Jeffrey Lewis

Scowling Crackhead Ian(Chords)

Jeffrey Lewis

Key: Am

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Intro 
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F 
Scowling crackhead Ian 
Am 
I can't forget your face 
G                     Am 
You were a foul human being 
G        Am 
Way back on St. Mark's Place 
F 
A white thug when we were both poor 
F       Am 
A life struggling for one quarter more 
Am       G 
In sixth grade that's what you'd mug me for 
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A switch blade pressed up to my jugular 
Am   F 
So I feared for my next 
F 
Safe streets were few 
   Am 
My nerves grew wrecked near the Second Avenue 
Am     G                               Am         G 
I soon learned how to steer clear of a crook or a crew 
Dm 
And now I'm still here 
Dm               Am 
And look, so are you 


F 
Forever you've been crackhead Ian 
F           Am 
It was your kid nickname if we spoke it 
Am          G            Am 
You were an insane human being 
G                Dm                       Am 
Whether you ever did or didn't really smoke it 

F Am G Gm G Am 


F 
I'd know that tall thin bent-over stroll 
Am 
All sun burned and grim since ten or twelve years old 
Am       G 
I guess yesterday is gone 
      Dm    G 
Faces still intend our souls 
Dm                                         Am 
An I guess both our mom's places are still on rent control 
F 
I was that wick, small, sad, sag, punier guy 
F          Am 
You was as big, tall and bad back in junior high 
G 
No sight of someone's face has ever been scarier 
Dm                                             Am 
You'd come chase me from Street Fighter One or Space Harrier 


F 
Hello again, crackhead Ian 
F       Am 
I still can't forget your foul face 
G               A 
My fellow human being 
G                              Dm             Am 
I know we're both still planted on St. Mark's Place 
Am              F 
We've lived our poor lives in close parallel 
F           Am 
Within this four or five blocks we both know so well 
Am            G                                  Am        G 
You must have grew up near the former theater or old gross hotel 
Am 
I'm sure you're aware of me here, but oh I can't tell 
F 
It seems you never outgrew your little preteen rage 
Am 
I still see you look so mean though now we are middle-aged 
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I was eavesdropping last year at you laughing to tell 
Dm                            Am 
About bashing some dude with a chair till he fell 
F 
I slipped fast by you talking fear and our eyes would touch 
Am 
Drifting past by new mornings that it all changed so much 
G 
I've never known your live story I'm sure it's rotten and tough 
Dm                                                     Am 
But how long before these roles for us have gotten old enough? 
F 
You must've had it so rough kid 
Am 
Well I wonder 
Gm                          Am       G 
Forged by a tiny portion of love or fortune 
Am 
Goes lightning or goes thunder 


F 
You're a bad one crackhead Ian 
Am 
A sad son and sunburned pig 
Am             G 
But of all the best kids seen downtown in our pre-teens 
Am 
It's just you and me left I think 
F 
How long till you notice? 
Am 
How long until you shake my hand? 
G                            Am 
How long until we're old man neighbours? 
G          Dm                  Am 
Last tribesmen of the vanished plant 


F 
We never even did exchange names 
Am 
You were an evil kid from Hades 
Am      G 
When we played these arcade games 
G         Dm                Am 
That made life great in the 80's 
F 
Me and Ian 
Am 
Me and Ian 
G                                        Am 
Ryding into the night of an east-village dream 
G          Dm                          Am 
with these games in the street and the head and... 
F Am G Dm Am 
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