fred neil
This song became famous in 1969, when John Schlesinger chose it as the theme song for his classic movie "Midnight Cowboy", starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. Harry Nilsson's recording from 1967 was preferred to his own suggested "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City". A pretty good choise.
In fact, the song was a result of being homesick.
In 1966 Fred Neil (born Frederick Ralph Morlock Jr., 1936 – 2001) was recording his second album, regarded the session completed and wanted to go home to Florida, but manager Herb Cohen wanted one more song. Fred wrote this one on the spot, and recorded it in one take. Then he returned to his beloved Coconut Grove.
Where he stayed most of the time for the rest of his life, overlooked, underrated and doing his best to keep it that way. He wrote, sang and played for the music itself, not for fame and wealth. This song, in short, describes his attitude. He was asked to record a "fresher" version of his song for the movie ... and told the producer where to go 
evrybody's talkin' at me • I can't hear their voices
only echoes of my mind
people stoppin' starin' • I can't see their faces
only shadows of their eyes
I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin'
through the pourin' rain
goin' where the weather suits my clothes
bankin' off the north east wind
sailin' on the summer breeze
skippin' over the ocean like a stone
and everybody's talkin' at me • I can't hear their voices
only echoes of my mind
but I won't let you leave my love behind ...
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G Gmaj7 Em7 Gmaj7 G Gmaj7 Em7 G7 everybody's talkin' at me I can't hear their voices D D7 G ...Gmaj7...G...Gmaj7 only echoes of my mind G Gmaj7 Em7 Gmaj7 G Gmaj7 Em7 G7 people stoppin' starin' I can't see their faces D D7 G ...Gmaj7...G7...Bdim only shadows of their eyes Am D I'm goin' where the sun keeps shinin' G G7 ...Bdim through the pourin' rain Am D G ...Gmaj7...G7...Bdim goin' where the weather suits my clothes Am D bankin' off the north east wind G G7 ...Bdim sailin' on the summer breeze Am D G skippin' over the ocean like a stone G Gmaj7 Em7 Gmaj7 G Gmaj7 Em7 G7 everybody's talkin' at me I can't hear their voices D D7 G ...Gmaj7...G...Bdim only echoes of my mind D D7 G but I won't let you leave my love behind
