Harry Chapin

Last Of The Protest Singers

Harry Chapin


Tom: D

          D
He's the last of the protest singers
  Em
Selling truth and commitment
F#m
He don't get much work these days
 G                  A
He's billed as a novelty act

         D 
And he stands there with his thumb out
  Em
Hitchin' a ride towards the rainbow
     F#m
That only he sees shining there
      G                    A
They say he's a fool and that's a fact.

    G       A       Bm          F#m     Em - A - Em - A
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

              D
Yes he's the last of the protest singers
       Em
But somehow I believe him
       F#m
As he strums on cold street corners singing
 G                    A
It's what I say, not what I am.

 D
Late at night I hold him
     Em
He shivers and hides his crying
                 F#m
And says, "Should I just play some Rock 'n Roll
         G             A
'cause nobody really gives a damn?"

    G       A       Bm          F#m     Em - A 
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

         Em                A
I said "That's really not good enough
                  Em                     A
Because there's enough of that kind of stuff!"
             Em               A
And I say "That's really not good enough
                  Em                     A
Because there's enough of that kind of stuff!"
              Bb         F      C      F      C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody cares anymore."
              Bb         F      C      F      C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody shares anymore."
              Bb         F       C       F          C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody's there like before."
              G                  A                Bm   A   G - F#m - Em - A - Em - A
He says, "I can't believe it's really true. Don't you care anymore?"

              D
Yes he's the last of the protest singers
  Em
Staring as he's strumming
       F#m
For he sees the dark clouds coming now
        G                    A
And he says he feels those first few drops
    D
He sees he can not reach them
        Em
But he tries to sing out louder
      F#m
And I say, "You're getting hoarser boy."
    G                   A
He says, "Should I give up and stop?"

    G       A       Bm          F#m     Em - A 
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

            Em                A
And I say "That's really not good enough
                  Em                     A
Because there's enough of that kind of stuff"
             Em               A
And I say "That's really not good enough
                  Em                     A
Because there's enough of that kind of stuff!"
              Bb         F      C      F      C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody cares anymore."
              Bb         F      C      F      C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody shares anymore."
              Bb         F       C       F          C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody's there like before."
              G                  A                Bm   A   G - F#m - Em - A - Em - A
He says, "I can't believe it's really true. Don't you care anymore?"

               D
Yes, he's the last of the protest singers
  Em
Selling truth and commitment
F#m
He don't get much work these days
 G                  A
He's billed as a novelty act

         D 
And he stands there with his thumb out
  Em
Hitchin' a ride towards the rainbow
     F#m
That only he sees shining there
      G                    A
They say he's a fool and that's a fact.

    G       A       Bm          F#m     Em - A 
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

           Em                     A
"There's enough of that kind of stuff!"
             Em               A
And I say "That's really not good enough
                  Em                     A
Because there's enough of that kind of stuff!"
              Bb         F      C      F      C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody cares anymore."
              Bb         F      C      F      C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody shares anymore."
              Bb         F       C       F          C
And he says, "I can't believe nobody's there like before."
              G                  A                Bm   A   G - F#m - Em - A - Em - A
He says, "I can't believe it's really true. Don't you care anymore?"
               D
Yes, he's the last of the protest singers...