Lyr Req: The Iron Man (Tom Paxton)

Subject: The iron man
From: GUEST,Jacky KIlo
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 08:56 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics to Tom Paxtons "The Iron Man" Thanks Jacky Kilo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Mar 00 - 10:05 PM

Thats mostly one side of an album, Jacky. Try his web page. It may be there. If you can't find it I'll scan it for you.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: GUEST,Jacky
Date: 24 Mar 00 - 01:17 AM

What is his webpages address? Thanks Jacky

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: GUEST,MIKE DOWDING
Date: 07 May 02 - 07:05 PM

Tune.please...and lyrics, if any, of the Scots tune The Iron man to:[e-mail].....I'm a gateau/cakemaker and a struggling ADG melodian player

Many Thanks

Subject: RE: Tune Req: The iron man
From: GUEST,Mike Dowding...again!!
Date: 07 May 02 - 07:42 PM

I have heard it played as a "very catchy" Strathespey rhythm in key A...but I prefer to have the music and play the melody as written.....and not bodge it up as so many people do...Thanks again......I'm told 'tis a Scots tune

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 May 02 - 07:46 PM

The strathspey was composed by J. Scott Skinner for William M.F. McHardy, Laird of Drumblair. You'll be able to get the music as staff, abc or midi at JC's Tunefinder; the server is down just at present, but will no doubt be back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 May 02 - 02:33 PM

Don Miexner: Which web page did you have in mind?

Here's Tom Paxton's agent: http://www.flemtam.com/tp.html

Here's his page at Appleseed Recordings: http://www.appleseedrec.com/tompaxton/

Here's his page at Elektra/Rhino Records: http://www.rhino.com/features/bio/73515bio.html

Here's his page at Blue Plate Music: http://www.blueplatemusic.com/paxtontour.html

Here's his page at Rounder Records: http://www.rounder.com/ByArtist.asp?musical_group_id=1349

None of those web sites have lyrics that I can find. Some have sound samples, but not of the song in question.

"Iron Man" (length=15:02) was on his album "Things I Notice Now" Elektra LP EKS-74043, 1969. It is apparently out of print and has not been reissued as a CD.

"Iron Man" is NOT on the collection "I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound: The Elektra Years" which is where you'd expect to find it if anybody was going to reissue it.

There are numerous fan web sites and record store web pages about him, but I don't have the patience to search them all.

A few lines from the song (not just the title) might help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 09 May 02 - 07:02 PM

If no one posts in the next few days I'll put the words up for you. (I thought I had it already written out in one of my old folders, but not according to my index). While I can still remember whole sections of the 15 minutes (The Things I Notice Now was always my favourite of the early Paxton LPs and the Anji section my favourite from the song), I will need to listen to it. If you want the various tunes for each section let me know - that'll take me a while to take down.

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: THE IRON MAN (Tom Paxton)
From: GUEST,MCP, Lyric Add
Date: 09 May 02 - 09:16 PM

Here are the words as promised. (Letters in parentheses at the end of verses are tune identifiers).

Mick

---

THE IRON MAN
Tom Paxton

  1.
  The orders came, the midnight rain was driving down the window pane.
  They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle showed them green and new to battle. (A)
  
  
  2.
  Out on the road, the mud knee-high, the tortured trucks were slithering by
  Towards the ruptured, shattered sky, they stroll but hardly mattered why. (B)
  
  We find our hero in the mud, we guess the fever in his blood
  We try, as he, to laugh at this The Iron Man whom bullets miss. (B)
  
    He's right, the song has just begun, we'd never kill a man so young.
    He's right, the song has just begun, we'd never kill a man so young. (C)
  
  The sergeant, how they loathed his guts, he led them down the waggon ruts.
  One truck is stalled, the drivers curse, it's either ambulance or hearse. (B)
  
  The air grows foul, the heavy stench is seeping from the ancient trench.
  He takes his place and laughs at this, The Iron Man whom bullets miss. (B)
  
    He's right, no matter how they try, the song's too young for him to die.
    He's right, no matter how they try, the song's too young for him to die. (C)
  
  
  3.
  The orders came, the midnight rain was driving down the window pane.
  They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle showed them green and new to battle. (A)
  
  
  4.
  Winter came early to the house on the hill, frost, wind and snow.
  The builders looked at its unfinished frame, then turned to go.
  A small foundation, a pile of sand, a rusty hammer in a cold, cold hand.
  It wasn't the big house that they planned, but Winter came early and Winter came hard. (D)
  
  Winter was death to the house on the hill, frost, wind and snow.
  Warped its timbers and cracked the foundations, then turned to go.
  The sketch was crumpled in a cold, cold hand, the hammer buried in the pile of sand.
  The builders' thoughts were of virgin land when Winter came early and Winter came hard. (D)
  
