Story Behind The Song
Top Ten Folk
Top Ten USA
Top Ten North America
Top Ten-Folk: Rural
#1 Illinois
#1 USA
#1 Folk
#1 Folk-Americana
#1 Folk-Rural
Song Description
I lived in Kansas for many years. It was home base when I was touring. I drove a lot during those days. I became very aware of the subtle rise and fall of the landscape as I drove across the low and high prairies in the central USA. These inspired this song.
This and an open-air "be-in" in Lawrence, KS that I attended and performed at where I saw several people flying kites...helped to inspire the tune, too.
| Song Length |
5:40 |
Genre |
Folk - Americana, Folk - Americana |
| Tempo |
Medium (111 - 130) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Ecstatic, In High Spirits |
Subject |
Hitchhiking, Change |
| Similar Artists |
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
"Waving Prairie"
Lyrics and Music by Chet Nichols
Copyright 1969 by Chet Nichols (ASCAP) & Magic Garage Music (ASCAP)
http://www.chetnicholsmusic.com * chet@chetnichols.net
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Off on the waving prairie
The road that brings me home
Is the same road that takes me away
We should all hitchhike once in a while
The feel the need of depending
And to walk the lowly mile
Get caught in a heavy thunderstorm
On the waving prairie
Rebuild the city
Regroup the old stones
Forget the crumbled citadel
And bury all the bones
I?m here and now
Not trying to grow old too soon
I?m gaps that need repair
And I need some wind
Lord, I need some wind
I need some wind to flow
I need some wind to flow
I need some wind to flow
To the waving prairie
You can ride I?d rather walk
Try to keep my pace
This sea of land it takes me in
You?d walk if you weren?t in the race
Live and work and try to be free
Do you listen with your mouth
Or do you use your ears?
Live and work and try to be free
Do you listen from without
Or do you use within?
And bear yourself to a stranger
Live and work
And bear yourself to a stranger
Try to be free
And bear yourself to a stranger
Live and work
And bear yourself from future danger
My fingers are the columns that are braced against the sky
My fingers are the music played from my crystal spy
My fingers play the music that makes you laugh and makes you high
My fingers are the mourning of the Ohio six who died
My fingers are the columns that guide and testify
My fingers are the vehicle that get me around
To the waving prairie
Off on the waving prairie
The road that brings me home
Is the same road that takes me away
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Copyright © 1969 ® ? by Chet Nichols (ASCAP) & Magic Garage Music (ASCAP)
All US and Global rights reserved. This song or any portion thereof (lyrics, music, samples, vocals) may not be reproduced in any form or media, distributed, transmitted, downloaded, shared or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publishers. For permission requests, write to the publisher at chet@chetnichols.net or http://www.chetnichols.net, or addressed to "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address below.
Magic Garage Music, PO Box 2398, Northbrook, IL 60065