Lyr Req: Shot Grasses

Subject: Short Grasses
From: DonMeixner
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 06:42 PM

I need the lyrics to Ian Tysons "Short Grass" from I think "Northern Journey" its been a few years so be gentle if my memory is off.

Thanks

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: Gary T
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 07:10 PM

From memory, with probably a few missteps:

  The sun burns the snow, up high on the mountain
  It runs as it grows, ? ? ? (?to the sea?)
  Silt and soil, down it roils
  Down through the valley, the long river flows
  To the sea
  
  The rangeland is high, up from the river
  The coulees are dry, where the short grass grows
  Fields of hay, cottonwood shade
  Green patch of home, through the high dusty land
  The river flows
  
  Early evenin' light, boys practice roping
  The day fades away, the night rolls in
  Lives of pride, men who ride
  They keep the old skills that came up the trail
  From Mexico
  
  The gold river flows, through green years and dry years
  Brand 'em in the spring, rope 'em in the fall
  A new colt foaled, the mare grows old
  Cycle of changes in this changeless land
  Where the short grass grows
  
  In this changeless land where the short...grass...grows
  

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: DonMeixner
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 07:47 PM

Thanks Gary, what you missed I think I remember. I probably haven't thought of this song in thirty years. But I think I'll add it to the mix again. Now I have to learn, "The French Girl" ....three silver rings on slim hands waving....

Thanks again,

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: Gary T
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 08:57 PM

I love 'em both, Don, though I've only memorized (mostly, anyway) and worked out chords for "Short Grass." Damn, you've got good taste!

Subject: Lyr Add: SHORT GRASS (Ian Tyson, Sylvia Fricker)
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 10:25 PM

I have their book, Play One More, and will type the original words hereunder, after I say, "Geez, GaryT, that's excellent from memory!" 'Cause it is.

SHORT GRASS (Ian Tyson and Sylvia Fricker)

The sun burns the snow
High on the mountains,
It runs and it grows
As it falls.
Silt and soil,
Down it boils,
Down to the valleys
The gold river rolls
To the plains.

The range land lies high
Up from the river;
The coulees are dry
Where the short grass grows.
Fields of hay,
Cottonwood shade,
Green patch of home,
Through the high dusty land
The river flows.

Early evening light,
Boys practice roping;
The day fades away,
The night rolls on.
Lives of pride,
Men who ride:
They keep the old skills
That came up the trail
From Mexico.

The long river winds
Through green years and dry years.
Brand 'em in the spring;
Ship 'em in the fall.
A new colt foaled;
The mare grows old:
Cycle of changes in this changeless land
Where the short grass grows.

In this changeless land
Where the short grass grows.

***

(I like "roils" though -- hmmm....)

Sarah

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: Gary T
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 10:30 PM

A few more memory cells are firing.

Verse 1, line 2: "It runs and it grows, as it falls"

V.1, L.4: might be "gold" river here, with "long" river in V.4, L.1

V. 3, L. 2: might be "the night rolls on"

V. 4, L. 1: perhaps "The long/gold river winds"

V. 4, L. 2: "ship 'em in the fall"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: Gary T
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 10:36 PM

Thanks for the compliment and the lyrics, Sarah. (Your post wasn't up when I started typing my corrections, or I could have saved myself the trouble! I see I still missed a few points--oh well.)

Your mention of "Play One More" reminds me that I love that song, as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 11:06 PM

Ooh, ooh: and "Four Strong Winds," "Red Velvet," "Darcy Farrow," "Lonely Girls" -- lots and LOTS of great stuff from those two!

Sarah

Subject: Chords Add: SHORT GRASS (Ian Tyson)
From: mike190
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 02:04 PM

Hi the chords i found for Short Grass are: Capo at 4th fret ( i thought he played in C a lot)
C                  G   C               G
The sun burns the snow high on the mountains
C                   G    CGC
It runs and it flows as it falls
C          Am    G
Silt and soil, down it boils
C                G         C          G    C G   C
Down thru the valleys the gold river rolls To the plains

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE SHORT GRASS (Ian Tyson)
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 03:56 PM

Respectfully disagree, Mike - there be nore minors in it than you have.

There's actually been another recent thread on the same song, and I jumped in with what I was sure were the correct chords. Afterward spotted a typo and re-did them making more mistakes in the process because I was mentally working in 2 different capo'd positions. Just plain dumb!

I double and triple checked these. Try 'em and see what you think:

The Short Grass
Ian Tyson

The (C)sun burns the (Em)snow (F)high on the (G7)mountains
It (C)runs and it (Em)flows (F)as (G7)it (C)falls
(C)Silt and (Am)soil, (Dm)down it (G7)boils
(C)Down thru the (G7)valleys the (C)gold river (Em)rolls
(F)To (G7)the (C)plains
         
The range land lies high up from the river
The coulees are dry where the short grass grows
Fields of hay, cottonwood shade
Green patch of home in the high dusty lands
The river flows
         
Early evening light, boys practice roping
The day fades away, the night rolls on
Lives of pride; men who ride
They keep the old skills that came down the trail
From Mexico
         
The long river winds thru green years and dry years
Brand 'em in the spring, ship 'em in the fall
A new colt foaled; the mare grows old
Cycle of changes in this changeless land
Where the short grass grows
In this changeless land where
The short grass grows


(Ian & Sylvia's performance key was indeed 'E' - i.e. capo 4)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shot Grasses
From: open mike
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 05:49 PM

re-posting this comment..
the typo in the title
makes it look like
shot glasses..
needs another "R"
for turning shot into short

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Short Grasses (Ian & Sylvia)
From: open mike
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 08:06 PM

thanks for fixing the title...although i think it is singular.

and another post i did has been eaten by the computer or server or??

Darcy Farrow is by Steve Gillette and Tom Campbell--not Ian or Sylvia.