Harry Chapin - The Mayor Of Candor Lied

[@thedrgreenthumb]

Who is listening to this 2019? Keep real music alive!

[@deemai4500]

Me!

[@kenisfree8410]

Can't believe I found this just b4 2020

[@orwolfe80]

This is one of my top 10 Chapin songs.

[@hewhoiswithoutname]

2020 here. Still one of the best story tellers I'll ever know.

[@AnaS-zc6ql]

2021 here

[@Ronbo710]

No one tells a story like Harry. BRILLIANT !!!

[@tirsahingalls2776]

Been listening to Harry Chapin since the day I was born in 94. I would like to thank my father and Harry for introducing me to how beautiful music can be.

[@superblindeye1]

I was born in 1996, and am also a big fan of Harry. Nice to see someone in my age range who is a fan as well.

[@doreenpowers8355]

I still listen to Harry all the time, always loved his music & his stories since the early 70ty's.

[@davidmcdonnell872]

my first ever concert was Southport Theatre 1976 Harry Chapin I was 16 and I just had to see the great storyteller. The first time I heard this song was live in concert and it just blew me away. So many encores, I missed the last bus but it was worth it. I was In Germany in 1981 when I heard Harry had died. Thanks Harry for teaching me that music could tell a story

[@janejuliet]

Oh, how I envy you! I was only eight years old when he passed away. I would give anything to have seen him live! I have raised all three of my sons on his music, and one of them has the middle name Chapin in his honor. Another of my sons draws from his songs and music as inspiration in his own song-writing. There is no artist, or person, who has influenced my life so profoundly.

[@coreythomas1272]

I was just gonna ask if anyone's ever heard him do this live since sadly it's not only on any live releases or on KZbin.

[@nazaholicable]

Funnily enough, I believe Harry played Southport several times. I saw him there in 1977, promoting his then 'new' album "Dance band on the Titanic.' I still have the concert programme. I love the way he introduced his songs. He told the true story behind "halfway to heaven" before playing it. That's what I remember most from the gig. A few years later, it would've been 1980 by then...a friend of mine told me Harry was playing Southport again. I regret that I didn't go, because a short while later, Harry died in the most tragic of circumstances. As he once sang "short stories, that's what we live." But his story still goes on, and on.

[@gingerjones5931]

I saw him at Starlite Musicals in Indy and on that night they introduced this new song. My heart still lives in that magical spot and time. Oh, how I loved Harry and forever will love all his music. Genius.

[@MrsSethMacFarlane]

A musical genius... We lost him far too soon

[@carrienorris9729]

As it is too often in music

[@kevinmcdonald951]

@@carrienorris9729 AND COMEDY.

[@17630973]

I have been enjoying Harry Chapin since at least 1973. This is the first time in 2018 that I heard this song. It is actually better than 'Taxi' and that is a hard act to follow.

[@stringfield1952]

Donald Pauly yep

[@mrtyreus0]

Have you heard Sniper, Burning Herself, Woman Child, and Dogtown? A few of my favorite lesser known Harry Chapin tunes..

[@bobbatter1337]

Contentious point; but the most creative, talented, underrated, mind-blowing, musical genius of our age. That guy just was and God willing, will always be. Met him once. As beautiful in person as he is in music 👏 👏

[@woodwindwebby8271]

Also met him once in Normal, Il. late 70's, such a warm & kind person.A true genius of a storyteller & musician.

[@davereggi9229]

I started listening to Harry when I was in high school back in the 70's and would see him whenever he came to Chicago. His music meant alot to me and it's great to see so many other fans that he touched too.This was one of my favorites, you just don't find many storytellers out there anymore.:

[@mr.fahrenheit7009]

Same

[@kenisfree8410]

Harry Chapin is like John Prine, great song writers and story tellers, too bad Harry got taken, but his legend lives on.

[@Duckwriter]

My eccentric aunt and uncle gave me this tape and I spent hours alone, night after night, for months in my cabin listening to it at sea.

[@woodwindwebby8271]

Went to his concerts in Normal/Bloomington back then, met him as well,such a kind person & so creative :)

[@williamjboot]

One of a kind, the best balladeer of my generation. I miss him so badly.

