Get all 6 Richard Bowdon releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Songs I Learned at Kerrville, Outstanding in his Field, Free Size Songs, Dancin' & Dreamin', Downstream, and Hitchin' Doc's Highway.
1. |
Hydrogen Gas
02:03
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[A]Hydrogen [E]gas / that’s [B]how it [A]start[E]ed
[A]Hydrogen [E]gas / a long time a[B]go
[A]Clumping, [E]cooling / [B]spinning, [A]slow[E]ing
[A]What came be[E]fore, we’ll [B]never [C#m]know
[A]What came be[E]fore, we’ll [B]never [E]know [A][B]
The [A]earliest [E]stars / they were [B]super[A]no[E]vae
[A]Blowing a[E]part / a long time a[B]go
[A]Spewing their [E]guts / into the [B]gas sur[A]roun[E]ding
[A]Spreading through [E]space / like [B]seeds to [C#m]grow
[A]Spreading through [E]space / like [B]seeds to [E]grow [E7]
{c:B part}
In a [A]certain cloud at the edge of a galaxy
A [E]small star formed / a long time a[B]go
A[A]long with that star was some stuff left over
[E]There in the blink of God’s [B]eye
I was [B7]born, I lived, and I [E]died [B] [A] [E]
[A] [E] it's [B]blue and [A]bub[E]bling
[A] [E] pure [B]ener[E]gy
[A] [E] the[B]clusters [A]cir[E]cling
[A] [E] e[B]terni[C#m]ty
[A] [E] e[B]terni[E]ty [E7]
{c:repeat B part}
Well [A]later that [E]star / will be[B]come a [A]gi[E]ant
And [A]fry this [E]earth / a long time from [B]now
The [A]story re[E]peats / a[B]cross the [A]uni[E]verse
[A]Cooling, ex[E]panding / and [B]running [C#m]down
[A]Cooling, ex[E]panding / and [B]running [E]down [A][B]
[A]Hydrogen [E]gas / that’s [B]how it [A]start[E]ed
It was born, it [B]lived, and it [E]died. [E]
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2. |
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That [D]big shot up in [D7]Hollywood / the [G7]actresses they understood
the [D7]roles they'd get were pretty good / if [A7]him they'd gratify
that [D]must've gone down [D7]long ago / it [G7]couldn't happen now and so
I [D7]wouldn't know, that's [A7]way before my [D]time
{c:turnaround}
A [D]black man with his [D7]family / was [G7]driving south through Tennessee
Pulled [D7]over for D.W.B. / ap[A7]parently a crime
That [D]must've happened [D7]far away / that [G7]stuff would not go down today
I [D7]wouldn't know, that's [A7]way before my [D]time [D7]
{c:bridge}
[G7]Progress takes its time it doesn't [D]hurry [D7]
But it's [G7]fast enough for me, it's fair and [A7]square {c:walk down}
See I [G7]never have a reason to [D7]worry {c:walk up}
Cause [E7]I can always offer thoughts and [A7]prayers
{c:verse break X 2 then repeat bridge}
A [D]troubled teen, an [D7]angry one / he [G7]bought an automatic gun
he [D7]took it to his school for fun / to [A7]tell his friends goodbye
You [D]ask me why they [D7]let that kid / buy [G7]all the ammo that he did
I [D7]wouldn't know, that's [A7]way before my [D]time
{c:turnaround then outro:}
In[D7]justice rarely happens now / I [G7]never see it anyhow
I [D7]wouldn't know, that's [A7]way before my [D]time
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3. |
Hope
03:35
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[C]When I think of [G]hours wasted / [C]searching [C7]for that [F]perfect face
it [C]makes me want to [Am]give up looking [D]/ but I can't do [G]that [G7]
[C]evening air is [G]smelling sweeter [C]/ all I [C7]have to [F]do is meet her
I've [C]been in love be[Am]fore you know / I [D]try but can't for[G]get
chorus
And I [F]hope this [G]loneliness / is [Em]just a passing [Am]phase
'cause [F]Lord I just can't [G]stand it any[C]more [C7]
I hope I [F]find you to[G]morrow / but I [Em]give up on to[Am]day
when [F]I knock will you [G]open up your [C]door
[C]lucky ones I [G]see them kissing / [C]getting [C7]just what [F]I am missing
[C]makes me wish I [Am]had someone to [D7]play to in the [G]park [G7]
[C]thinking back to [G]girls I've [G7]known [C]/ times when [C7]I was [F]not alone
[C]makes me wish I [Am]had someone to [D]talk to in the [G]dark
{c:chorus}
And I [F]hope this [G]loneliness / is [Em]just a passing [Am]phase
