You are viewing a comparison between the current version and version 1 of the song that we have archived as Harry Chapin's Lyrics - There Only Was One Choice (current)
→ Harry Chapin Lyrics → New Lyrics → Esta página en español ← → www.mp3lyrics.org ← Search 4 related Lyrics ← most popular lyrics ←

70 lines
changed
ADDED words in bold
CHANGED word in red italic
DELETED words with line-through

font size

decrease
26 lines
added

increase

font size
7 lines
removed
Current version of
Harry Chapin Lyrics
There Only Was One Choice

(http://www.mp3lyrics.org/h/harry-chapin/there/)

Current version of the lyrics

Version 1 of
Harry Chapin Lyrics
There Only Was One Choice

(http://www.mp3lyrics.org/h/harry-chapin/there/v1.html)

Version 1 of the lyrics

1  There's a kid out on my corner     hear him strumming like a fool   There's a kid out on my corner -- hear him strumming like a fool 1
2  Shivering in his dungarees     but still he's going to school   Shivering in his dungarees -- but still he's going to school 2
3  His cheeks are made of peach fuzz,     his hopes may be the same   His cheeks are made of peach fuzz -- his hopes may be the same 3
  But he's signed up as a soldier out to play the music game  But he's signed up as a soldier out to play the music game
      
4  There are fake patches on his jacket             There are fake patches on his jacket -- he's 4
5  He's used bleach to fade his jeans         used bleach to fade his jeans 5
6  With a brand new stay pressed shirt            With a brand new stay pressed shirt -- and 6
7  And some creased and wrinkled dreams        some creased and wrinkled dreams 7
8  His face a blemish garden     but his eyes are virgin clear   His face a blemish garden -- but his eyes are virgin clear 8
9  His voice is Chicken Little's, but      he's hearing Paul Revere   His voice is Chicken Little's -- But he's hearing Paul Revere 9
1   1
10  When he catches himself giggling                                 When he catches himself giggling -- he forces up a sneer 10
11  He forces up       a sneer                  Though he'd rather have a milk shake -- he 11
12  Though he'd rather have a milk shake   keeps forcing down the beer              12
13  He keeps forcing                       down the beer   Just another folkie -- late in coming down the pike 13
14  Just another folkie, late in coming down the pike              Riding his guitar -- he left Kid brother with his bike 14
2  Riding his guitar, he left Kid brother with his bike   2
      
  And he's got Guthrie running in his bones  And he's got Guthrie running in his bones
  He's the hobo kid who's left his home  He's the hobo kid who's left his home
  And his Beatles records and the Rolling Stones  And his Beatles records and the Rolling Stones
15  This boy is staying acoustic   This boy is staying acoustic. 15
3   3
  There's Seeger singing in his heart  There's Seeger singing in his heart
  He hopes his songs will somehow start  He hopes his songs will somehow start
  To heal the cracks that split apart  To heal the cracks that split apart
  America gone plastic  America gone plastic
      
  And now there's Dylan dripping from his mouth  And now there's Dylan dripping from his mouth
  He's hitching himself way down south  He's hitching himself way down south
  To learn a little black and blues  To learn a little black and blues
  From old street men who paid their dues  From old street men who paid their dues
  'Cause they knew they had nothing to lose  'Cause they knew they had nothing to lose
16  They knew it, so they just got to it   They knew                               it 16
1  So they just got to it1
      
  With cracked old Gibsons and red clay shoes  With cracked old Gibsons and red clay shoes
17  Playing 1 4 5 chords like good news   Playing 1-4-5       chords like good news 17
  And cursed with skin that calls for blood  And cursed with skin that calls for blood
  They put their face and feet in mud  They put their face and feet in mud
18  But oh, they learned the music from way down there   But oh they learned the music from way down there 18
  The real ones learn it somewhere  The real ones learn it somewhere
      
19  Strum your guitar,     sing it kid   Strum your guitar -- sing it kid 19
20  Just write about your feelings,     not the things you never did   Just write about your feelings -- not the things you never did 20
21  Inexperience,     it once had cursed me   Inexperience -- it once had cursed me 21
22  But your youth is no handicap,     it's what makes you thirsty   But your youth is no handicap -- it's what makes you thirsty 22
      
23  Hey kid, you know you can hear your footsteps   Hey, kid you know you can hear your footsteps 23
24  As you're kicking up the dust   as you're kicking up the dust 24
  And the rustling in the shadows tells you secrets you can trust  And the rustling in the shadows tells you secrets you can trust
  The capturing of whispers is the way to write a song  The capturing of whispers is the way to write a song
25  It's when you get to microphones, the music can go wrong   It's when you get to microphones the music can go wrong 25
      
  You can't see the audience with spotlights in your eyes  You can't see the audience with spotlights in your eyes
  Your feet can't feel the highway from where the Lear jet flies  Your feet can't feel the highway from where the Lear jet flies
  When you glide in silent splendor in your padded limousines  When you glide in silent splendor in your padded limousines
  Only you are crying there behind the silver screen  Only you are crying there behind the silver screen
2  Now you battle dragons -- but they'll all turn into frogs2
3  When you grab the wheel of fortune -- you get caught up in the cog3
      
