His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Chilling In The Evening
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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A song is sounding, softly singing
My song is cast upon the rainbow waves
Forever splashing in the sunlight
Prove to me there's a love still left
In all of this emptiness around me
Take me from the chilling of the evening
A-following the winds that blow inside me
I've nowhere left to run or hide
Except if you will come and run beside me
And even if you do there'll be a lot for us to do
To keep believing
Take me from the chilling of the evening
And now my time has come down many streets
I'm coming from a night decaying
The song that itself sings is all alone
I cannot even hear it playing
Now to leave before I understand
Just what it is I'm leaving
Take me from the chilling of the evening
In Arlo Guthrie's song "Chilling of the Evening," the singer asks someone to warm them from the wind and take their hand. They hear a song that is softly singing and their own song is cast upon the rainbow waves, forever splashing in the sunlight. The singer wants to be proved that there's still love left in all the emptiness around them and taken from the chilling of the evening. The person they're addressing in the song already knows they have to go, following the winds that blow inside them, but they have nowhere left to run or hide except if the addressee runs beside them. Even if the addressee does run with them, there will be a lot for them to do to keep believing. The singer doesn't fully understand what they're leaving, but they know it's time to go and they want to be taken from the chilling of the evening.
The song is a clear representation of a person's desire to escape from the emptiness and cold that they feel around them. They want to believe in love and find someone who will run beside them, but they know that they're eventually going to have to leave. The song captures the feeling of uncertainty and the desire to escape it. The singer wants to be taken away from the chill of the evening and the emptiness around them, but they also know that they can't stay forever.
* "Chilling of the Evening" was released in 1970, the same year as "Alice's Restaurant."
* The song was written by Arlo Guthrie and his longtime writing partner, Ronnie Beck.
* Though the song wasn't released as a single, it became a staple of Guthrie's live performances.
* Guthrie's father, Woody Guthrie, is referenced in the song's opening line: "Warm me from the wind."
* The song originally appeared on Guthrie's album "Washington County."
* In some live performances, Guthrie would lead the audience in singing the chorus.
* The song has been covered by artists such as Joan Baez and The Kingston Trio.
* Guthrie released a re-recorded version of the song with updated lyrics in 2009.
* The song was written during a time of significant upheaval and change in Guthrie's life.
* Guthrie has described the song as "sort of a prayer for kind of love and understanding.”
Chords: Unfortunately, we could not find the chords for "Chilling of the Evening."
Line by Line Meaning
Warm me from the wind and take my hand
I need your warmth and comfort. Please hold my hand.
A song is sounding, softly singing
I hear a song playing, it's gentle and soothing.
My song is cast upon the rainbow waves
My song goes out into the world, just like the colors of a rainbow.
Forever splashing in the sunlight
My song will last forever and be full of joy, just like sunlight on water.
Prove to me there's a love still left
I'm feeling lonely and empty. Show me that love still exists.
In all of this emptiness around me
I feel like there's nothing left that brings me joy or comfort.
Take me from the chilling of the evening
Help me escape the cold and loneliness of the night.
Though you know my love that I must go
I have to leave, my love. You know this already.
A-following the winds that blow inside me
I am on a journey, following my inner compass even if it takes me away from you.
I've nowhere left to run or hide
I can't escape from myself or my path, no matter how hard I try.
Except if you will come and run beside me
Maybe if you come with me, we can face the challenges ahead together.
And even if you do there'll be a lot for us to do
It won't be easy, even if we are together. We'll have to work hard.
To keep believing
We'll have to stay strong and keep hope in our hearts.
And now my time has come down many streets
I've been on a long journey, taking different paths to get here.
I'm coming from a night decaying
I've been through dark times that have brought me down.
The song that itself sings is all alone
Even though I am singing, it feels like I'm the only one listening.
I cannot even hear it playing
I'm feeling disconnected from my own music, like it's not reaching me anymore.
Now to leave before I understand
I have to go, even though I don't fully comprehend what's happening.
Just what it is I'm leaving
I don't know exactly what I'm leaving behind, or what's ahead of me.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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