[@koln74]

a unique watchful and [often] gentle storyteller and humanitarian.. and so grossly under appreciated/reverred

[@amydelong7972]

I grew up listening to Harry. The first concert I ever went to was a performance my parents took me to where he performed in Spokane Washington. It was just him and his acoustic guitar. I was maybe 12 yo? He died in a car crash not long after. I cried for ages. He is still the most heartfelt singer/songwriter I have ever heard.

[@bethgreenwald9479]

He got out of his car to help someone on the road and was struck

[@billybandit8764]

I meant Harry in Poughkeepsie at the Last Chance Saloon. I had a gig down the street and around the corner at the Old Coat Wine and Cheese Tavern. This was way back in the seventies. I drove a yellow taxi for 6 years there and did small gigs around the valley. I meant a lot of performers and I sure miss them now. When Harry sang you could hear the passion of his heart and soul. What a great loss it was to loose Harry on the LI Expressway. How devastating it must have been to his brothers and family. I still miss you Harry. I guess Corey was coming all along. I guess we just do not know when.

[@jerrysalem7383]

+Billy Bandit True. And earlier in the seventies losing Phil Ochs. Two greats that were unfortunately eclipsed by Dylan who could not hold a candle to either of them.

[@unclejakemusic]

Didn't see that coming at all, but in hindsight, the clues were all there. I wish I could write like Harry...

[@71morehead]

Howie Fields, in the world of touring drummers, is extremely underrated. This number, "The Mayor of Candor Lied" shows his ability to use the drumkit as a musical instrument, as opposed to simply setting a beat. Harry Chapin found a true artist.

[@71morehead]

Got to see the group in Cincinnati 4 time over the years.

[@earldowning5969]

Seen Harry at mississippi river festival in 1976 at SIU Edwardsville. He came late and flew in on a helicopter. He played pass the curfew time and then promised everyone who bought a t-shirt from him for world hunger, he would personally sign it. Linda and I waited for over an hour before he signed and gave me a firm hand shake and a "Thank you man". WHAT A MEMORY!

[@nullset8200]

Earl, Harry & U sure DO have a fantastic MEMORY ‼️

[@kellymillington6383]

I lived in Edwardsville for 10 years and I loved hearing stories like yours from those who attended. He also played at the Belleville Fairgrounds.

[@cszstreeter1002]

There is more to this song then just incest the way he portrays it is genius

[@miketocci]

+Soraya Streeter Very true, this song, like all of Harry's, reflects something of the human condition. This one has a whole lot to say about love, both flawed and imperfect as well as hatred. The sacred and the profane in one composition.

[@MnktoDave]

One of his most awesome stories...there are so many...

[@kenisfree8410]

playing this song over and over as I go through the comments :) As a Harry Chapin fan I am ashamed I never heard of this song before :(

[@sue450]

totally totally agree,,,can see it in my head like thex dar said,... Harry was gone way too soon..

[@listen2d]

I actually went to a handful of his concerts when I was a kid and I heard him play this live. Epic song... there has never been another like him.

[@richardmarkwilliams3744]

There will never be another Harry. A truly unique talent. God bless, Harry xx

[@gglazer213]

great short story as all his songs are.

[@philcooper2408]

First heard this way back when I was real young I liked it then but hearing it years later seems better. How did I miss back then how amazing the band behind him are. Brilliantly arranged and a Fantastic evocation of mood.

[@Bill23799]

Thank you so much for posting Harry's songs. At one time I had all of his LP records. Sadly my ex wife took them when she left me. Hmmm could be a Harry Song there. My ( then ) wife and i were big fans of Harry and in 1977 in May i think it had to be My wife surprised me with tickets to go see Harry perform live in Poughkeepsie, NY. It was great to see him perform live. I believe there was a woman who played the Cello beautifully. We stayed after the concert and we bought a book of Harry's poems. We got to meet him to get him to sign his book. Harry was very friendly and all I could think of to say was..... " Harry.......we named our cat after you ". Harry replied ".......errrr thanks ". I did manage to add " Thanks for all the great songs too ".