26  Now you battle dragons, but they'll all turn into frogs                                            First your art turns                          into craft -- then the yahoos start to laugh 26
4  When you grab the wheel of fortune, you get caught up in the cog   4
5   5
6  First your art turns into craft then the yahoos start to laugh   6
  Then you'll hear the jackals howl 'cause they love to watch the fall  Then you'll hear the jackals howl 'cause they love to watch the fall
27  They're the lost ones out there feeding       They're the lost ones out there feeding on 27
28  On the wounded and the bleeding       the wounded and the bleeding 28
  They always are the first to see the cracks upon the walls  They always are the first to see the cracks upon the walls
      
  When I started this song I was still thirty-three  When I started this song I was still thirty-three
  The age that Mozart died and sweet Jesus was set free  The age that Mozart died and sweet Jesus was set free
  Keats and Shelley too soon finished, Charley Parker would be  Keats and Shelley too soon finished, Charley Parker would be
  And I fantasized some tragedy'd be soon curtailing me  And I fantasized some tragedy'd be soon curtailing me
      
29  Well just today I had my birthday,     I made it thirty-four   Well just today I had my birthday -- I made it thirty-four 29
  Mere mortal, not immortal, not star-crossed anymore  Mere mortal, not immortal, not star-crossed anymore
30  I've got this problem with my aging, I no longer can ignore   I've got this problem with my aging I no longer can ignore 30
  A tame and toothless tabby can't produce a lion's roar  A tame and toothless tabby can't produce a lion's roar
      
  And I can't help being frightened on these midnight afternoons  And I can't help being frightened on these midnight afternoons
31  When I ask the loaded questions                                           When I ask the loaded questions -- Why does winter come so soon? 31
7  "Why does winter come so soon?"   7
  And where are all the golden girls that I was singing for  And where are all the golden girls that I was singing for
  The daybreak chorus of my dreams serenades no more  The daybreak chorus of my dreams serenades no more
      
32  Yeah the minute man is going soft,     the mirror's on the shelf   Yeah the minute man is going soft -- the mirror's on the shelf 32
33  Only when the truth's up there     can you fool yourself?   Only when the truth's up there -- can you fool yourself 33
34  I am the aged jester     who won't gracefully retire   I am the aged jester -- who won't gracefully retire 34
  A clumsy clown without a net caught staggering on the high wire  A clumsy clown without a net caught staggering on the high wire
      
  Yesterday's a collar that has settled round my waist  Yesterday's a collar that has settled round my waist
  Today keeps slipping by me, it leaves no aftertaste  Today keeps slipping by me, it leaves no aftertaste
  Tomorrow is a daydream, the future's never true  Tomorrow is a daydream, the future's never true
  Am I just a fading fire or a breeze passing through?  Am I just a fading fire or a breeze passing through?
      
35  Hello my Country, I once came to tell everyone your story   Hello my Country                                                 35
4  I once came to tell everyone your story4
  Your passion was my poetry  Your passion was my poetry
36  And your past, my most potent glory   And your past my most potent glory 36
  Your promise was my prayer  Your promise was my prayer
  Your hypocrisy my nightmare  Your hypocrisy my nightmare
  And your problems fill my present  And your problems fill my present
  Are we both going somewhere?  Are we both going somewhere?
      
37  Step right up young lady                           Step right up young lady -- Your two hundred 37
38  Your two hundred birthdays make you old if not senile                       birthdays make you old if not senile 38
39  And we see the symptoms there in your rigor mortise smile   And we see the symptoms there in your rigor mortis smile 39
  With your old folks eating dog food and your children eating paint  With your old folks eating dog food and your children eating paint
  While the pirates own the flag and sell us sermons on restraint  While the pirates own the flag and sell us sermons on restraint
      
40  And while blood's the only language                                           And while blood's the only language that your deaf old ears can hear 40
8  That your deaf old ears can hear   8
  And still you will not answer with that message coming clear  And still you will not answer with that message coming clear
  Does it mean there's no more ripples in your tired old glory stream  Does it mean there's no more ripples in your tired old glory stream
  And the buzzards own the carcass of your dream?  And the buzzards own the carcass of your dream?
      
41  Oh B U Y Centennial   B*U*Y          Centennial 41
  Sell 'em pre-canned laughter  Sell 'em pre-canned laughter
  America Perennial  America Perennial
  Sing happy ever after  Sing happy ever after
      
42  There's a dance band on the Titanic   There's a Dance Band on the Titanic 42
43  Singing nearer my God to thee   Singing Nearer My God to Thee 43
  And the iceberg's on the starboard bow  And the iceberg's on the starboard bow
  Won't you dance with me  Won't you dance with me
      
  Yes I read it in the New York Times  Yes I read it in the New York Times
  That was on the stands today  That was on the stands today
  It said that dreams were out of fashion  It said that dreams were out of fashion
  We'll hear no more empty promises  We'll hear no more empty promises
  There'll be no more wasted passions  There'll be no more wasted passions
  To clutter up our play  To clutter up our play
      
