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Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)

22 Feb 97 - 05:44 PM (#2474)
Subject: lyrics req. The Idiot (stan rogers)
From: e23sdl@morgan.ucs.mun.ca

If anyone has the lyrics to Stan Roger's The Idiot could you please send me a copy

Thanks....

24 Mar 97 - 10:05 AM (#3441)
Subject: RE: lyrics req. The Idiot (stan rogers)
From: lenny@journalist.com

try this log.on.ca/summerfolk/srmain.htm if it's not there, i don't know where it would be. lenny

24 Mar 97 - 11:08 AM (#3444)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE IDIOT (Stan Rogers)
From: bo vandenberg

Cheers, Bo

THE IDIOT
Words and music by Stan Rogers, Pro Canada, published 1981
By Fogarty's Cove Music, Inc. Source: Stan Rogers, Songs from Fogarty's Cove p102

I often take these night shift walks when the foreman's not around
I turn my back on the cooling stacks and make for open ground
Far out beyond the tankfarm fence where the gas flare makes no sound
I forget the stink and I always think back to that eastern town.

I remember back six years ago, this Western life I chose,
And every day, the news would say some factory's going to close.
Well I could have stayed to take the dole, but I'm not one of those.
I take nothing free, and that makes me an idiot, I suppose.

CHO: I bid farewell to the eastern town I never more will see
But work I must so I eat this dust and breath refinery,
Oh I miss the green and the woods and streams and I don' like cowboy clothes
But I like being free and that makes me an idiot I suppose.

So come all you fine young fellows who've been beaten to the ground.
This western life's no paradise, but its better than lying down.
Oh, the streets aren't clean, and there's nothing green, and the hills are dirty brown
But the government dole will rot your soul back there in your hometown.

CHO: So bid farewell to the eastern town you never more will see.
There's self-respect and a steady cheque in this refinery.
You will miss the green and the woods and streams and the dust will fill you nose.
But you'll be free, and just like me, an idiot, I suppose.

30 Dec 03 - 12:09 PM (#1082432)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST,galeforce17@yahoo.com

Do you have the chords to this song? Thanks very much!

30 Dec 03 - 01:27 PM (#1082517)
Subject: Chords Add: THE IDIOT (Stan Rogers)
From: Willie-O

(D)I often take these (A) night shift (D)walks when the (G)foreman's not a(Bm)round
I (G)turn my back on the (D)cooling stacks and make for (E7)open
(A)ground
Far (D)out beyond the (A)tankfarm (D)fence where the (G)gas flare makes no (Bm)sound
I for(G)get the stink and I (D)always think back to that (A)eastern (D)town.


CHO: I (G)bid farewell to the (D)eastern town I never (G)more will (D)see
But (G)work I must so I (D)eat this dust and breath re(Em)finer(A)y,
Oh I (D)miss the green and the (A)woods and (D)streams and I (G)don't like cowboy (Bm)clothes
But I (G)like being free and (D)that makes me an (D)idiot (A)I sup(D)pose.


Note: chords are played with a very strong downbeat--chord symbols are shown directly in front of the lyric beat they fall on. Stan described the tune as "delightfully goofy Morris dance rhythm" if that is any help to you--cheers.

Willie-O

30 Dec 03 - 01:33 PM (#1082523)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: Clinton Hammond

Actually Stan described it as a "Knuckle-dragging Neanderthal beat... like Morris dancing"

heh

30 Dec 03 - 01:50 PM (#1082532)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

,,,which is why there actually is a Morris dance written to the tune...

30 Dec 03 - 01:52 PM (#1082536)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: Clinton Hammond

I'm sure Stan'd be SOOOO proud...

*rolls eyes*

30 Dec 03 - 01:59 PM (#1082541)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST,MMario

There is a midi at thidiot.mid on the mudcat midi page

30 Dec 03 - 02:26 PM (#1082567)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: Walking Eagle

Thanks for this one catter critters. I'm trying to think if it is in my music book Songs from Fogerty's Cove. If you know someone with that book, you'll also get the fake notes and can play the tune as well. If it is in there. Memory doesn't work very well on Ocycontin.

30 Dec 03 - 02:30 PM (#1082571)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: Clinton Hammond

Yes.. it's in Songs From Fogarty's Cove...

Page 102

As a matter of fact, I'm gonna dig it up to correct the chords already submitted....

30 Dec 03 - 02:37 PM (#1082579)
Subject: Chords Add: THE IDIOT (Stan Rogers)
From: Clinton Hammond

The Idiot ("Official" chords... whatever that's worth)

I (D)often (A)take these (Bm) night shift (D)walks when the (G)foreman's not a(Bsus4)round
I (G)turn my back on the (D)cooling (G)stacks and (D)make for (Em)open
(A)ground
Far (Bm)out bey(G)ond the (A)tankfarm (D)fence where the (G)gas flare makes no (Bsus4)sound
I for(G)get the stink and I (D)always (G)think back (D)to that (A)eastern (D)town.


CHO: I (G)bid fare(A)well to the (D)eastern town I (Bm)never (A)more will (D)see
But (G)work I (A)must so I (D)eat this dust and (Bm)breath re(Em)finer(A)y,
Oh I (Bm)miss the (G)green and the (A)woods and (D)streams and I (G)don't like cowboy (Bsus4)clothes
But I (G)like being free and (D)that makes (G)me an (D)idiot (A)I sup(D)pose.

Bsus4 = 024400

:-)

30 Dec 03 - 02:42 PM (#1082586)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: Walking Eagle

Thanks Clint. I knew someone out there would know. I'm 'paper trained' and often will play the melody while others chord while singing a song.

19 Aug 12 - 04:19 PM (#3392343)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: GUEST,Jake

Does anyone know what the Bsus4 chord should look like here? I'm getting a ton of different fingerings from my google search.

20 Aug 12 - 08:46 AM (#3392632)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: WindhoverWeaver

Jake, check out the post 2 above yours--its given at the end!

20 Aug 12 - 12:39 PM (#3392722)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Idiot (Stan Rogers)
From: Acorn4

I've played this song and the sus chord isn't vital - a b minor will sound OK - the fingering given doesn't actually involve a sustained note but is just a b chord with the third interval missing meaning it's ambiguous whether it's major or minor - Stan's style had nothing particuarly complex about it but was a very effective style for accompanying his singing.