[@kenisfree8410]

hahaha, star struck huh, funny story, Harry was probably thinking, dude umm no idea what lol

[@carolinasbeauty]

Has to one of his best albums and one of my favorites. Great storyteller. His best song were too long to be played on radio. Don't think he received the recognition he deserved as a singer/songwriter.

[@kenisfree8410]

going to give this album a listen; Harry and John Prine are my favs, John doesn't have the long song but still a great story teller and best seen live.

[@stampederfan]

Harry a lyrical genius !!!!!!

[@SongsofHarry]

Sometimes it is better to let your pride lose an inch then to lower yourself to another's level. Fools will listen to fools and disregard the wise, so the wise hear the wise and ignore the fool. It's pointless to argue when anyone can decide to listen or to ignore based on the first statement, rambling on will not make a wise man a fool nor a fool a wise man.

[@kenisfree8410]

sounds like a proverb

[@daynaechols3939]

My 14 yr old son put me on this.. today!!

[@orwolfe80]

My parents (Pre-me of course) went to one of Harry's solo, charity concerts (if you're a Chapin fan, you know what I mean). At this specific concert; Harry did "Mr. Tanner", and picked my father from the crowd, to do John's "Ave Maria" parts.

[@kevinmcdonald951]

Liar.

[@thomasa.bradley6292]

Just ;the title is Brilliant.....the Mayor of Candor (honesty-openness) lied. Wow!

[@kenisfree8410]

Harry was great

[@MrThomaskiernan]

Thanks for all the songs AND the words,GREAT/

[@MaryJGioe]

the mayor of candor lied.. so so true... harry chapin is one of the greatest story tellers

[@TwistedNematic]

The only song I know of that requires spoiler warnings :) Love it!

[@steveshimer8531]

+TwistedNematic And if you want something to feel better about "Corey's Coming".

[@rmcc1974]

Truly amazing!

[@navyvetib1]

I still have this on pristine vinyl.

[@randyingram9953]

Watched him in concert in the Fox Theater, Atlanta Georgia around six months before we lost him. Would've loved to hear his words of history since that tragic day.

[@thomasriley3431]

Did see Harry many years ago what a performer love love him his music touched me so much x

[@thomasriley3431]

I saw Harry at the Apollo in Glasgow Scotland

[@kenisfree8410]

@@thomasriley3431 Hamilton Canada, early 80s, was AWESOME

[@g.h.bringard2293]

He was such a great storyteller.

[@kenisfree8410]

Candor: the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness.

[@avafernando6323]

This candor is actually talking about a town in upstate new york

[@Matt45895]

Harry was a rare talent who could write a novel in a 6 minute ballad. The world became an emptier place when his life was cut short. I wish he were a more recognized, remembered and celebrated talent today

[@Vergedood]

I miss the days when songs actually told a story.

[@kenisfree8410]

Harry was on a level above most.

[@black_rabbit_0f_inle805]

Candor Ny represent!

[@keithmundy6944]

I am!! It’s a shit ton better than todays crap. These are stories..

[@TinyDancer500]

Now *that's* whatcha call a story song! Long-time fave and another taste of his dark humour.

[@davidlowe1339]

I once had the pleasure of attending his concert in the late 70's in Dayton, Oh. After the concert he came to the lobby and shock hands an spoke with everyone.

[@kenisfree8410]

@@davidlowe1339 WOW, saw him in Canada in the early 80's, awesome

[@AnimeShinigami13]

I could see the ending of that song coming. >.> also I hadn't heard this one. good story.

[@kenisfree8410]

good eye/ear/mind

[@stevefoden1622]

I know this is a standalone song, but there's so much ambiguity.. Like we need to know what happens next. The "last year of my youth" implies that this is the experience that made him grow up quickly. Also, the chorus says that the Mayor of Candor "tried" to take her off across the water. This implies that he wasn't successful in keeping them apart. But then, does he continue in his courtship of Coleen, even knowing that she's his half-sister? And on realizing that the Mayor is actually his biological Father, is there any kind of reconciliation between them? His blackmail solution to the Mayor's objection to their courtship actually seems to have raised the Mayor's respect for him as he didn't see the narrator as having a capacity for being devious to achieve his ends, but having seen this, he even seems a little proud. So many loose ends!

