ADD: Child's Song (Murray MacLauchlan)

Subject: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: GUEST,Quixote
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 05:30 PM

I heard this song a while back that I really enjoyed. The only problem is I don't remember the artist or the song's name. If anyone could match these lyrics with either I'd really appreciate it.

Goodbye momma, Goodbye to you to paw. Sis you'll have to wait a while to come along. Goodbye to this house and all its memories, Just got too old to carry on.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHILD'S SONG (Murray McLauchlan)
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 05:51 PM

Murry Mcglauchlain (sp???) A Canadian gem of a songwriter from the 70's wrote this song, called "The Childs Song", and it's on his album called "Songs From The Street".. an album I grew up listening to...

The Child's Song

Goodbye mamma, Goodbye to you too pa
Little Sister, you'll have to wait a while to come along
Goodbye to this house and all it's memories
We all just got to old to say we're wrong
I forgot to make one last trip to my bedroom
I guess I'll have to leave some stuff behind
It's funny how the same old crooked pictures
Just don't look the same to me tonight

There ain't no use in shedding no more tears ma
And there ain't no use in shouting at me pa
I can live no longer with your fears ma
I love you but that hasn't helped at all
All of us have got to do what matters
And each of us must see what we can see
Though it was long ago you must remember
You were once as young and scared as me

Mama, I don't know how hard it is yet
When you realize you're growing old
I know how hard it is now to be younger
And I know you tried to keep me from the cold
Thanks for all you've done it may sound hollow
Thank you for the good times that we've known
But I must have my own road to follow
You will all be welcome in my home

So I have got my suitcase I must go now
I don't mind about the things you said
Sorry mama I don't know where I'm going
And remember Little Sister, Look ahead
Tomorrow I'll be in some other sunrise
And maybe I'll have someone by my side
Mama give your love back to your husband
Father you have taught me well, Goodbye

Maybe someone can help us both with the chords for this one... I never did sit down to learn it...

Yake Ye Care Eh!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: GUEST,Quixote
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 06:10 PM

Thanks so much, I heard this song as I was leaving for college (just a mere 3 quarters ago) and so it has a lot of sentimental value to me. Thanks for the info and it would be great if someone would post the chords!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 06:14 PM

Great song. Tom Rush also did an excellent recording of it. It's available on 'The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets' Columbia/Legacy.

--Stewie.

Subject: Chords Add: CHILD'S SONG (Murray McLauchlan)
From: Lucius
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 08:48 PM

This song used to reduce me to tears. Here are the chords as I recall them.

(D) Goodbye, (G) mamma. Goodbye to (D) you too, pa.
(E min) Little Sister, you'll have to wait a while to come (G) along.
(D) Goodbye to this (G) house and all its (D) memories.
(E min) We all just got to old to say we're (G) wrong.
(D) Got to (D/C#) make one (D/B) last trip (D/A) to my (G) bedroom.
(D) I guess (D/C#) I'll have to (D/B) leave some (D/A) stuff (G) behind.
(D) It's funny (D/C#) how the (D/B) same old (D/A) crooked (G) pictures
(D) Just don't (D/C#) look the (D/B) same to (D/A) me to- (G) night.

The (D) - (D/C#) - (D/B) - (D/A) is one of those walk downs, a la "Mr. Bojangles". Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but the note after the slash is the bass note.

I hope that my hard returns keep the phrases intact. I'm really uncomfortable about posting lyrics 'cause they usually end up as one long jumbled paragraph.

Lucius

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Lucius
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 08:50 PM

Darn...

Lucius

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 09:01 PM

I also heard this song (Tom Rush's version) as I was leaving for college...a mere three decades ago! It has stayed with me. Thanks for the reminder, Quixote, and welcome to the Mudcat.

Lucius, if you use the HTML line break character, which is the left angle bracket, the letters br, and the right angle bracket, your posts will look professional every time.

