM

The words are by Christopher Logue, an excellent British poet better known as the editor of "True Stories" in the British satirical mag Private Eye. Logue has done some very sharp and immediate translations from Iliad, one of which appeared recently in the Times Literary Supplement. He was also an early British exoponent of jazz and poetry, making a memorable EP called RED BIRD in I think the late 'fifties or early 'sixties. I wrote to him recently to ask about one of his poems which has been in my head ever since those days, and he replied that the poem with other material will be appearing shortly on a CD. I'm sure there's much more to know and appreciate about this fine writer, but I'm in Canada and not London where he lives. Perhaps other London Mudcatters can fill in the blanks?

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 01:22 AM

Thanks for the background, Jon! I've always liked that poem.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Mar 02 - 01:28 AM

I think the line about "his heart" should be...

"Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone"

Long live Joan.

- LH

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 07:24 AM

This song was in a TV program on british TV (ITV I think) back in the 1960's - I know, because I recorded the sound and learnt up lots of the stuff. There was a GREAT song in there called 'This is your favourite philosopher speaking'. I wonder if the TV company have still got it in their archives. I think it was called @Donovan and Logue' and featured Donovan and Christopher Logue, obviously.

Subject: RE: Be not too hard
From: GUEST,Paddyk
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 04:33 PM

Don't suppose anyone has the guitar chords for Be Not Too Hard?
It sounds very straightforward but working out chords has always been beyond me.

Subject: Chords Add: BE NOT TOO HARD (Christopher Logue)
From: Margret RoadKnight
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 09:38 PM

If in C, these chords cover it:
C, Em, Am, Dm, F, G9, G7.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Be Not Too Hard (from Joan Baez)
From: GUEST,Guest - Lin
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:55 AM

I saw the movie, "Poor Cow" many years ago. Donovan sings, "Be Not Too Hard" in the movie soundtrack but as I recall the song is interupted when the actors start talking again. Does anyone know if there is another version of Donovan singing this song (other then in the movie), "Poor Cow?"

I tried doing a search but could not find where Donovan sings this song on any other release. Perhaps a bootleg?
I would like to be able to hear the song without the talking.
Of course I do have the Joan Baez version but looking for Donovan singing it alone (not in aoundtrack). Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Be Not Too Hard (from Joan Baez)
From: GUEST,Quicounou
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 04:21 PM

BE NOT TOO HARD
Sung by Joan Baez

C CM7 Am Dm Dm7 G7

C             CM7         Am
Be not too hard, for life is short,
Dm         Dm7            G7
And nothing is given to man.
C                CM7                Am
Be not too hard, when he's sold or bought,
Dm          Dm7               G7
For he must manage as best he can.
C             CM7         Am
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Dm             Dm7             G7
Fighting for things he does not own.
C             CM7         Am
Be not too hard when he tells lies,
Dm             Dm7                   G7
Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone.
Am
Be not too hard, for soon he'll die,
Dm       Dm7             G7
Often no wiser than he began.
C            CM7                Am
Be not too hard, for life is short,
Dm         Dm7            G7
And nothing is given to man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Be Not Too Hard (from Joan Baez)
From: GUEST,Quicounou
Date: 25 Jun 12 - 04:35 PM

BE NOT TOO HARD
Sung by Joan Baez

C CM7 Am Dm Dm7 G7

C             CM7         Am
Be not too hard, for life is short,
Dm         Dm7            G7
And nothing is given to man.
C                CM7                Am
Be not too hard, when he's sold or bought,
Dm          Dm7               G7
For he must manage as best he can.
C             CM7         Am
Be not too hard when he blindly dies
Dm             Dm7             G7
Fighting for things he does not own.
C             CM7         Am
Be not too hard when he tells lies,
Dm             Dm7                   G7
Or if his heart is sometimes like a stone.
Am
Be not too hard, for soon he'll die,
Dm       Dm7             G7
Often no wiser than he began.
C            CM7                Am
Be not too hard, for life is short,
Dm         G7          C
And nothing is given to man.
Dm         G7          C
And nothing is given to man.