  Spring was puzzled by the house on the hill - last patch of snow.
  Gave it flowers and climbing vines, then turned to go.
  Small boys played on the pile of sand, plastic weapons in their eager hands.
  It wasn't the big house that they planned, but Winter came early and Winter came hard. (D)
  
  
  5.
  The young lieutenant, new to war, is sick upon the trench's floor.
  The sergeant, how they cursed his head, is suddenly quite cold and dead. (B)
  
  The deafening explosions cease, the calm a cruel burlesque appears.
  The whistle blows, the charge is made, The Iron Man is unafraid. (B)
  
    He's right, he's young and brave and strong, just the kind to fill a song.
    He's right, he's young and brave and strong, just the kind to fill a song. (C)
  
  
  6.
  The orders came, the midnight rain was driving down the window pane.
  They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle showed them green and new to battle. (A)
  
  
  7.
  Frost on the blankets of the strong boys' room, Heat for the cissies, for the prep-school pansies.
  Ice cold showers for the cool platoon. Once a month a card to mamma. (E)
  
  Wipe that smile off and shine your brass.Grab your ankles and I'll give you twenty.
  Drop that rifle and I'll have your ass. Once a month a card to mamma. (E)
  
    Play me the Taps, the quadrangle sleeping.  Here in his rack my roommate is weeping.
    Someone is weeping, I'll be all right.  Goodnight. Goodnight. (F)
  
  Town girls love it in the picture show. Save the dances for the home-town ladies.
  Save five dollars for the one who knows. Once a month a card to mamma. (E)
  
  Grab your ankles for the old cadets. Drop your trousers and you'll get what's coming.
  Is there more to this than you're quite sure of? Put it in a card to mamma. (E)
  
    Play me the Taps, the quadrangle sleeping. Here in his rack my roommate is weeping.
    Someone is weeping, I'll be all right.  Goodnight. Goodnight. (F)
  
    Play me the Taps, the quadrangle sleeping. (F)
  
  
  8.
  The whistle blows, the charge is made, The Iron Man is unafraid.
  The young lieutenant screams out loud, the bullets hum like a startled crowd. (B)
  
  The young lieutenant screams and falls, The Iron Man runs up the walls
  And blows the enemy a kiss. The Iron Man whom bullets miss. (B)
  
    He's right, the man whom bullets miss is meant for something more than this.
    He's right, the man whom bullets miss is meant for something more than this. (C)
  
  
  9.
  The orders came, the midnight rain was driving down the window pane.
  They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle showed them green and new to battle. (A)
  
  
  10.
  Anji, from where I stand the water breaks on the spit of sand
  How does it survive?
  Anji, for all I know the sand is tired and ready to go
  It's less than alive.
    But you, so ready to leave, the first trembling leaf to break loose in the Fall
    Anji, so ready to fly. Is there time to ask why? Is there no time at all?
    Or is there nothing hidden I can blame?
    Anji, If Anji's your name. (G)
  
  Anji, from where I stand your smile is so discretely planned
  I'm not sure it's there.
  Anji, for all I know, you'll notice me, you'll turn and go,
  You won't even care.
    That you're ready to leave, the first trembling leaf to break loose in the Fall
    Anji, so ready to fly. Is there time to ask why? Is there no time at all?
    Or is there nothing hidden I can blame?
    Anji, If Anji's your name. (G)
  
    Anji, I was getting along, nothing quite right, but nothing too wrong
    I didn't know you existed.
    I ran my life like a safe machine, lost myself in a safe routine,
    But now it's all twisted,
    With my hand on the knife
    For the rest of my life. (H)
  
  Anji, from where I stand you rise and wave an unblocked hand,
  You smile in the sun.
  Anji, you smile for him, he calls to you , the light is dim,
  You break into a run.
    And you're gone, so ready to leave, the first trembling leaf to break loose in the Fall
    Anji, so ready to fly. Is there time to ask why? Is there no time at all?
    Or is there nothing hidden I can blame?
    Anji, If Anji's your name. (G)
  
  11.
  The battered fort is ours again, it only cost ten-thousand men
  And when a young lieutenant dies some survivor has to rise. (B)
  
  So like a humble prayer of thanks, The Iron Man goes up the ranks.
  The man whom bullets miss goes far, he wins a kiss and wears a star. (B)
  
    And he's right - a man who lives through that deserves a star upon his hat.
    And he's right - a man who lives through that deserves a star upon his hat. (C)
  
  And now a nation cheers his name, politicians play his game.
  He's coaxed and shrewdly follows fate, soon he's leader of the State. (B)
  
