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The Shortest Story

Harry Chapin

Text File

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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the#
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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?