#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------# #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. # #------------------------------------------------------------------------------# # From twartman@phoenix.isn.net Thu May 8 14:11:02 1997 Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 14:32:35 -0300 From: Tim Wartman To: Guitar@olga.net Cc: Acoustic@olga.net 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 Bb 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)