A Better Place To Be

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#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #

#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #

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From [email protected] Thu May 8 14:11:02 1997

Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 14:32:35 -0300

From: Tim Wartman

To: [email protected]

Cc: [email protected]

Subject: Chords: A better place to be by Harry Chapin

 

This is my favorite Harry Chapin tune. I thought others might like it too.

It's pretty simple to play.

 

D Dmaj7 D7 G

 

It was an early morning barrom and the place just opened up

 

EM A7

and the little man came in so fast and he started at his cup

 

D DMAJ7 D7 G

and the broad who served the whiskey was a big old friendly girl

 

EM A7

who tried to fight her empty nights by smiling at the world

 

G A F#M B7

and she said hey bub it's been a while since you've been around

 

EM A G D

where the hell have you been hiding and why you look so down

 

G A G A D

Well the little man just sat there like he'd never heard a sound

 

CM G A# F

the waitress she gave out with a cough and acting not the least put off

 

EM A

she spoke once again

 

D G EM

She said I don't want to bother you consider it's understood

 

A EM A EM D

I know I'm not no beauty queen but I sure can listen good.

 

G A EM D

And the little man took his drink in his hand and he raise it to his lips

 

G D EM A D

He took a couple of sips and he told the waitress his story.

 

D AM C G D

I am the midnight watchman down at Miller's tool and dime

 

G F#M BM Cmaj7

I watch the metal rusting, I watch the time go by

 

A G F#M B7

a week ago at the diner I stopped to get a bite

 

EM A G EM D

and this here lovely lady she sat two seats from my right

 

G G EM A,G,G D

And lord, lord, lord she was alright.

 

 

She was so damn beautiful that she could warm a winter's frost

but she look long past lonely and I, I was lost

I'm not much of a mover or a pick em up easy guy

but I decided to glide on over and give it one good try

and lord lord lord she was worth a try

 

Tongue tied like a schoolboy, I stammerred out some words

it did not seem to matter much, cause I don't think she heard

She just looked clear on through me, to a place back in my head

It shamed me into silence as quietly she said

 

(chorus)

If you want me to come with you than that's alright with me

cause I know I'm going nowhere and anywhere's a better place to be

 

Well I drove her to my boarding house and I took her up to my room

and I went to turn on the only light to brighten up the gloom

 

DM GM

but she said please leave the light on, I don't mind the dark

 

F A

and as her clothes all tumbled round her, I could hear my heart.

 

The moonlight shone upon her as she lay back in my bed

it was the kind of thing I only had imagined in my head

I just could not believe it , to think that she was real

and as I tried to tell her, she said, shhh I know just how you feel

and lord, lord, lord, she was alright.

 

Well the morning came so swiftly as I held her in my arms

She slept like a baby snug and safe from harm

I did not want to share her or dare to break the mood

so before she woke I went out to buy us both some food

I came back with my paper bag

to find that she was gone

she'd left a six word letter saying

it's time that I moved on.

 

You know the waitress she took her bar rag and she wiped it across her eyes

and as she spoke her voice came out as something like a sigh

She said I wish that I was beautiful or that you were halfway blind

I wish I weren't so goddamned fat, I wish that you were mine

and I wish that you'd come with me when I leave for home

for we both know all about emptiness and living all alone.

 

And the little man looked at the empty glass in his hand

and he smile a crooked grin

He said, I, I guess I'm outta gin

and I know we both have been so lonely.

 

(chorus)