The Shortest Story

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Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 03:48:34 -0800
From: Jed 

 
Subject: The Shortest Story by Harry Chapin


LISTEN TO THE SONG ON "GREATEST SONGS LIVE" TO UNDESTAND.


STRUM C CHORD SLOWLY
PLUCK C ON THE B STRING AND THE OPEN G STRING TOGETHOR THREE TIME


 
 C         
 G      
 F                 
 G             
 Em    (STRUM 
 Em
SLOWLY)
 I am born today, the sun burns its promise in my eyes;

 
 F       
 G              
 C      
 Em         
 Am
 Mama strikes me and I draw a breath and cry.

 
 F          
 G            
 C       
 Em          
 Am
 Above me a cloud softly tumbles through the sky;

 
 G       
 G          
 F
 I am glad to be alive.


>
 G     
 F

 
 C                 
 G   
 F            
 G           
 Em (STRUM 
 Em SLOW)
 It is me seventh day, I taste the hunger and I cry;

 
 F               
 G     
 C       
 Em      
 Am
 my brother and sister cling to Mama's side.

 
 F                
 G                  
 C      
 Em      
 Am
 She squeezes her breast, but it has nothing to provide;

 
 G               
 G         
 F
 someone weeps, I fall asleep.


>
 G    
 F

 
 C                 
 G      
 F             
 G          
 Em  (STRUM)
 It is twenty days today, Mama does not hold me anymore;

 
 F         
 G            
 C  
 Em        
 Am
 I open my mouth but I am too weak to cry.

 
 F          
 G            
 C     
 Em         
 Am
 Above me a bird slowly crawls across the sky;

 
 G                    
 G              
 Am
 why is there nothing now to do but die?