MISSING IN ACTION
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Time signature: 3/4
Tempo: ~ 110 bpm. |
Arthur Q. Smith and Helen Kaye
Popularized by: Ernest Tubb |
Accordion Notation
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Beats per bar = 3
Dots (or equivalent) per beat = 1 |
Either row: Buttons 4*- 8*
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I learned this tune initially by listening (repeatedly) to the Moonshiners' youTube video, which has a tempo and rhythm that are well suited to the accordion. However, the notation below is based primarily on the version in the Ernest Tubb Songbook, with some minor accommodations for the accordion.
Verse 1 (of 3)
.6 | .7 .8* .7 | .6 .5 .5 | .5* .4* .5* | :5
The war-ship had lan-ded and I came a - shore; /
“r “5 | .5* .6* .6 | .5 .5* .6* | .6 .7* .7 | :7*
The fight - ing was ov - er for me ev - er - more. /
.7* | .7 .8* .7 | .6 .5 .5 | .5* .4* .5* | :5
For I had been wound - ed they left me for dead. /
“r “5 | .5* .6* .6 | .5 .6 .7 | .7* .5* .6* | :6
A stone for my pil – low and snow for my bed /
.6 | ;7* “7 .7* | “6* “5* ;5 "5 | .6 .6 .7* | :7
The en – e – my found me and took me a - way /
“r “7 | .7* .7 .7* | .6 ;5* “6 | :6* “6 “7 | :7*
And made me a pris– ‘ner of war so they say /
.7* | .7 .8* .7 | .6 .5 .5 | .5* .4* .5* | :5
But God in his mer - cy was with me one day /
“r “5 | .5* .6* .6 | .5 .6 .7 | .7* .5* .6* | :6
The gate was left o - pen and I ran a - way. /
Verse 1 (of 3)
.6 | .7 .8* .7 | .6 .5 .5 | .5* .4* .5* | :5
The war-ship had lan-ded and I came a - shore; /
“r “5 | .5* .6* .6 | .5 .5* .6* | .6 .7* .7 | :7*
The fight - ing was ov - er for me ev - er - more. /
.7* | .7 .8* .7 | .6 .5 .5 | .5* .4* .5* | :5
For I had been wound - ed they left me for dead. /
“r “5 | .5* .6* .6 | .5 .6 .7 | .7* .5* .6* | :6
A stone for my pil – low and snow for my bed /
.6 | ;7* “7 .7* | “6* “5* ;5 "5 | .6 .6 .7* | :7
The en – e – my found me and took me a - way /
“r “7 | .7* .7 .7* | .6 ;5* “6 | :6* “6 “7 | :7*
And made me a pris– ‘ner of war so they say /
.7* | .7 .8* .7 | .6 .5 .5 | .5* .4* .5* | :5
But God in his mer - cy was with me one day /
“r “5 | .5* .6* .6 | .5 .6 .7 | .7* .5* .6* | :6
The gate was left o - pen and I ran a - way. /
Guitar (Strumming) Accompaniment (Verse 1)
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GUITAR Key of D
D D G D The warship had landed and I came a-shore G D E7 A7 The fighting was o-ver for me evermore D D G D For I had been wounded they left me for dead G D A7 D A stone for my pil-low and snow for my bed A7 A7 D D The en-e-my found me and took me away E7 E7 A7 A7 And made me a prisoner of war so they say D D G D But God in his mer-cy was with me one day G D A7 D The gate was left o-pen and I ran a-way |
GUITAR Key of G
G G C G The warship had landed and I came ashore C G A7 D7 The fighting was o-ver for me evermore G G C G For I had been wounded they left me for dead C G D7 G A stone for my pil-low and snow for my bed D7 D7 G G The en-e-my found me and took me a-way A7 A7 D7 D7 And made me a prisoner of war so they say G G C G But God in his mercy was with me one day C G D7 G The gate was left o-pen and I ran a-way |
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
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Key: D
Tempo: = ~ 100 bpm Singer: Ernest Tubb Posted by: Ryan Matticola |
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Key: G
Tempo: ~ 135 bpm Group: The Moonshiners Posted by: SonOfLabrador |
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Key: A?
Tempo ~ 85 bpm Performers: Ray ? and Tommy ? Posted by: old64goat Note that Ray and Tommy omit:
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Key: D
Tempo ~ 105 bpm. Singer: ? Posted by: mike1409040 |
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Key: D
Tempo: ~ 110 bpm. Singer: Ernest Tubb Posted by: Ryan Matticola |
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Key: E
Tempo: ~ 105 bpm Singer: Buddy Williams Posted by: sheelaghm |
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Answer to "Missing in Action"
Key: F? Tempo ~ 105 bpm Singer: Buddy Williams Posted by: Doug Weedon An interesting response to the original song! |
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Key: G
Tempo ~ 110 bpm Singer: Jim Eanes and his Shanandoah Boys Posted by: #JimEanes |
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Key: D
Tempo: ~ 85 bpm Singer: Jack Adams Posted by: Jack Adams Instead of dividing the song into three 8-line verses, Mr. Adams divides it into six 4-line verses, with the same melody for each verse. |
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BACKGROUND MATERIALS, INFORMATION & LINKS
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Remaining
Lyrics: |
Verse 2:
I returned to the old home my sweet wife to see, The home I had built for my darling and me. The door I then opened and there on the stand, I saw a picture of her and a man. The clothes she was wearing told me the sad tale; My darling was wearing a new bridal veil. Then I found a letter and these words I read: "Missing in action"; she thought I was dead. Verse 3: So I kissed her picture and whispered goodbye. My poor heart was breaking but my eyes were dry. I knew it was too late for her now to learn, I knew she must never know I had returned. A vagabond dreamer forever I'll roam, Because there was no one to welcome me home. The face of my darling no more I shall see, For missing in action forever I'll be. |
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Background Links:
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Click HERE for a brief biographical note on singer and songwriter Arthur Q. Smith, who, in collaboration with Helen Kaye, composed "Missing in Action", a song about a World War II soldier, that was popularized by Ernest Tubb (and others) in the early 1950s. Arthur Q. Smith was the performance name adopted by James Arthur Pritchett when he began appearing on the "Merry-Go-Round" radio program in Knoxville, Tennessee in the 1930s. Some believe that he was the author of hundreds of songs, with as many as fifty of them (including "I Overlooked an Orchid") that he sold for cash to support his alcohol addiction, and that are now attributed to others.
Click HERE for information about the term "Missing in action" . |