Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  

No Closing Chord

Notes: words by Malvina Reynolds, music by Pete Seeger; copyright 1979 Abigail Music Company. After Malvina died, Pete Seeger took a poem of hers, set it to music, and sang it at her memorial concert.

Don't play that closing chord for me, baby, baby,
I want a wake to wake the dead.
Some rolling sounds with drums and rocking bass,
And my good comrades dancing all around the place.

Don't play that closing chord for me, baby, baby,
I want rejoicing when I go.
Celebrate my advent and that I've had my day,
With a roving melody to send me on my way.

Don't play that closing chord for me, baby, baby,
Lugubrious is not my style.
I favored grins and laughs, with loving on the side.
So do a Moog type version of "Here Comes the Bride."

Don't play that closing chord for me, baby, baby,
I'll bless the ground from whence I came,
I'll make some daisy shine. . .daisy shine
Some grass grow green. . .grass grow green.
And leave a sneaky dandelion to decorate the scene.

Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- [none]

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- [none]

Recordings by other artists on which this song is performed:
---- Rosalie Sorrels: No Closing Chord; The Songs of Malvina Reynolds (Red House Records RHR CD 143, 2000)
---- Stone Soup: River of Life (Stone Soup)