'cause [F]Lord I just can't [G]stand it any[C]more [C7]
I hope I [F]find you to[G]morrow / but I [Em]give up on to[Am]day
when [F]I knock will you [G]open up your [C]door
{c:verse break on harp}
[C] [G] [C] [C7] [F]
[C] [Am] [D] [G] [G7]
[C] [G] [C] [C7] [F]
[C] [Am] [D] [G]
{c:chorus}
And I [F]hope this [G]loneliness / is [Em]just a passing [Am]phase
'cause [F]Lord I just can't [G]stand it any[C]more [C7]
I hope I [F]find you to[G]morrow / but I [Em]give up on to[Am]day
when [F]I knock will you [G]open up your [C]door
when [F]I knock please [G]open up your [C]door
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4. |
Pour and Pray
03:48
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I’m [D]proud of all my scars / they [G]show I’ve had a life
I’ve [D]been in [G]the a[D]rena / they [A]prove I’ve had a [A7]wife
These [D]dents on my guitar / you can [G]see ‘em here today
They’re just [D]frozen [G]testi[D]mony / of all the [A]beer joints that I’ve [D]played
B part
Proud of [G]scars [Em] / had a [D]life / the a[A]rena / [A7]with my [D]wife [D7]
My [G]guitar [Em] / here to[D]day / all the [A]beer joints / that I’ve [D]played
I know I’ve got the blues / just like a flea has got a dog
I can feel ‘em all around me / I can see ‘em through the fog
So I keep drinking red wine / to make them go away
Bartender be my preacher / I’ll pour and you can pray
Got the blues / like a dog / I can see ‘em / though the fog
Drinking wine / go away / be my preacher / pour and pray
Goodbye is just a word / that I have heard from you
I should’ve seen it coming / and known just what to do
I swear by all the angels / righteous ones that fell
I swear by all the devils / in heaven or in hell
Just a word / heard from you / seen it coming / what to do
Swear by all / devils fell / fell from heaven / straight to hell
Got the blues / like a dog / I can see ‘em / though the fog
Drinking wine / go away / be my preacher / pour and pray
[slowing] I’m proud of all my scars
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5. |
Here I Am in Singapore
04:21
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[D]Here I am in [Em]Singapore / [A]oh if only you could [D]see me [Bm]
On the lam in [Em]Singapore /[A] this time I really got a[D]way
I wish that you would [Em]visit me /[A] in equatorial a[D]bandon [Bm]
They have nonstops to [Em]Singapore /[A] leaving nightly from [D]LA
Oh take me back to [Em]Tokyo /[A] where that tatami mat [D]awaits me [Bm]
I was comfortable in [Em]Tokyo /[A] sometimes it really felt like [D]home
I found the women [Em]friendly there /[A] though they all seemed very [D]busy [Bm]
Many millions live in [Em]Tokyo / so I never felt a[D]lone [A]
{c:Bridge}
[D]Asia, [A]As[A7]ia, [D]that’s the [D7]place to [G]be
[D]Everybody knows that’s where the [Bm]action is (walk down)
[A]In the 21st centu[D]ry
{c:Verse break }
[D]There’s something ‘bout the [Em]Orient [A]
That makes a Westerner feel [D]special [Bm]
Taller, stronger, [Em]in demand [A]
And I speak English very [D]well
I’m almost a ce[Em]lebrity [A]
So few Americans are [D]in here [Bm]
The guards they smile and [Em]bow to me [A]
As they lead me to my [D]cell [A]
{c:Repeat bridge then repeat first verse, last line:}
They have nonstops to [Em]Singapore /[A] leaving nightly from L[G]A [A] [D]
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6. |
If Only You’d Change
03:29
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[Gb]I know it's been quite awhile / since [E]you've seen me flash a smile
[B]And share what has been on my [Db7]mind
[Gb]I feel a distance you / [E]surely must feel it too
[B]We both know love is not [Gb]blind
[Gb]There's something you can do / to [E]bring back my love for you
[B]Let us start over a[Db7]gain
It’s a [Gb]simple renewing / a [E]kind of undoing
To [B]let us be more than just [Gb]friends
{c:Chorus}
If only you’d [B]change then I’d love you a[Gb]gain
If only you’d [B]be the one that I i[Gb]magine
Don’t you [E]care what I need any[B]more / if only you’d [Gb]change
