Harry Chapin - Corey's Coming video free download


80,853
Duration: 08:15
Uploaded: 2011/07/03

I really like this song. If you're familiar with the original you'll notice a significant change in this version. I don't know which I prefer, but soon I'll upload both and you can choose for yourself.

I can't find any lyrics for this version so maybe later I'll write'um myself.

Old John Joseph was a man with two first names,

They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains.

Only one run a week comes on roaring down that line,

So all he's got to worry 'bout is time.

He sits in the break house his hands out to the fire,

Moving though his memories of love and desire.

Telling me the stories of the glories of his past,

But he always saves the story of his Corey for the last.

And he says "My Corey's coming. No more sad stories coming.

My midnight-moonlight-morning-glory's coming, aren't you girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you,

She enfolds you in her world."

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

And he'd say "Come on, sit down kid, where shall I begin?"

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

But I love the way you tell me of your Corey the best."

And so I'd hear his life long love recreated by his tongue.

He'd turn back the years, she'd seem forever young.

Though the other stories changed, as they rolled though his head.

He'd say the same words bout Corey just before he went to bed,

and then he'd send me away but he'd be smiling as he said.

"Can't you see my Corey's coming. No more sad stories coming

My midnight-moonlight-morning-glory's coming aren't you girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you

She enfolds you in her world."

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

So I asked the townsfolk if his stories were true,

Well they said "Old John was born here, he's lived here all his life,

He's never had a woman, let alone a wife.

And very soon you'll find out, as you check around,

That no one named Corey's ever lived in this town"

So I chided the old man 'bout the truth that I had heard,

Well he smiled and said "Reality is only just a word!"

"Can't you see my Corey's coming. No more sad stories coming.

My midnight-moonlight-morning-glory's coming aren't you girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you,

She enfolds you in her world."

I came by one evening but he did not hear my shout.

I looked in the window and saw the fire was out.

When he would not wake up I forced in the door,

And found that Old John Joseph would tell stories no more.

There was a scene at the graveyard, just three of us were there.

Me, and the gravedigger, and we heard the parson's prayer.

He said "We need not grieve for this man,

For we know that God cares!"

Well they put the cold dirt over him, left me on my own,

And when at last I looked up I saw I was not alone.

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

was the beautiful young woman, I remember what she said.

"is that John Joesph there?" - I nodded my head yes.

That brought a soft smile from here she said "it's time he, he got some rest"

So I said "If you're a relative, he had a peaceful end."

That's when she said "My name is Corey you can say I'm just a friend".

Corey's coming, no more sad stories coming

My midnight-moonlight-morning-glory's coming aren't you girl?

And like I told you, when she holds you

She enfolds you in her world.

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

You see a busted down old railroad yard sure makes a lonely sight.

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

Well the job pays enough to keep some flesh on my bones.

And I confess I get to missing the old man a bit,

Yes there's one other reason - I guess I should admit -

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

My midnight-moonlight-morning-glory's coming aren't you girl?

And like he told me, when she holds me

She enfolds me in her world. "

Tell me if you see any mistakes in there.

-Thank you TinyDancer500, and Ilikegargoyles

Comments

9 years ago

FeaturingMaxAsMax

Well, I'm kind of late to the party, but... This version seems to me as if it might actually *be* the original and the one on "Road to Kingdom Come" could be a version edited for time. The reason I say that is that the additions in this version really seem unnecessary -- like, why put in the line about the red shawl? If so, I think the editing tightened the story and really focused on the essential parts. I like the "Road to Kingdom Come" version a little better for that reason. However, the backing vocals in this version are an improvement and the live, non-studio feel is great. Anyway, this is my favorite Harry Chapin song, in either version.

9 years ago

Fire Macaw

this is such a nice sad song

9 years ago

Laurier Mazier

This is a favorite around the old camp-fire...I've played it so many times, can't even estimate how many times...It's my 2nd favorite after Story of A Life.

10 years ago

ken persell

I am also a huge harry chapin fan.. I think Corey is left to each of our own interpretation . he left it open intentionally. to some of us she is an angel, for some a lost love, for some the spirit of the railway station, and a multitude of things for others. I believe he did it like that so everyone could relate to Corey and feel our own comfort from the song

10 years ago

william morris

I think Harry told me it was ok for me to love Corey.

10 years ago

mrschlik

"Reality is only just a word". Corey is the answer to loneliness. Corey is who we create when we have nothing else. Corey is who we reach to when no one is within reach. Corey is God. Not the religious god we pray to in hopes of everlasting life and all that... but God. Who lives within us and "Cares", as the parson said.

10 years ago

Alyson W.

I don't believe it! I have been trying to find this version somewhere besides an LP for years!

10 years ago

Tom Swift

I think Corey is death.

11 years ago

Foamsworth

I've never heard this version. Thank you so much for uploading!!!!

11 years ago

Foamsworth

Yes, Cory is the Angel of Death, bringing peace and a long awaited rest.

11 years ago

michael wilson

always thought so too either that or his guardian angel.

11 years ago

SongsofHarry

ooooooo.... That's a good one!

11 years ago

John Villasana

There us a Zen Koan that reads something like this, "Who were you before your father was born?" Cory is death.

11 years ago

alfsdogs1

many months later, i read your words. There are some dreams and stories that cross. A beautiful mind as it is permitted to age gracefully. "Reality is only just a word" When all is gone, only the stories will remain, perhaps the young man felt the need to continue the new truth he had learned. And the heart yearns for the comfort of love.

11 years ago

Virginia Gera

In 1985 we couldn't decide to name our son John Michael or Joseph Michael and ended up naming him John Joseph Michael and always called him John Joseph. Being a Harry Chapin fan, I told my husband if we ever had a girl we'd have to name her Corey and 8 years later we did.

11 years ago

424werter

Cory is an Allegory for Heavens' Angel'.

11 years ago

chip atchley

I would like to think that she is a lost love. We all have something that keeps us going day to day and for John Joseph it is Corie.

11 years ago

Freddy Zalta

Corey's Coming (Songs and Stories) I wrote this expanded version of the song - as a short story - it tells about before during and after identifying Corey in my interpretation. Available in Kindle or Print on Amazon

11 years ago

Oso Takano

Well, I like all your interpertations, but I first heard this song right after I read Poul Anderson's "Somewhere in Time" - an SF story with time travelers fighting a war across time, maintaining "way stations" in time, rest stops, if you will. what would that look like to a mundane, forced to live their life in sequential time? Think "Dr Who" or "The Time Traveler's Wife"

11 years ago

Ryan Hogg

YVONNE ON CHELLO MAGIC

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