Paul Smith Music Lyrics and Chords

Now Is Now by Paul Smith

About the song:

Now is Now is a song about my own life, highlighting some of the most memorable things.
The earliest memory that I have is when my Mother was talking to our neighbor
(Mrs. Ritter) in the back yard of our house. They were standing by the fence talking,
and I wanted my mother's attention. I was 2 or at best 3 years old, but I still
remember the scolding I got for not being respectful that they were talking. It was
a good thing too, because it has stayed with me all these years. I was loved, and
I consider myself fortunate to have been raised in a family that had those kind of
standards.

The next memorable thing mentioned in the song was the death of my father. I was only 12.
That truly rocked my world. I was only a boy, but I had many many burning questions about
death, the meaning of life, and God. I would talk to all kinds of people about these things from
that time up through my college years and beyond. I would talk to friends, family, clergymen,
even would talk to perfect strangers, and never did I get any really satisfying answers.
That is until the most important event in my life.

When I was 27 a "stranger came a knocking" at my door. He proceeded to answer all my
questions, and more. He even answered questions that I hadn't thought of yet. He did this,
not because he was so wise and had all the answers, but to my surprise, he did this all from
the Bible. That was the single most important happening in my life. Now, 26 years later,
I am so thankful that I listened to that "stranger." "Now I have Good reason to keep move on."
.

Now Is Now
by Paul Smith 2004
2 string capo 2nd fret

C   C    C
C                                                                       F        C    Em7
Well I was born in Baltimore city, in the fall of 52
          Am                               G                           Dm                  G    Em7
To a young and growing family, that was fairly well to do.
              C           Em7              Am             G                 Dm                   Em
For we had the things that mattered, things like love and self respect.
                  F                                C                                   G                         C
They are rare and precious commodities, in this world of such neglect

                 C                                                          F                                     C
Now the earliest thing I can recollect as a Child at my mothers knee
                 Am              G                                      Dm                              G     Em7
She was talking by backyard fence trying hard to be neighborly
                        C          Em7     Am          G          Dm                         Em
When I was tugging at her shirttails saying pay attention to me
                F                                  C                                 G                                  C
Yah I was scolded for being a pesky brat just the way that it ought to be.

Chorus:
                                   Am                   G         G7
                        But that was then, now is now
                     Dm                       G                                                  C
                        I kept moving on not really knowing quite how
                                              Am                            G
                        But now is now, and than it’s gone
                   Dm                                         G          G7 C
                        and that would be my reason...... to keep moving on.

We were raised on love and values, we had friends in the neighborhood.
Those early years that shape you, for me they were well and good.
Still there was one thing that came to be lacking, I regret until this day
There would be no one to guide me no one to lead the way.

Although my father was a good man he could teach only what he did know.
Too soon came that day of reckoning where he receiver his mortal blow
He taught me the love of sound with rhythm, and then left without a trace.
When he died in 64, to join the rest of the human race.

                                                   Am                 G      G7
Chorus:           But that was then, now is now
                 Dm                                 G                                                 C
                        I’ve kept moving on not really knowing quite how
                                             Am                             G
                        But now is now, and than it’s gone
                 Dm                                    G         G7                                   C
                        That would be my reason........ to keep moving on.

Interlude humming (same as first verse)

                                                  Am                 G      G7
Chorus:        But that was then, now is now
                 Dm                                 G                                                 C
                        I’ve kept moving on not really knowing quite how
                                             Am                             G
                        But now is now, and than it’s gone
                 Dm                                    G         G7                                   C
                        That would be my reason........ to keep moving on.

Well I was young, naive and foolish, but what I learned is mighty and true.
That when it comes to death and dying, most people don’t have a clue.
Many a were the questions, in my youthful tear filled eyes.
But there came no rime of reason, no one could answered why.

And then a stranger came a knocking, he ask if I’d like to know.
In his hands he held a Bible, where he was eager and ready to show.
Still he had met his match in a skeptic, God and Bible I had denied.
but patiently he would show me, that there in the answers lie.

                                                 Am                 G      G7
Chorus:         But that was then, now is now
                 Dm                                 G                                                 C
                        I’ve kept moving on not really knowing quite how
                                             Am                             G
                        But now is now, and than it’s gone
                 Dm                                    G         G7                                   C
                        That would be my reason........ to keep moving on.

                                          Am                         G       G7
Chorus:   Yah that was then, but now is now
         Dm                                          G          G7                                C
                 and now I have good reason...... to keep moving on.

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