Corey's Coming
Greg Kaufman
I'm a thrid year commerce student here at McMaster University in
Hamilton. I was in the library studying for my finals, listening to
the gold medal collection. I had heard the entire CD many times
before, but I guess I had never LISTENED to Corey's Coming. Well, I
took a break from studying to listen to the song, and before I knew
it, I was bawling my eyes out... Here I am, a 220 lb commerce
student, crying in the library. People were looking at my like I was
some kind of freak, or going through a nervous breakdown because of
exams. What an incredible song, what an incredible poet, what an
incredible man...
Greg
Nessa
is an incredible song. I also love "A Better Place to be" that is
my favorite Chapin "story".
I once saw Harry in concert with just Tom (in a small in the round
theater in Baltimore MD) and he remarked that it was his favorite
song. Well the total stranger sitting next to me was a large older
man who cried like a baby.
Harry touched a lot of people.
Nessa
(one of the pretty women from the cheap seats that Harry kissed)
In article <4l78ml$9...@informer1.cis.McMaster.CA>,
gkau...@msi.net (Greg Kaufman) wrote:
>A little story for my fellow Chapin fans...
>
<snip>
> but I guess I had never LISTENED to Corey's Coming. <snip>
> What an incredible song, what an incredible poet, what an
>incredible man...
>
>Greg
>
--
Nessa ne...@ix.netcom.com
Walter McCannon
Walter McCannon
Atlanta ... looking forward to Aug.5th.
Aaron Rittmaster
one that turned me on to Harry Chapin, and I've never looked back. The
Gold Medal collection is absolutely wonderful (I love Harry's spoken
stuff between the songs - I even used some of what he said about his
grandfather in my own grandfather's eulogy) - _but_ its one downfall is
that it has the short version of Corey's Comin' on it. Anybody know why
they didn't put the full version on there?
Well, this whole discussion of CC brings a smile to my face and some
bittersweet reminisces to my mind. Thanks all.
Aaron
Jason Mayans
Is Corey a real person, or is "Corey" actually death?
Think about it.
Aaron Rittmaster
as a sort of dream girl that helped Old John Joseph get through the
long, cold, lonely night in the railyard. He tells our narrator his
"tales" about Corey, which the narrator then adopts when he becomes the
cold, lonely guy in the railyard.
Aaron
McMen
who said that he wrote this song and was flattered that Harry had recorded
it. On the liner notes to the Road to Kingdom Come album, Harry thanks
"real life singer-songwriter John Joseph for his help..." with Corey's
Coming, but there is no songwriting credit. Anyone know what the real
story is?
Don A. Berkowitz
> Now that the song has been brought up, I've got a question for discussion:
> Is Corey a real person, or is "Corey" actually death?
> Think about it.—
Jason- Personally, I don't think Corey is meant to be death. I think
Harry says it best in his live intro, which I'm paraphrasing here - the
dream of an old man and rthew young man that bought it. I think Corey was
the old man's thing to hold on for - sort of- I gotta keep going, 'cause
my Corey's coming. The narrator buys the dream and "adopts" Corey.
I did a workshop on teaching critical thinking a few months back which
feratured Corey's Coming. After playing the the song for the 50 some-odd
folks, I asked them a (deceptively) simple question, similar to yours-
"Was Corey real?" Then we were able to expand into how one decides if
something is real or not, and thereby into critical thought. I'proud to
say I've managed to incorporate quite a few of Harry's songs into my
lectures and workshops over the years.
As Harry syas, "A song don't have much meaning if it don't have nothin' to say"
Don A. Berkowitz ************************************
Chesapeake College * Half the time *
Wye Mills, MD * Thinking of what might have been *
do...@annap.infi.net * Half thinking just as well *
* --- Harry Chapin *
************************************
Jeffleader
it's good old JJ finally found some rest, leads to a somewhat
different scenario than the shorter version. Great song, but I'm not
sure what it means...since Harry didn't write it, maybe he wasn't
either...
I sing it to my daughter Corrie all the time. Not exactly apropos,
but it has her name in it so she likes it.
