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Wasnt That A Time

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Eminor
90BPM
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Wasn't That a Time? (Lee Hayes, Walter Lowenfels)
Adapted from raymondfolk.com
Arguably one of the most politically controversial songs ever written in America,
this song was used as evidence by the House Committee on Un-American Activities
in questioning Lee Hayes and Pete Seeger about their supposed support for the
spread of Communism. Hayes pled the fifth, while Seeger refused to answer on
First Amendment grounds, specifically about where and for whom he had played
this song, and was found in contempt of the committee.
The song has been sung by others, most notably Peter, Paul, and Mary, who
recorded a lively version on their 1965 release "A Song Will Rise." What's
left of Jefferson Airplane has done it live in the last decade or so.
I don't believe any one version has every one of these verses, and there
are live recordings of Pete Seeger doing it by himself that has at least
one additional verse. This is an approximation of the way the song was
usually performed. The walk-downs from C to A minor are more a feature
of the Peter, Paul, and Mary version, but fit perfectly well with any
Weavers recording.
[Verse]
Our fathers Cbled at Valley FDorge.
The snow was rCed with bDlood,
Their faith was waCaa-Bmaaa-aAmaarm at Valley FoDrge,
Their fGaaaa-F#maaa-aEmith was A7brother-hoDod.
[Chorus]
WaDsn't that a time, wasn't that a tAmime,
A time to tDry the sCoul of mDan,
Wasn't that a terCrible time?D  
[Verse]
Brave men who diCed at GettysbDurg
Now lie in soCldier's gDraves,
But there they sCteee-eBmee-eAmmmed the slavery tDide,
And tGhe-F#meee-Emere the fA7aith was saDved.
[Chorus]
WaDsn't that a time, wasn't that a tAmime,
A time to tDry the sCoul of mDan,
Wasn't that a terCrible time?D  
[Verse]
The fascists cCame with chains and wDar
To prison Cus in hDate.
And many a Cgo-Bmooo-Amod man fought and dDied
To Gsa-F#maaa-Emave the sA7tricken fDaith.
[Chorus]
WaDsn't that a time, wasn't that a tAmime,
A time to tDry the sCoul of mDan,
Wasn't that a terCrible time?D  
[Verse]
And now agCain the madmen cDome,
And should our vCic'try fDail?
There is no Cvi-iBmii-iAmc'try in a lDand
Where fGre-F#meee-Emee men A7go to jDail.
[Chorus]
IDsn't this a time!
Isn't this a tAmime!
A time to tDry the sCoul of mDan,
Isn't this a tCerrible tDime?
[Verse]
Our faith cries oCut we have no fDear
We dare to rCeach our hDand
To other Cne-Bmeee-eAmighbors far and nDear
To fGrie-F#meee-eEmnds in eA7very laDnd.
[Chorus 3]
IDsn't this a time!
Isn't this a tAmime!
A time to fDree the sCoul of mDan!
Isn't this a wConderful tDime!
[Two additional verses written by Lee Hays and sung at the 1980 Weavers reunion]
How Cmany times we'vDe gone to kill
In freCedom's holDy name.
CAnd BmchilAmdren dDied to save the pride
GOf rF#mulers Emwithout A7shame.D  
InCformers took thDeir Judas pay
CTo tell thDeir sorry tale
GAnd F#mgangs Emin CongA7ress haDd their way
GAnd F#mfree Emsouls weA7nt to jDail
All chords in this song (8)
Em
Open
O22OOO

Minor chord - Sad, melancholic sound

✕ Mute Open Press
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E minor

This chord is home. When a line ends, land here.

Wasnt That A Time

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About Wasnt That A Time Chords by The Weavers

Learn how to play Wasnt That A Time by The Weavers with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Wasnt That A Time chords”, “Wasnt That A Time guitar chords”, or “The Weavers Wasnt That A Time chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Wasnt That A Time chords and for experienced players who want accurate Wasnt That A Time lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include A, C, D, Bm, Am, G.

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