Harry Chapin sings COREY's COMING Live

NOW EMBEDABLE
"It's a song about an old man and a dream and a young boy that buys it. It's called 'Corey's Coming'."
(Thanks to TinyDancer500 for the lyric correction)

"Old John Joseph was a man with two first names
They left him in the railroad yard when they took away the trains
And only one run a week comes on roaring down that line
So all he got to worry 'bout is time

He sits in the brake house, his hands out to the fire
Moving through his memories of love and desire
Telling me the stories of the glories of his past
But he always saves his 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've 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
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 through his head
He'd say the same words about Corey, just before he went to bed
And then he'd send me away, and 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've 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
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
When 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've 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 well I forced in the door
And I found that Old John Joseph would tell stories no more

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

They put the cold dirt over him and 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 a beautiful young woman, I remember what she said

"Is that John Joseph there?" I nodded my head yes
That brought a soft smile from her, she said "It's time 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
And there's one other reason I guess I could 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?
Yes and like he told me, when she holds me
She enfolds me in her world."

Want a CD with all my Chapin Videos? Invite me as a friend, and we'll talk! CHAPIN GROUP: (join us!) http://www.youtube.com/group/harrychapinfans

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• harry
• chapin
• corey

[Chippy777Jake]

Harry was so fantastic and just a great humanitarian. One of the times we saw him perform was in the old Hartford (CT) Civic Center. After the show he came out to the center court and talked and signed autographs for all the people who stuck around. Just a great experience for all of us! He's sorely missed!

[DrakeGrad]

I dated a woman named Corey and I would sing this to her, and she would cry every time...she passed ..and I still think and cry for her when I hear this RIP Harry RIP My sweet Corey

[jak41497]

how can you dislike this? just don't watch it

[jak41497]

how can you dislike this? just don't watch it

[jimbohenderson]

What a talent and inspiration to us all!

[uberaudioexperience]

One of his best songs. I think "On the Road to Kingdom Come" is an awesome album. To bad more people know about it.

[Heyheyheyabby]

And I absolutely love how he changed the lyrics around!!!!!!!!!! :)

[Heyheyheyabby]

@beckasherman um, how exactly is this a horror story??????

[knoxvilleguy2]

@MrJimwinder - Loved this song, but I never could figure it if " Corey " was originally kind of made - up, or what.

[MrJimwinder]

The song is a masterpiece...what a talented person he was...

[rigamarrow]

Harry was this country's best story teller. Period.

[MrIant52]

@Rastafari6

Hate to say I named my cat in 1989. she was so special