Jason Mayans
>feratured Corey's Coming. After playing the the song for the 50 some-odd
>folks, I asked them a (deceptively) simple question, similar to yours-
>"Was Corey real?" Then we were able to expand into how one decides if
>something is real or not, and thereby into critical thought. I'proud to
>say I've managed to incorporate quite a few of Harry's songs into my
>lectures and workshops over the years.
Flowers are red is another good discussion starter.. simple concept, but can
really be expanded upon.
Jim
> I did a workshop on teaching critical thinking a few months back which
> feratured Corey's Coming. After playing the the song for the 50 some-odd
> folks, I asked them a (deceptively) simple question, similar to yours-
> "Was Corey real?" Then we were able to expand into how one decides if
> something is real or not, and thereby into critical thought. I'proud to
> say I've managed to incorporate quite a few of Harry's songs into my
> lectures and workshops over the years.
And I'll congratulate you on your prowess. :) If I were in your
workshop, Don, I think I'd answer that question by quoting the song.
"Reality is only just a word."
I played that song for a friend of mine and his eyes got really wide --
as if to say how spooky it is that the image of "Corey" gets passed on
from the man to the younger guy.
I think this song ranks among Sniper and a few others as ones that
deserve to be performed on a stage or on film.
Jim
--
| Jim Goldman jimp...@interramp.com http://www.webcom.com/jimphynn |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|"The problem with success is you become what you detest." |
| -- Jesus Jones, "The Right Decision" |
Caragh Murphy
|> Now that the song has been brought up, I've got a question for discussion:
|> Is Corey a real person, or is "Corey" actually death?
|> Think about it.
|>
Uh, tough one..... I'd say a real person, or at least an imaginary
one...inherited, as it were. But Death? That hadn't occured to me, Doesn't really
seem to fit. I mean, Death is often viewed as a lover, but death never actually
comes more than once, while Corey's coming seems to be a nightly thing. Then
again, sleep can be viewed as 'a little death', to quote I forget who. On
balance, I'd say real (or imaginary, but real imaginary if that makes sense). Or
possibly just a state of mind. But not Death.
Chris Illes
jeffl...@aol.com (Jeffleader) wrote:
>since Harry didn't write it,
I'm pretty sure he did (but of course I don't have my CD handy
to prove it either way :-) I always looked for things that may
have been written by others and remember Sandy as the only
other person listed in song credits.
-Chris
--
Not the views of my employer 0_
Steve Carter
In article <4ljuff$t...@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, jeffl...@aol.com
(Jeffleader) wrote:
<snip>
-Great song, but I'm not
-sure what it means...since Harry didn't write it, maybe he wasn't
-either...
How do you figure he didn't write it? Care to enlighten us?
--
Huggy Bear, HGY BEAR, EIS member # OS 838, Steve #926
AKA: Steve Carter
scca...@scripps.edu
"Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps." -Emo Phillips
Aaron Rittmaster
OK, enough about Harry not having written Corey's Coming. According to
the booklet with the Gold Medal Collection, Harry Chapin wrote Corey's
Coming and Stephen Chapin produced and arranged it.
I all for looking for the deeper meaning in Harry's songs, but let's
remember to give him his credit where credit is due.
:)Aaron
Aaron Rittmaster
J. Adair
This is very weird. I just found this newsgroup. Just clicked on this
thread. Then I noticed that CC was playing on my stereo in the
background.
Harry? Is that you?
James Anderson
JM:Now that the song has been brought up, I've got a question for discussion:
JM: Is Corey a real person, or is "Corey" actually death?
JM: Think about it.
You may have something there. I never really understood that song.
JIM
* SLMR 2.1a *
Paul DuBois
Hello,
I am new to this news group, but not to Harry Chapin. I am glad to
see he is alive and well here!
In regards to the song Coreys Coming, my interpretation is that JJ
lived alone because he was always waiting for the perfect woman to
arive. She finally did, but it was too late for him when she did.
This may be a common idea with "A Better Place To Be".
Paul
Jim
Paul DuBois wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am new to this news group, but not to Harry Chapin. I am glad to
> see he is alive and well here!
>
> In regards to the song Coreys Coming, my interpretation is that JJ
> lived alone because he was always waiting for the perfect woman to
> arive. She finally did, but it was too late for him when she did.
>
> This may be a common idea with "A Better Place To Be".
