As it is World Elephant Day today I thought I would share this song I wrote back in 1987 after visiting Hong Kong and seeing the ivory on display in the antique shops of Hennessy Rd. Hopefully I might finally get to record it soon but in the meantime here are the lyrics and chord sheet.
HENNESSY ROAD
Dm F G
The jeep roars round a dusty bend No conversation from the men
Bb C Dm
Who sit in back and nurse their guns like bruises
Dm F G
We’re somewhere in savanna land And here we are about to learn
Bb C Dm
What God creates man kills if he chooses
CHORUS
Bb F Gm7 Dm
Here she thunders cut her down the rifles roar she hits the ground
C Dm C Dm
Soon she is a chess set an ornate fan or mess set
C Bb Gm C Dm
A curio for the jet set on Hennessy Road.
Bb-F-Gm- Bb-F-C
Dm F G
The jeep is stopped nothing stirs The men are tense they know the herd
Bb C Dm
Is heading their way soon it will be pay-day
Dm F G
The Chinese man pays very well The men know that their wives will thrill
Bb C Dm
For money and for food to feed the family
F C Bb F Am
Far away a tinkling bell (two cymbal beats)– orders the mammoth killed
Bb F Gm7 Dm
Here she thunders cut her down the rifles roar she hits the ground
C Dm C Dm
Soon she is a chess set an ornate fan or mess set
C Bb Gm C Dm
A curio for the jet set on Hennessy Road.
Bb-F-Gm- Bb-F-C x 2
Bb C F Am Am7
From Dubai to Tenerife these once mighty monoliths
Bb C Dm
Now tip-toe daintly cross coffee-tables
Dm F C Bb
God gave these noble beasts to man who shrunk them for his greedy hands
Gm7 C Am Am7
God help man if his hide is ever prized
Bb C Dm
By those Hennessy eyes.
Chorus x 2
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