Do it twice and you get a double space, good for separating verses or paragraphs. Check the FAQ thread for more details.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 11:51 PM

I heard this song as I began my freshman year at North Adams State College in MA - 1970. Tom Rush came to play a concert during the first weekend of school. Wonderful song - my wife and I married at semester break that year ... and a friend reworked the lyrics to make it appropriate for playing during the ceremony.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: JedMarum
Date: 16 Apr 00 - 11:55 PM

... just an interesting note, that pretty girl I married 30 years ago, listening to this song, is sitting here with me now, just a few feet away as I write this. She's just as pretty, though I wear the 30 years! I'm a lucky man, indeed. Thanks for bringing back the memories.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Gary T
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:20 AM

Lucius, if you put the line break symbol after each line, it should come out
separated
like
this

The symbol is left arrow (<), b, r, right arrow (>), all together with no spaces. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Quixote
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 12:21 AM

You guys are terrific thanks for all your help! Its amazing how a song like this sticks around. I'm ordering the cd as soon as I figure out which version I hear (Tom Rush's or Murray McLaughin's).

Again thanks,

Quixote

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: rangeroger
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 01:32 AM

As I mentioned in the "emotional associations" thread,this song is one of my favorites.I sang it at my parents 50th wedding anniversary and had everyone bawling.
I'm going to San Diego after the Spring Strawberry Music Festival for their 60th.
Don't know what to sing to follow up "Child's Song"
rr

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 06:08 AM

Jed, thanks so much for your story about your marriage. I'm ending one now, but it's heartening to hear about ones that really do work. Took me eight years to learn that it wasn't all my fault...and I've learned a lot more that will stand me in good stead in the future. I also heard Tom Rush perform Child's Song (at the Main Point near Philadelphia) when I was a college freshman in 1970. I'm glad you were able to find the happiness and hold on. All the best to both of you.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: JedMarum
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 01:12 PM

thanks Mark - one more impact from the song and Tom's performance, however possible indirect; in those days Tom was touring with a wonderful guitar player named Trevor Veitch (sorry for spelling). We named our youngest son, Trevor.

And here's looking ahead; may you bounce back in your future romantic adventures!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Lucius
Date: 17 Apr 00 - 04:30 PM

Thanks Mark and Gary, I'll give it a try.

Trevor was a great folk electric guitarist. Kinda served as an inspiration to me as well.

While we're on the subject of tear-jerker guy songs, what about Gordon Lightfoot's "Sit Down Young Stranger". I piut it in the same catagory as "Child's Song".

Lucius

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: GUEST,Guest, Randy
Date: 25 Sep 00 - 07:10 PM

There's also a wonderful version of "Child's Song" on David Bromberg's "Reckless Abandon" album. What a great thread! I've always wanted the chords to this song.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: L R Mole
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 11:38 AM

Know what, though?Next time you're the "paw"and the song is a knife in the heart."You have taught me well", indeed.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 11:08 PM

Every time I go past this thread I think of a Girl scout round that the four of us girls sang at my sister's wedding. The words are:

Father Father goodbye,
And fare thee well, Mother
I'm leaving you now
To begin with another
I'm leaving you now
To begin with another
Father Father goodbye.

Couldn't sing it for the later weddings, since my dad died betweentimes, but it brings back memories.

Of course, I also tend to look at the title of this thread and think of "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah," so I don't get too weepy...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jun 03 - 12:13 AM

"Child's Song", written and performed by Murray McLauchlan, appears on his 1971 album called "Song from the Street." It has also been recorded by Bridget Ball, David Bromberg, Kathy Mar, and Tom Rush.

I copied and pasted this info from AMG, so I'm reasonably sure the spelling (etc.) is correct.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Goodbye momma, goodbye pappa.
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 12:14 AM

Well, this response to the request for the chords to "The Child's Song" is only about eight years late. But this video version of Murry McLaughlin's song by Tom Rush (a hero of mine for many years)should answer the original question. It's played in G (capoed on the 4th fret). Good luck! I've spent the last couple of days working on this, and I've just about got it down. There is another YouTube video clip where Tom explains his chords and fingering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3EyA2WWfpY

Subject: RE: ADD: Child's Song (Murray MacLauchlan)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Apr 20 - 02:01 AM

Any corrections?

Subject: RE: ADD: Child's Song (Murray MacLauchlan)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 26 Apr 20 - 09:31 AM

Joe, if you're asking for corrections to the lyrics Clinton Hammond2 posted way upthread 16 April 2000, there are a couple of typos in the 1st stanza:

line 3, it's should be its
line 4, to should be too