An interesting comment, Paul. Welcome aboard, and I hope you don't mind
the seemingly endless stream of people who lack an iota of "netiquette"
by cross-posting about completely un-music-related topics to this and
every other music newsgroup.
I'd never really stopped to compare Corey's Coming with A Better Place
to Be. I always put Corey on a similar plane to Mail Order Annie -- the
dominant images are the mystical female figure becoming reality and that
of a train station...
Then again, I suppose we could link all three of these songs together,
couldn't we?
Jim
--
| Jim Goldman jimp...@interramp.com http://www.webcom.com/jimphynn |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| From Sniglets, by Rich Hall: |
| Cineplegic: n. A person whose foot has temporarily lost |
| circulation from being wedged between theatre seats |
Pam
I've always considered Corey to be a ghost or a spirit that was summoned
by lonliness to maintain his sanity...
Pam
--
pla...@asu.edu
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/2336
Paul DuBois
Jim <jimp...@interramp.com> wrote:
>An interesting comment, Paul. Welcome aboard, and I hope you don't mind
>the seemingly endless stream of people who lack an iota of "netiquette"
>by cross-posting about completely un-music-related topics to this and
>every other music newsgroup.
THanks! I finally broke my bond from Compu$erve, and am much happier
(and richer) without it. I think the openess of the internet is worth
the price we have to pay for the few that don't play by the rules.
Shouldn't we spam them or something? : )
>I'd never really stopped to compare Corey's Coming with A Better Place
>to Be. I always put Corey on a similar plane to Mail Order Annie -- the
>dominant images are the mystical female figure becoming reality and that
>of a train station...
>Then again, I suppose we could link all three of these songs together,
>couldn't we?
Yes, I think you are right. For my interpretation, I get this similar
thing out all three songs. Regardless of my cinical approach to the
1990's, "Mr. Tanner" helps me keep things in perspective.
Take it easy,
Paul
Marcia Munson
As an interesting aside to the discussion about the meaning of Corey's
Coming- I was fortunate enough to see Harry perform at Carowinds in NC
several times. This is an outside concert venue at an amusement park.
His concerts were always FANTASTIC here. There was a train that went
around the park on a regular schedule. When it approached the station
the whistle always sounded. The concert stage was near the station, so
throughout the concert we heard the whistle. Of course when Harry sang
Corey's Coming the train did not come by. When it came through during
his next song- he remarked on the timing of that train. Every time I
hear Corey's Coming I remember this concert and the uncooperative train.
James Anderson
JIM
* SLMR 2.1a *
* SLMR 2.1a *
Richard Webb
The most important thing to remember from this ballad is: "Reality is
only just a word." Harry recorded an expanded version of Corey's Coming
and it is on either the Sequel album or Legends of the Lost and Found.
It gives previously unrecorded verses of the interaction between Corey
and the narrator at and after the graveyard scene. It has been a long
time since I have pulled the old vinyl out on these two albums but I will
do so and try to give more to all after again listening. Harry had a
message to every song but wanted it to be easily understood to provoke
all listeners into thinking and acting to make this world a better place
to be.
Gene on Long Island
In article <4m5390$1f...@usenetp1.news.prodigy.com>, PSB...@prodigy.com (Richard Webb) wrote more eloquently than I ever could have:
The definitive long version of COREY'S COMING is on "Legends Of The Lost and
Found", and I believe it's also on the "Gold Medal Collection" CD.
-gene
David Paterson
Unfortunately, the Gold Medal CD has the studio version from '76. I have to agree that the
Legends of the Lost and Found version is much better.
Dave
Douglas Roach
Corey's Coming is found in its entirety on Legends of the Lost and
Found and I am convinced after re-listening to it again that she is
definitely a spirit of some sort that comforts the lonely. This
legend is common in the railroad and cowboy world where men spend
endless hours alone.
Is Harry the greatest or what!
Has anyone ever seen Legends of the Lost and Found on CD?
Harold Stein
Douglas Roach (d...@wrddo.att.com) wrote:
: Corey's Coming is found in its entirety on Legends of the Lost and
No... Unfortunatly, I have heard that its delayed. I have heard
supposedly sometime next year once for a release date. Harold S.
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