[@kenisfree8410]

Dude, its just a song , but probably has happened so many times in real life, many different endings can be true.

[@mrtyreus0]

I think that might have been, in part, Harry's intention. It's up to you to complete the story.

[@katrinamaniscalco6821]

This song should be turned into a musical, unlike anything Broadway has ever seen!

[@frederickmarc-aurele2035]

A great story teller and song-writer - Harry was even better in person!

[@superblindeye1]

I remember when I first heard this song. The ending made me so angry, whenever I would listen to a live recorded concert, I would always skip this track. now, I can listen to it just fine, but I couldn't hear it for a few years after hearing this originally.

[@DB-thats-me]

The protagonists don’t know the facts, the ‘adults’ do. Not just ‘The Mayor’ but the mother too. 😳 This is a tale of manipulation. Of lies told to children. Of the the ‘best good’ overriding the ‘the best right’.. 🤬 I’m not supporting the view. Just explaining it. 🥲

[@nercohen]

Still think this is the best album this man ever did.

[@travwil2461951]

nola vic I don't think I could chose any of his music better than any single one or album.

[@Adam1Gee]

What a story and a song!

[@wickedfeylady]

He was a great storyteller

[@miles0448]

Loved it

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

What a twist! Imagine a politician, told a lie!

[@mordechai-]

You're missing a stanza near the end.

[@DB-thats-me]

Can you repeat it? What dosed it say???

[@DB-thats-me]

Today is the anniversary of Harry’s passing. I still miss him.

[@Talmurid]

I live in a town called Candor, which aleggedly the name of the town in this song. (It's more like to mean Candor, defined as Frank Honesty.) Still though..

[@tscimb]

If it's the one between Catatonk and Spencer, it's the one from the song.

[@OurMims1]

I saw thisa in concert in the 70's...the whole audience gasped.

[@markoneil2055]

I remember that exact reaction. first time listening was the best for this song.

[@MrAmericanworkmule]

OPERA.

[@jerryhoward7910]

Classic! Love it !!

[@GrandMarshalGarithos]

WTF the mayor gets re-elected and his first act is to go abroad on vacation for a month!

[@paulmcveigh6762]

Harry. Chaplin pure. Genius sadly. Missed nobody to. Touch the.man

[@wolfowned]

What happened to the album's title song? Why is it not on the list?

[@electronmusicjunkie]

@navyvetib1 Same here but my may have slight scratch or too. But not enough to push me to upgrade it to CD along with all of the other vinyl lps of Harry I have. The only ones I have on CD are the CD only releases and his lps I just happened to get on 8 track before CD.

[@joshuaplotkin8826]

What a thing to do with a young man in love with his sister. Does anyone else get a weird vibe from this one. I hope they did not sleep together.

[@pierrecavalini6425]

Back in the 70's I dated the daughter of a mayor of a Dutch village, but fortunately he had never set eyes on my mother. By the way, I think I was his only Dutch fan.

[@kevinmcdonald951]

HE WAS A GENIUS NOTHING MORE NOTHING SAID.

[@alexevans0430]

Please make it available on mobile

[@alexevans0430]

Please release this on a mobile version

[@MegaBearslayer]

never been to punks, i was just having fun but you are really into this!!!! You say I am an idiot but you just keep coming back for another dose. If you are not from Candor why do you take this so bad? we maybe from the same town.

[@jessyoungquest]

I have many friends from Tioga county--- ---this still goes on---so it's been said-----

[@FormulaPunRacer]

Even though it would've dragged on for too long, I always wondered the narrator would have to say past the last verse. Who knows if this song was an influence or inspiration for Darth Vader's "NO...I AM YOUR FATHER"?

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

After the song revealed that the mayor was the ploughboy's biological father, I then put two and two together and realized that Colleen the girl the ploughboy likes is technically his sister! He had basically been dating his sister! I was like "Oh god no"

[@Timmy_Horsenutz]

Mayor of Candor got that rizz game

[@johnalexander3079]

Smooth

[@gulfcitylibrarian5801]

Holy shit, didn't see that twist coming.

[@miles0448]

Jared Vance lol me too

[@anneoneill-cz4jm]

Who compelled you to tell your life story🎉

[@theceltbeserk1]

Twisted. Could be a Black Mirror episode.

