Lyr Req: Little Hands (Jonathan Edwards)

17 Jun 00 - 08:40 PM (#243904)
Subject: Jonathan Edwards 'Little Hands'
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

Does anyone know the lyrics to "Little Hands," a lullaby by Jonathan Edwards (and possibly the Seldom Scene)?? I am crunching to find the lyrics before Father's Day, tomorrow, so if anyone happens to have that song on CD, I'd appreciate your sharing the lyrics..it's kind of obscure and I can't find them anywhere online.

Thanks a million, Jody

[e-mail]

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17 Jun 00 - 10:06 PM (#243923)
Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE HANDS (Jonathan Edwards)
From: Stewie

Here's my transcription of it for you:

LITTLE HANDS
(J.Edwards)

Look at those hands, they're baby's hands
Dimpled and fat like a pillow
May they grow up to be strong as an oak
And as graceful as a willow

Oh lord, what will they do – I'm askin' you
Will they bake bread or play the fiddle
For all I know, they will build a new world
While mine grow old and brittle

Little hands, little hands, what are you gonna do
Today, you belong to a baby
Tomorrow, you'll belong to a lady

I love you little hands when you're playin' in the sand
At (sic) the way you love your mother
I will hold on to the memory of this scene
Like one hand holds the other

Little hands, little hands, what are you gonna do
Today, you belong to a baby
Tomorrow, you'll belong to a lady
Today, you belong to a baby
Tomorrow, you'll belong to a beautiful lady

Words and music Jonathan Edwards Joinstune Earthwords Pub ASCAP
Source: Jonathan Edwards & The Seldom Scene 'Blue Ridge' Sugar Hill LP SH3747

Cheers, Stewie.

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14 Nov 06 - 04:33 PM (#1885740)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jonathan Edwards 'Little Hands'
From: GUEST

How about the chords?
Jeff

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07 Oct 12 - 12:10 PM (#3415881)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Hands (Jonathan Edwards)
From: GUEST,bjc

on youtube search for album Seldom Scene and Johnathan Edwards

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08 Oct 12 - 05:54 AM (#3416217)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Hands (Jonathan Edwards)
From: GUEST,999

http://www.howellosborneband.com/songbook/Little%20Hands.htm

The song uses three chords. See above link.

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08 Oct 12 - 06:31 AM (#3416227)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Hands (Jonathan Edwards)
From: GUEST,999

I just noticed the dates of these posts. We might be a little late with this, bjc.

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02 Sep 20 - 09:25 PM (#4070546)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Hands (Jonathan Edwards)
From: GUEST,MTR

It's 2020 does anyone have the chords to Little Hands by Jonathan Edwards?

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19 Dec 20 - 10:08 PM (#4084208)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Hands (Jonathan Edwards)
From: GUEST

Hi! I was just remembering this song being sung to me when I was a child and went looking for the lyrics - I’m so glad this thread is here!

I worked out the chords just now (may not be 100% accurate but they sound good enough to me) and thought I should share.

I played it on piano in F# major just because I liked where it sat in my voice, so that’s how I’ll write it out with the lyrics. I’ll also put the chord Roman numerals at the end which will hopefully help with transposing.


(F#) Look at those hands, they're baby's hands
(B) Dimpled and (C#) fat like a (F#) pillow
(F#) May they grow up to be (B) strong as an oak
(C#) And as graceful as a (F#) willow

(F#) Oh lord, what will they do – I'm askin' you
Will they (B) bake bread or (C#) play the (F#) fiddle
(F#) For all I know, they will (B) build a new world
(C#) While mine grow old and (F#) brittle

(F#) Little hands, little hands, what are (G#m) you gonna do
(C#) Today, you belong to a baby
(G#m) Tomorrow, you'll (C#7) belong to a (F#*) lady

(F#) I love you little hands when you're playin' in the sand
And (B) the way you (C#) love your (F#) mother
(F#) I will hold on to the (B) memory of this scene
(C#) Like one hand holds the (F#) other

(F#) Little hands, little hands, what are (G#m) you gonna do
(C#) Today, you belong to a baby
(G#m) Tomorrow, you'll (C#7) belong to a (F#) lady
(C#) Today, you belong to a baby
(G#m) Tomorrow, you'll (C#7) belong to a (F#) beautiful lady


*A suspended 4th then resolving it sounds good at the end of the chorus, it mirrors what’s going on in the melody.


To sum up: the verse cycles through I, IV, V, I a couple of times. The chorus starts with I, goes to ii minor, then V, back to ii minor, V with optional 7 added, then back to I with optional sus4.


Hope this helps!!
K

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