Things can’t stay the [B]same / no things have to be [Gb]different
Can’t you [B]see that I’m losing my [Gb]mind
It's in [E]pure desperation I'm [B]asking if only you’d [Gb]change
You’ve got to admit it’s true / [E]I rarely bother you
I’d [B]rather just live and let [Db7]live
But [Gb]just hear me out this time / [E]don’t make me cross the line
[B]help me forget and for[Gb]give
{c:repeat chorus then outro: repeat last line of chorus as:}
I'm sin[E]cere when I tell you I [B]really do need you to [Gb]change
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7. |
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[C]Heads they win and [F]tails I [C]lose / It's the [F]only game they [C]let me play
Heads they win and [F]tails I [C]lose / It's the [F]only game in [G]town
[C]Every time I [F]get the [C]blues / I'm [F]lying in my [C]bed all day
Check my phone and [F]get the [C]news / I'm [F]stayin' [G]under[C]ground
{c:B part}
[F]Daddy taught me [G]never to make [Am]trouble
[B]Keep your head down son and you'll be [Em]fine
Now I'm [A]staring at my [A7]shoes and seeing [D]double
I'm [A]not quite sure that's [A7]what he had in [D]mind [G]
{c:A part break}
{c:B part}
[F]Momma was the [G]only one who [Am]told me
[B]never let them call you second [Em]rate
[A]later when those [A7]bastards bought and [D]sold me
if [A]only she was [A7]here to set them [D]straight [G]
{c:A part}
[C]Heads I lose and [F]tails they [C]win / It's the [F]same old story [C]nothing changes
Heads I lose and [F]tails they [C]win / It's the [F]only game a[G]round
[C]Morning I'll be[F]gin a[C]gain to [F]push that boulder [C]up that mountain
Sunset always [F]comes and [C]then / I'll[F]watch it [G]roll back [C]down
{c:B part}
[F]The talking heads they [G]tell me who to [Am]hate more
the [B]other side yeah they're the ones to [Em]blame
But it [A]never seems to [A7]matter who I [D]vote for
The [A]end result is [A7]pretty much the [D]same [G]
{c:A part}
[C]Heads they win and [F]tails I [C]lose / It's the [F]only game they [C]let me play
Heads they win and [F]tails I [C]lose / It's the [F]only game in [G]town
[C]Every time I [F]get the [C]blues / I'm [F]lying in my [C]bed all day
Check my phone and [F]get the [C]news / I'm [F]stayin' [G]under[C]ground
{c:outro}
[C]Heads they win and [F]tails I [C]lose / It's the [F]only [G]game a[C]round
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8. |
You Share That With Me
02:44
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[C]Time slips away my darling
[F]DON'T [G]YOU [C]CRY
We'll be together
IN THE BY AND [G]BY
The sweet sweet [Em]sadness of an
[Am]old [Am/G]woman's [F]sigh
TO[C]GETHER YOU [F]SHARE [G7]THAT WITH [C]ME [F] [G7]
[C]Streams cut through mountains darling
[F]DON'T [G]YOU [C]CRY
And run to the ocean
IN THE BY AND [G]BY
You [C]can wash a[Em]way the past and
[Am]put [Am/G]things [F]right
TO[C]GETHER YOU [F]SHARE [G7]THAT WITH [C]ME [F] [G7]
{c:break}
The stars shine so brightly darling
[F]DON'T [G]YOU [C]CRY
Our children will reach them
IN THE BY AND [G]BY
No [C]words tell the [Em]wonder of a
[Am]star [Am/G]filled [F]sky
TO[C]GETHER YOU [F]SHARE [G7]THAT WITH [C]ME [F] [G7] [C]
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9. |
Pullin’ Me In
04:43
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Well they can [D]read my [A]mind across a [C]crowded [G]room
They cut through a [A7]lie just like a [D]laser [Bm]
Her [G]dazzling eyes / that [D]cut through a [Bm]lie
Can [Em]sparkle and [E7]shine when I a[A]maze her [A7]
Their [D]warmth re[A]minds me of the [C]noonday [G]sun
Glowing and knowing and [Gm]wise
I [Em]always fall in a [A]trance / when I [A7]look in her [D]eyes [A7]
{C:Chorus}
And her [D]eyes [A]/ become a [C]magnet [G]/ pulling me in / [D]pulling me in
I’ll [Bm]never under[C]stand it [G]
here I go a[Cm]gain [Em] / here I [A7]go a[D]gain
The notes rise gently as her song begins / As clear as crystal in water
Emotions to share / caressing the air / voice like the angels had taught her
