Intro: C x8
Verse 1:
The f[C]armer drove his tractor where the [C]soil had been tilled
planting [Em]corn in rank and file from the [Em]silo to the lumber mill
he r[C]ode along in silence as l[C]ooked out past the honeysuckle [Em]field
watched the water turn[Em] turn the water wheel
started th[C]inking about his daughter with [C]affection her reaction of dis[Em]dain
the day he replaced the blue hydr[Em]angea with the climbing grain
while her [C]disappointed sister looked on [C]quiet as the snow
knowing w[Em]ell that those that know don't talk and t[Em]hose that talk don't know
Chorus 1:
but she [G]couldn't help but sing
she [G]couldn't help but sing
No, she c[Em]ouldn't help but sing
she [Em]couldn't help but sing
She tried but she [G]couldn't help but sing
she [G]couldn't help but sing
No, [Em]she couldn't help but sing
she [Em]couldn't help but sing
Verse 2: (Repeat chords from Verse 1: C C Em Em)
the tortoise in the wheelchair wrapped his forehead in a bandage
with a cast they made from plaster for his phony broken leg
so he'd get pushed around the sidewalk by the zookeeper's assistant
with the hummingbird observing from behind the yellow flower
and he flapped his tiny wings they moved so fast you couldn't see them
with resentment for the tortoise which was clear by his expression
but the tortoise turned and smiled with a peacefulness which proved
that there's a movement in our stillness and however much we move
Chorus 2: (Repeat chords from Chorus 1: G G Em Em)
we're bound to stand completely still
we stand completely still
we all stand completely still
we stand completely still
Let's all stand completely still
Let's stand completely still
Let's all stand completely still
Let's stand completely still
Bridge:
G D Em Em x2
Ending: (Repeat Bridge chords until end)
[G] come tortoise, standing [D]still
go hummingbird,[Em] my will[Em]
come tortoise, stumbling blind
go hummingbird, my eyes
come tortoise, empty hand
go hummingbird, my plan
come tortoise, undefined
go hummingbird, my mind
come tortoise, letting go
go hummingbird, I know
come tortoise, come and die
go hummingbird, my I
goodbye, I, goodbye, I
goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
(End on Em chord)
Verse 1:
The f[C]armer drove his tractor where the [C]soil had been tilled
planting [Em]corn in rank and file from the [Em]silo to the lumber mill
he r[C]ode along in silence as l[C]ooked out past the honeysuckle [Em]field
watched the water turn[Em] turn the water wheel
started th[C]inking about his daughter with [C]affection her reaction of dis[Em]dain
the day he replaced the blue hydr[Em]angea with the climbing grain
while her [C]disappointed sister looked on [C]quiet as the snow
knowing w[Em]ell that those that know don't talk and t[Em]hose that talk don't know
Chorus 1:
but she [G]couldn't help but sing
she [G]couldn't help but sing
No, she c[Em]ouldn't help but sing
she [Em]couldn't help but sing
She tried but she [G]couldn't help but sing
she [G]couldn't help but sing
No, [Em]she couldn't help but sing
she [Em]couldn't help but sing
Verse 2: (Repeat chords from Verse 1: C C Em Em)
the tortoise in the wheelchair wrapped his forehead in a bandage
with a cast they made from plaster for his phony broken leg
so he'd get pushed around the sidewalk by the zookeeper's assistant
with the hummingbird observing from behind the yellow flower
and he flapped his tiny wings they moved so fast you couldn't see them
with resentment for the tortoise which was clear by his expression
but the tortoise turned and smiled with a peacefulness which proved
that there's a movement in our stillness and however much we move
Chorus 2: (Repeat chords from Chorus 1: G G Em Em)
we're bound to stand completely still
we stand completely still
we all stand completely still
we stand completely still
Let's all stand completely still
Let's stand completely still
Let's all stand completely still
Let's stand completely still
Bridge:
G D Em Em x2
Ending: (Repeat Bridge chords until end)
[G] come tortoise, standing [D]still
go hummingbird,[Em] my will[Em]
come tortoise, stumbling blind
go hummingbird, my eyes
come tortoise, empty hand
go hummingbird, my plan
come tortoise, undefined
go hummingbird, my mind
come tortoise, letting go
go hummingbird, I know
come tortoise, come and die
go hummingbird, my I
goodbye, I, goodbye, I
goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
(End on Em chord)