[@electronmusicjunkie]

@TinyDancer500 Good story song but never really found any humor in it. Another Chapin song I always thought was serious until I recently saw an old Tonight Show appearance where he performed it was "Poor Damn Fool". Tune about Harry's wife Sandy's first husband.

[@jackmehoff2961]

RIP Harry !

[@pikachuthebananasplit9061]

(My version) The Yellow Rabbit lied When he told to take his hand The Yellow Rabbit tried to strike me and four other kids how could a man do such cruel things to little children and why would stuff our bodies in the animatronics

[@azanjac]

Thank you so much for posting this!

[@thestorminnorman]

I LEFT NY IN 1973 ON THE DAY HARRY GAVE A CONCERT AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE WHERE MY BROTHER WORKED BACKSTAGE. HARRY GAVE MY BROTHER A LITTLE NOTE TO ME SAYING, "DEAR NORMAN, KEEP ON HANGING IN THERE. I'VE HAD SO MANY UPS AND DOWNS I FEEL LIKE A YO-YO. PRETTY SOON YOU'LL BE BACK KICKING ASS SOON. HARRY CHAPIN P.S. KEEP THE CHANGE." KEPT IT WITH ME FOR 6 YEARS, WHILE SELLING ENCYCLOPEDIAS DOOR-TO-DOOR, AND DOING FANTASTIC. SAW HARRY IN DENVER IN 1979 AND AFTER THE CONCERT HE WAS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS. I GOT ON LINE AND WHEN WE MET? I SHOWED HIM THE LETTER HE WROTE ME 6 YEARS EARLIER AND TOLD HIM I WAS PUSHING EDUCATION WITH A NEW PRODUCT FROM MACMILLAN PUBLISHING, AND DOING GREAT. I SAID THERE COULD BE A SONG HERE. HE GAVE ME HIS HOME ADDRESS AND I WROTE HIM THE STORY. HE WROTE ME BACK, HAND WRITTEN, SAYING, "SORRY NORMAN, I CAN'T JUST SIT DOWN AND WRITE A SONG ABOUT YOU AND YOUR LIFE. BUT, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF BITS AND PIECES OF YOUR LIFE SHOW UP IN MY NEW MATERIAL." THAT WAS 1979. I DON'T REMEMBER IF THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE HE DIED, OR RIGHT BEFORE HE WROTE "FLOWERS ARE RED." CAN SOMEONE LET ME KNOW? E-MAIL ME AT [e-mail] THANK YOU. LONG LIVE HARRY!

[@minecraftofp8577]

dat twist doe.

[@Shinx7009]

+Minecraft OFP857 What are you talking about it foreshadowed

[@OrganicPerception]

"She said You know I love you because you're so much like him."

[@frankmcwilliams8328]

Agony.

[@kpjlaw]

wow

[@LeoWarrior14]

Doesn't this mean that he had an incestuous relationship with his own half-sister and the Mayor knew this and didn't just tell him

[@codylabrecque5446]

What a thing to do to a young man in love, and what a thing to do TO YOUR DAUGHTERRRR. Totally dude

[@kenisfree8410]

yeah, it has happened for real, more than we know

[@RonaldCharlesEpstein]

The plowboy would prefer Rob Ford!

[@doublea-aa2594]

No.... I am your father.

[@nutballgazette]

Just imagine if Keith Olbermann found out that Rupert Murdoch was his Father.

[@maafesto]

utube sinead Lohan

[@MegaBearslayer]

WOW I had to leave the line in the water for 9 months but I finally reeled in a sucker!!!! Who says trolling doesn't work? I know a Candorian could not resist the temptation of defending the place. Even though Aman's farm does not smell like it used to the place still has a taint about it. you know what the most confusing day of the year is in Candor?... Fathers day. I have a life, and right now I have yours. oh I am sure you have never mispelled a word. thanks for the fun see you at Punks!!!!!

[@sachetsofrelish]

Makes William Shatner sound, er, not that bad.

[@melcooperman2073]

I'm Almost 76 now and loved his music and concerts. So sad that day in 1981 when he was killed on the Long Island Expressway! Gone way too soon.