Harry Chapin

A better place to be(Chords)

Harry Chapin

Key: D

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                   D                         Dmaj7                          D7                         Gmaj7               
It was an early morn-in bar-room?  and the place just opened up 
             Em                     Em/D#                             Em/D (open)       A7 
And a little man, come in so fast? and he started at his cups 
                  D                                       Dmaj7                           D7                     Gmaj7          
And the broad who served the whiskey, She was a big old friendly girl 
                  Em                      Em/D#                      Em/D (open)         A7    
And she tried to fight her empty nights by?  smilin? at the world 
                  G                       A                            F#m                                            B7 
And she said ?Hey Bub, it?s been awhile, since you?ve been around 
                      Em                       A                   G                                        D 
Where the hell you been hidin??  and why you look so down?? 
               G                            A                         G               A                     D 
But the little man, just sat there like he?d never heard a sound 
 
         Cm                                 G                  Bb/F                                  F                        Em 
The waitress she give out a cough, and act-tin? not the least put off she spoke 
            A                              D                          G                              Em/G                         Em 
once again? she said ?I don?t want to bother you?  consider it?s understood; 
  A/C#                    Em                           A/C#      Em  A7sus4   D 
I know I?m not no beauty queen, but I s-u-r-e can listen good 
 
                  G                                A                                          Em                       D 
And the little man took his drink in his hand and he raised it to his lips 
         G                                  D                       Em7                 A                D 
He took a couple of sips, and then he t-o-l-d the waitress this story 
 
   D                                   Am                        C           G                   D 
I am the midnight watchman down at Miller?s Tool and Die 
 
                  G                        F#m            Bm                           Cmaj7 
And I watch, the metal rustin? and I watch, the time go by 
      A                             G          F#m                             B7 barre 
A week ago at the diner, I stopped to get a bite 
         Em                        A                     G              Em7  A11      D 
And this here lovely lady, she sat two seats from my right 
         G         G/F#  Em7   A11  G  G#m7/5-    A7sus4                                D  
And Lord,  Lord,  Lord?                                                     she was all right 
 
        D                                       Am                          C            G                  D 
Ah she was so damn beautiful, that she?d warm a winter?s frost 
              G                         F#m              Bm                      Cmaj7 
But she was long past lonely, and well nigh on to lost 
          A                               G                  F#m                           B7 barre 
Now I?m not much of a mover or a pick-em-up easy guy 
          Em                         A                        G          Em7   A11  D 
But I decided to glide on over, and give her one   good try 
          G        G/F#   Em7  A11  G  G#m7/5-    A7sus4                                      D 
And Lord,  Lord,  Lord?                                                    she was worth the try 
 
 D                                        Am                  C             G                        D 
Tongue-tied like a schoolboy, I stammered out some words 
            G                       F#m                            Bm                             Cmaj7 
But it did not really matter much, ?cause I don?t think she heard 
          A                                                G                 F#m                             B7 barre 
She just looked clear on through me, to a space back in my head 
              Em                           A                       G  Em7  A11     D 
And it shamed me into silence, as       quietly     she      said 
             D                                G                       Em/G                      Em 
?If you want me to come with you, then that?s all right with me 
                A/C#                         Em                 A/C#                    Em         A7sus4   D 
?Cause I know I?m goin? nowhere, and anywhere?s a    better    place   to    be? 
 
      A/C#                             Em                 A7sus4           D   
                  Anywhere?s a better       place       to          be 
 
    D                                  Dmaj7                           D7                                Gmaj7               
I drove her up to my boardin? house, and I took her up to my room 
            Em                           Em/D#        Em/D (open)                      A7 
And I went to turn on the only light? to brighten up the gloom 
                       Dm                                                                Gm 
But she said, ?Please leave the light off?    oh?  I don?t mind the dark,? 
                             F                                                   Asus4                        A 
And as her clothes all tumbled ?round her?    I could hear my heart 
                              Asus4    A    Asus4    A 
 
              D                                     Am             C                     G               D 
The moonlight shone up upon her, as she lay back in my bed 
                   G                        F#m               Bm                             Cmaj7 
It was the kind of scene I only had imagined in my head 
   A                                 G         F#m                             B7 barre 
I just could not believe it, to think that she was real 
        Em                     A                                     G                   Em7   A11         D 
And as I tried to tell her, she said, ?Sshh, I know     just   how    you   feel 
 
                      D                                  G                     Em/G                       Em 
And if you want to co me here with me, then that?s all right with me 
             A/C#                         Em                  A/C#                Em       A7sus4      D    
?cause I?ve been oh, so lonely; lovin? someone is, a better    way     to     be 
      A/C#                                  Em            A7sus4       D 
               Anywhere?s     a     better      place     to    be? 
 
           D                             Am                C         G                  D 
The mornin? come so swiftly, but I held her in my arms 
        G                        F#m             Bm                                    Cmaj7              
But she slept like a baby?     snug and safe from harm 
   A                            G                               F#m                              B7 barre 
I did not want to share her, with the world or break the mood 
              Em                       A                             G                                          D 
So before she woke I went out? and brought us both some food 
 
    Dm                                                             Gm 
I came back with my paper bag?  to find that she was gone 
          F                                                            Gm                            D 
She left a six word letter?  sayin? ?It?s time that I moved on? 
 
             D                           Dmaj7                          D7                              Gmaj7 
The waitress took her bar-rag?  and she wiped it across her eyes 
         Em                          Em/D#                          Em/D(open)               A7 
And as she spoke her voice came out?  as something like a sigh 
                               D                        Dmaj7                  D7                             Gmaj7 
She said that ?I wish that I was beautiful, or that you were half-way blind 
           Em                                Em/D#    Em/D (open)                      A7 
And I wish?  I weren?t so don-gon fat, I wish that you were mine 
                    G                                 A               F#m                        B7 barre 
And I wish?  that you?d come with me when I leave for home 
               Em                                     A                         G   Em            D 
For we both know all ?bout loneliness?  and livin? all alone? 
               Em7                                        F#m       
And the little man? looked at the empty glass in his hand 
                         Em7                      D                   Em7                            D 
and he smiled a crooked grin?  he said; ?I guess I?m out of gin, 
                        Em7                       D/F#             G  Em7  A 
And I know?  we both have been?  s-o  l-o-n-e-l-y 
             A7     D                                 G                                                          Em 
And if you want me?  to come with you, then that?s all right with me 
                   A                       Em 
?cause I know I?m goin? nowhere?   
           A                              Em7               A7             D   
and anywhere?s?  a better?  place?  t-o  b-e? 
 
                             Dmaj7   Gmaj7   D 
 
 
 

	        

Written by Harry Chapin

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