  The peace grows dull, the pace too slow, at last he finds convenient foe.
  The Congress baulks, the galleries hiss The Iron Man whom bullets miss. (B)
  
    But he's right, the man whom bullets miss is meant for something more than this.
    He's right, the Generals back the guns and Congress turns and Congress runs.(C)
    He's right, the nation shouts its thanks, the young men run to join the ranks.
    He's right, his name is in their blood when hurled against some foreign mud. (C)
  
  
  12.
  The orders came, the midnight rain was driving down the window pane.
  They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle showed them green and new to battle. (A)
  
  
  13.
    Play me the Taps, the quadrangle sleeping. Here in his rack my roommate is weeping.
    Someone is weeping, I'll be all right. Goodnight. Goodnight. (F)
  

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: DonMeixner
Date: 09 May 02 - 11:19 PM

Hi Jim,

Didn't have a particular site in mind when I posted that two years ago. I was just guessing where it might be found.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 May 02 - 11:21 PM

Holy cow..............very good, MCP!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The iron man
From: raredance
Date: 10 May 02 - 11:03 PM

GReat Mick and thanks. I dug out the LP but the lyric insert has been separted from it. Ididn't want to hunt for the lyric sheet and I really didn't want to transcribe it. Whichever way you got it, bravo.

rich r

Subject: Chords Add: THE IRON MAN (Tom Paxton)
From: Jason Xion Wang
Date: 26 Mar 15 - 07:07 AM

I've been looking for the chords to this epic song for a while, but no luck, so I decided to figure it myself. Finally done - not sure it's 100% correct, but almost there, I guess. I've put the entire chords and lyrics on a page on my website. I'll use MCP's tune identifiers here.

THE IRON MAN
(Tom Paxton)

      Asus2                     Dsus2
  The orders came, the midnight rain
      Asus2                   Dsus2
  Was driving down the window pane. 
       Asus2                      Dsus2  
  They rose like cattle, mess-kit rattle
  Fmaj7                 E      Asus2
  Showed them green and new to battle. [A]
  
  
  Asus2
  Out on the road, the mud knee-high,
      Dsus2
  The tortured trucks were slithering by.
  Asus2
  Toward the ruptured, shattered sky,
       F                  Em       Asus2
  They strove - it hardly mattered why. [B]
  
  
       Asus2
  He's right, the song has just begun. 
       Gadd9
  We'd never kill a man so young.
       F
  He's right, the song has just begun. 
       F#dim               Asus2
  We'd never kill a man so young. [C]
  
  
  A                        D            A
  Winter came early to the house on the hill,
           D        A
  Frost to wind and snow.
                             D          A
  The builders looked at its unfinished frame,
  G    D/F#      E
  Then turned to go.
    A                   D       A
  A small foundation, a pile of sand,
                      D          A
  A rusty hammer in a cold, cold hand.
     D                            A
  It wasn't a big house that they planned,
                            E           A
  But winter came early and winter came hard. [D]
  
  
  Dm
  Frost on the blankets of the strong boys' room.
  
  Heat for the sissies, for the prep-school pansies.
  
  Ice cold showers for the cool platoon.
                         F Dm
  Once a month a card to momma. [E]
  
  
  D                     C  G/B       A   D
  Play me the taps, the quadrangle's sleeping.
                       C   G/B     A  D
  Here in his rack, my roommate is weeping.
  G             D     G           D
  Someone is weeping; I'll be all right.
      G          D
  Goodnight, goodnight. [F]
  
  
  G           C/G     G
  Angie, from where I stand,
                        C/G     G
  The water breaks on a spit of sand,
  D7/F#
  How does it survive?
  
  Angie, for all I know,
  
  The sand is tired and ready to go,
       G                D7/F#
  It's less than alive.
      Em
  But you, so ready to leave,
                                                 D7/F#
  The first trembling leaf to break loose in the fall.
  
  Angie, so ready to fly,
  
  Is there time to ask why?
                      G    D7/F#
  Is there no time at all?
  Em                                Am
  Or, is there nothing hidden I can blame?
  D                      G
  Angie, if Angie's your name. [G]
  
  
  Em
  Angie, I was getting along;
  G
  Nothing quite right, but nothing too wrong;
           D7/F#
  I didn't know you existed.
  
  I ran my life like a safe machine,
  
  Lost myself in a safe routine,
      G            D7/F#    Em
  But now it's all twisted.
                      Am
  With my hand on the knife
                     G
  For the rest of my life. [H]
  

I think part "D" is the only part in 3/4 time. The rest of the song are all in 4/4.

Not my favorite Tom Paxton song, but it's indeed interesting. The "Angie" part is fabulous.

Jason