Softly she sings now let those harmonies ring / tug my heartstrings along
I always feel my heart melt / just hearing her song
{c:verse break}
Her words drop smoothly like pearls on a string / A fine, compressed evocation
Can light what is true / and show it to you / express despair and elation
She holds a mirror to evil and good / the wretched, sublime, and absurd
Oh I feel that poetry’s power / just hearing her words
{c: last chorus: repeat last line, slowing}
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10. |
The Good Book of Prine
03:55
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Lydia
[C]Starin’ out the window of her [F]Chevy SUV
[C]Countin’ years she wasted with that [G]lyin’ SOB
[C]Best years of her [C7]life / as a [F]poker player’s wife
Startin’ [Dm]over at the [G]age of sixty-[Am]three-[F]ee
[C]Hmm [G7]mm [C]mm
Donald
[C]No one ever told him when the [F]kids were grown and gone
[C]He’d be on his own again just [G]like when he was young
[C]Best years of his [C7]life but not ac[F]cording to his wife
In that [Dm]game she was the [G]queen he was the [Am]pawn [F]
[C]Hmm [G7]mm [C]mm
{c:Chorus}
But [F]dreamin’ just comes [C]natural
They learned that from the good book of [G]Prine
Through [F]broken hearts and dirty windows
They can [C]still find each [F]other
[C]Never mind they’re [G]running out of [Am]ti-[F]me
They [C]learned that from the [G]good book of [C]Prine
{c:bridge}
They’ve heard [F]preachers promise heaven when you [C]die
But they [G]tasted heaven back in sixty-[C]nine
Now [F]starting over back again is [C]daisies and sun[Am]shine
They [D]learned that from the good book of [G]Prine
{c:verse break then repeat bridge}
Now they’re [C]shacking up together and their [F]lives are pretty good
And they’re [C]keeping all those promises they [G]never thought they would
The [C]best years of their [C7]lives / the [F]ones that satisfy
You know [Dm]happiness is [G]simply under [Am]stoo- [F]ood
They’re [C]together and their [G]lives are pretty [C]good
{c:repeat chorus}
{c:outro: change to 3/4 time}
But [F]dreamin’ just comes [C]natural
like the [G]first breath[G7] from a [C]baby.....
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11. |
Happy and Free
03:23
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The [G]world seems painted in [Asus2]dark blue colors
The [Dsus2]hard times are coming a[Asus4]gain [A]
A [G6]cold wind's blowing it [Asus2]won't stop [A]snowing
Can't [Esus4]find a friend [E7] {c:pause}
So [G6]sail with me on the [Asus2]deep blue ocean love
[Dsus2]Sail with me on the [Asus4]sea [A]
[G6]Far away from these [Asus2]cares and worries
Where [Esus4]we can be [E7]/ Happy and [A]free
[D] [E7] [A] [D] [E]{c:pause}
[G6]Walk with me to the [Asus2]shady forest love
[Dsus2]Go with me to the [Asus4]trees [A]
[G6]Make a bed of those [Asus2]soft pine needles
Where [Esus4]we can be [E7] / Happy and [A]free
Live to[D]gether / [E7]Happy and [A]free [D] [E]{c:pause}
[A7] [D]All we need is a [A]warm and quiet place
[Esus4]Distant [E7]sound of the [Asus4]waves [A7]
[D]Where the beauty sur[A]rounds us
Where we can [Esus4]spend our days [E7]
Happy and [A]free
all to[D]gether / [E7]Happy and [A]free
sail by the [D]light of the [E7]moon [A]
with our [D]children / [E7]Happy and [A]free
hearing the [D]nightingale's [E7]tune [A]
in the [D]morning / [E7]Happy and [A]free
at the [D]close of the [E7]day [A]
in the [D]sunshine / [E7]Happy and [A]free
with our [D]music to [E7]play
live to[D]gether / [E7]Happy and [A]free
with our [D]children / [E7]Happy and [A]free
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Richard Bowdon Cary, North Carolina
A prolific singer-songwriter over four decades, Richard Bowdon carries forward the best Americana traditions of country,
rock, blues, and folk.
Richard was selected three times for the Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition.
Richard performs at festivals, parties, showcases, restaurants, wineries, and brewpubs in the NC Triangle area.
... more
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