John McCutcheon

Footprints

John McCutcheon


Tom: D

D G D 

G           D
     On the day that school let out 
   G          D
My sister Anne and me
         A       Bm  
Walked the fields behind our house 
   G
To find our Christmas tree 
D        
   She was six years older 
G              D
So she led the way 
               A      Bm                 G       A         D   G D G
As we walked out to find the tree we'd have on Christmas day. 
    D                               G                    D
Now weeks of late November rain had brought the creek to flood 

             A     Bm
As we walked out across the field 
    G
Our boots sunk in the mud 
  D                                      G             D
I soon realized that I could step inside her prints so grand
         A           Bm            G                 A
Until it seemed like I was walking across the driest land 




      G                D
I was walking in your foot prints 
A              D     G               D
Counting every step, measuring every move you made, 
G              A               G               D       A              Bm A
Every word you said, and I was dancing in your shadow, doing what you do. 
      G               D             A               D   G D G
I was learning how to be like me by being just like you. 

D
Mom could hit a baseball 
G               D
Lee could fly a kite,
         A     Bm            G      
Dad knew every constellation in the sky at night 
    D                                    G          D
And Ann could sing about every song that Elvis ever sung
              A      Bm                  G            A
And it wasn't long before it seemed like I knew every one. 

G                D
I was walking in your foot prints 
A              D     G               D
Counting every step, measuring every move you made, 
G              A               G               D       A              Bm A
Every word you said, and I was dancing in your shadow, doing what you do. 
      G               D             A               D   G D G
I was learning how to be like me by being just like you. 
      G                D       
I was watching how you walked and talked. 
G                D
How you held you head.
G               D 
Every joke that made you laugh. 
G              A
Every book you read. 
G                  D                  G                D
And how you always did your best when no one seemed to care,
Em                       D
How you did you did your duty, 
G                A
How you did your share. 

D 
Now as I grow older 
        G       D                       A      Bm
It's so easy to forget all the ones who follow after me 
G
I can't imagine yet
    D      
Who learn what I remember, 
G                  D
Who do what I have done,
      A      Bm 
Every step I travel now 
  G                  A
I walk for more than one. 

    G               D
I'm walking in your foot prints 
A              D     G               D
Counting every step, measuring every move you made, 
G              A               G               D       A              Bm A
Every word you said, and I was dancing in your shadow, doing what you do. 
      G               D             A               D   G D G D 
I was learning how to be like me by being just like you.