Coreys Coming Long chords by Harry Chapin

Corey's Coming (long version)

Words and Music by Harry Chapin


(capo 3rd fret)

Open: D - C/D - Am - C - G - A

 D
Old John Joseph was a man with two first names

     Em                  A                   G      Em     A7sus4 - A7
They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains

         D
And only one run a week comes on roarin' down that line

   Em              A             G     D
So all he's got to worry about is time


Em                 A7           Bm              F#m
He sits in the breakhouse, his hands out to the fire

 Em                  Cmaj7     Fmaj7      A7
Movin' through his memories of love and desire

  Em             A7             Bm           F#m
Tellin' me the stories of the glories of his past

        Em              Cmaj7        Fmaj7         A7sus4 - A7
But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last


                D                       Em
And he says, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming

   A                                    G        Em        A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?

    D                         Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you

    A                     D
She enfolds you in her world


D - C/D - Am - C - G - A


     D
I'd come by in the evening to find out where he'd been

     Em               A          G         Em A7sus4 - A7
He'd say come on sit down kid, where shall I  begin?

         D
And I'd say you know my favorite, though you know I like the rest

       Em               A                G   Em   D
But I love the way you tell me of your Corey the best


            Em                 A7     Bm             F#m
And so I'd hear his life long love recreated by his tongue

      Em           Cmaj7        Fmaj7         A7
He'd turn back the years, she'd seem forever young

            Em              A7       Bm                     F#m
Though the other stories changed as they rolled through his head

     Em                       Cmaj7      Fmaj7             A7
He'd say the same words about Corey just before he went to bed

               Em     Cmaj7             Fmaj7         A7
And then he'd send me away but he'd be smiling as he said


                    D                     Em
Can't you see, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming

   A                                    G        Em       A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?

    D                         Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you

    A                     D
She enfolds you in her world

D - C/D - Am - C - G - A


        D
I was quite surprised to find out all the places that he knew

Em                A               G     Em  Asus4 - A7
So I asked the townfolk if his stories were true

      D
They said Old John was born here, he's lived here all his life

Em               A     G   Em      D
He never had a woman, let alone a wife


     Em               A7       Bm             F#m
And very soon you'll find out, as you check around

     Em           Cmaj7        Fmaj7          A7
That no one named Corey's ever lived in this town

   Em           A7                 Bm               F#m
So I chided the old man about the truth that I had heard

     Em             Cmaj7     Fmaj7       A7sus4 - A7
He smiled and said reality is only just a word


                    D                     Em
Can't you see, my Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming

   A                                    G        Em        A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?

    D                         Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you

     A                  Dm
She enfolds you in her world


                Dm/E         Dm/C            DmaddG
I came by one evening but he did not hear my shout

Gm              A#6/F        Em7b5            A7addG
I looked in the window and I saw the fire was out

Dm                Dm/E       Dm/C         DmaddG
When he would not wake up I forced in the door

      Gm                   A#6/F       Em7b5        A7addG
And I found that old John Joseph would tell stories........ no more


     Dm            Dm/E          Dm/C            DmaddG
The scene at the graveyard just three of us were there

Gm                A#6/F    Em7b5              A7addG
Me and the grave digger we heard the parson's prayer

[NO CHORD]
He said we need not grieve for this man

                       D
For we know that God cares

D
They put the cold dirt over him and left me on my own

Em             A               G     Em   A7sus4 - A7
When at last I looked up I saw I was not alone

   D
Standing there in silence, with a shawl around her head

         Em             G         G      Em       D
Was a beautiful young woman, I remember what she said


               Em     A      Em - A
Is that John Joseph there?

A                 D
I nodded my head yes

                A              A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
That brought a soft smile from her

               G      A7        D
She said it's time he got some rest


      D
So I said if you're a relative he had a peaceful end

                 Em             A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
That's when she said my name is Corey

           G       A7      D
You could say I'm just a friend


  D                     Em
Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming

   A                                    G        Em       A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?

    D                         Em7
And like I told you, when she holds you

    A                     D
She enfolds you in her world


D - C/D - Am - C - G - A

    D
So that's the old man's story, I'm glad you came tonight

            Em               A7                G      Em    A7sus4 - A7
You see a busted down old railroad yard sure makes a lonely site

          D
You may wonder why a young man would work out here alone

    Em          A                  G   Em      D
The job pays enough to keep some flesh on my bones


    Em          A7             Bm            F#m
And I confess I get to missing the old man a bit

            Em         Cmaj7   Fmaj7         A7sus4 - A7 - A7sus2 - A7
Yes there's one other reason I guess I could admit


  D                     Em
Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming

   A                                    G        Em       A7sus4 - A7
My midnight, moonlight, morning glory's coming aren't you girl?

    D                          Em7
And like he told me, when she holds you

    A                   D
She enfolds me in her world


D - C/D - Am - D