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Stars

Janis Ian

Text File

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1992 22:03 MET
From: Erik Olofsen +31 71 263344 / 174049 
Subject: Janis_Ian: Stars

Janis Ian: "Stars" from the CD "Up 'til now"

Lyrics from the booklet and from the ear, capo on 1.

It's rather lengthy because I liked to put every detail there!
The rhythm is a bit chaotic, and I wasn't always sure of what to do
with it, but it is probably where part of the beauty of the song
comes from!

Erik Olofsen (olofsen@rullf2.leidenuniv.nl)

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Intro

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I was never one for singing what I really feel

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Except tonight I'm bringing everything I know that's real

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Stars, they come and go, they come fast or slow
They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

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And all you see is glory

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Hey but it gets lonely there when there's no one here to share

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We can shake it away, if you'll hear a story

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People lust for fame like athletes in a game, we break our collarbones

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and come up swinging, some of us are downed
some of us are crowned, and some are lost and never found

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But most have seen it all, they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

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They always come up singing

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Some people make it when they're young, before the world has done its dirty job

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and later on someone will say "You've had your day, now you must make way"

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But they'll never know the pain of living with a name you never owned
or the many years forgetting what you know too well

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That the ones who gave the crown have been let down
You try to make amends without defending

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Perhaps pretending you never saw the eyes of grown men of twenty-five
that follow as you walk and ask for photographs

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Or kiss you on the cheek and you never can believe they really loved you

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Some make it when they're old
(Perhaps they have a soul they're not afraid to bare

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or perhaps there's nothing there)

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Stars, they come and go, they come fast they come slow
They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

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 ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- |
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And all you see is glory

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But most have seen it all, they live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

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They always have a story

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Some women have a body men will want to see
and so they put it on display

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Some people play a fine guitar, I could listen to them play all day

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Some ladies really move across the stage and gee, they sure can dance

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I guess I could learn how, if I gave it half a chance

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But I always feel so funny when my body tries to soar
And I seem to always worry about missing the next chord

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I guess there isn't anything to put up on display

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Except the tunes, and whatever else I say

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But anyway, that isn't really what I meant to say

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I meant to tell a story, I live from day to day

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Stars, they come and go, they're coming fast they come slow
They go like the last light of the sun, all in a blaze

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 ------1---1---1- | ------1---1---1- | 1-----1---1---1- | --1---1---1---0- |
 ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |
 --2------------- | --2------------- | --0------------- | ---------------- |
 0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |
 ---------------- | 3--------------- | 2--------------- | 2--------------- |
And all you see is glory

 -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- |
 ------0- | ------0- | ------0- | ------0- |
 ----0--- | 2---2--- | 2---2--- | 1---1--- |
 --0----- | --0----- | --0----- | --0----- |
 -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- |
 3------- | 2------- | 1------- | 0------- |
But most have seen it all, who live their lives in sad cafes and music halls

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 ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- | ----2-------2--- |
 --2------------- | --2------------- | --0------------- |
 0--------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- |
 ---------------- | 3--------------- | 2--------------- |
And we always have a story

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So if you don't lose patience with my fumbling around

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I'll come up singing for you, even when I'm down

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End