  It really was a good sign  It really was a good sign
  The words went on to say  The words went on to say
  It shows that we are growing up  It shows that we are growing up
44  In oh, so many healthy ways   In oh so many healthy ways 44
45  And I told myself this is exactly where I'm at   And I told myself this is                          45
5  Exactly where I'm at5
  But I don't much like thinking about that  But I don't much like thinking about that
      
46  Harry,     are you really so naive?   Harry -- are you really so naive 46
  You can honestly believe  You can honestly believe
  That the country's getting better  That the country's getting better
  When all you do is let her alone  When all you do is let her alone
47  Harry, can      you really be surprised?   Harry -- Can you really be surprised 47
48  When it's there before your eyes   when it's there before your eyes 48
49  When you hold the knife that carves her   when you hold the knife that carves her 49
50  You live the life that starves her to the bone   you live the life that starves her to the bone 50
      
  Good dreams don't come cheap  Good dreams don't come cheap
  You've got to pay for them  You've got to pay for them
  If you just dream when you're asleep  If you just dream when you're asleep
51  There is no way for them, to come alive, to survive   There is no way for them                                51
52                     to come alive 52
53  It's not enough to listen, it's not enough to see                      to survive                             53
9  When the hurricane is coming on, it's not enough to flee   9
54  It's not enough to be in love we hide behind that word   It's not enough to listen -- it's not enough to see       54
55  It's                                       not enough to be alive, when your future's been deferred   When the hurricane is coming on it's not enough to flee                                               55
6  It's not enough to be in love -- we hide behind that word6
7  It's not enough to be alive when your future's been deferred7
      
  What I've run through my body, what I've run through my mind  What I've run through my body, what I've run through my mind
56  My breath's the only rhythm     and the tempo is my time   My breath's the only rhythm -- and the tempo is my time 56
57  My enemy is hopelessness,     my ally honest doubt   My enemy is hopelessness -- my ally honest doubt 57
  The answer is a question that I never will find out  The answer is a question that I never will find out
      
58  Is music propaganda,     should I boogie, rock and roll   Is music propaganda -- should I boogie, Rock and Roll 58
  Or just an early warning system hitched up to my soul  Or just an early warning system hitched up to my soul
  Am I observer or participant or huckster of belief  Am I observer or participant or huckster of belief
  Making too much of a life so mercifully brief?  Making too much of a life so mercifully brief?
      
  So I stride down sunny streets and the band plays back my song  So I stride down sunny streets and the band plays back my song
59  They're applauding at my shadow, long after I am gone   They're applauding at my shadow long after I am gone 59
  Should I hold this wistful notion that the journey is worthwhile  Should I hold this wistful notion that the journey is worthwhile
60  Or tiptoe cross the chasm with a song and a smile?   Or tiptoe cross the chasm with a song and a smile 60
      
61  Well I got up this morning,     I don't need to know no more   Well I got up this morning -- I don't need to know no more 61
  It evaporated nightmares that had boiled the night before  It evaporated nightmares that had boiled the night before
62  With every new day's dawning, my kid climbs in my bed   With every new day's dawning my kid climbs in my bed 62
  And tells the cynics of the board room your language is dead  And tells the cynics of the board room your language is dead
      
  And as I wander with my music through the jungles of despair  And as I wander with my music through the jungles of despair
  My kid will learn guitar and find his street corner somewhere  My kid will learn guitar and find his street corner somewhere
  There he'll make the silence listen to the dream behind the voice  There he'll make the silence listen to the dream behind the voice
  And show his minstrel Hamlet daddy that there only was one choice  And show his minstrel Hamlet daddy that there only was one choice
      
63  Strum your guitar,     sing it kid   Strum your guitar -- sing it kid 63
64  Just write about your feelings     not the things you never did   Just write about your feelings -- not the things you never did 64
65  Inexperience,     it once had cursed me   Inexperience -- it once had cursed me 65
66  But your youth is no handicap, it's what makes you thirsty, hey kid   But your youth is no handicap -- it's                                 66
67                                          what makes you thirsty, hey kid 67
10  Strum your guitar, sing it kid   10
11  Just write about your feelings not the things you never did   11
12   12
13  Dance band on the Titanic   13
14  Singing nearer my God to thee   14
15  The iceberg's on the starboard bow   15
16  Won't you dance with me   16
      
68  The dance band on the Titanic        Strum your guitar -- sing it kid 68
69  Singing nearer my God to thee                                      Just write about your feelings -- not the things you never did 69
17  And the iceberg's on the starboard bow   17
18  Won't you dance with me   18
19   19
20  Yeah the dance band on the Titanic   20
21  Singing nearer my God to thee   21
22  And the iceberg's on the starboard bow   22
23  Won't you dance with me   23
      
70  Come on   Dance Band... 70
24  Yeah the dance band on the Titanic   24
25  Singing nearer my God to thee   25
26  And the iceberg's on the starboard bow   26
      


→ privacy policy

→ contact
 popular lyrics list ←

search lyrics ←
→ copyright information ↑
www.mp3lyrics.org 		lyrics editing account ←