# From twartman@phoenix.isn.net Thu May 8 14:11:02 1997 Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 14:32:35 -0300 From: Tim Wartman <twartman@phoenix.isn.net> 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

and the ^EMlittle man came in so fast and he started at his^A7 cup D DMAJ7 D7 G and the broad who served the whiskey was a big old friendly girl

who trie^EMd to fight her empty nights by smiling at the wo^A7rld and she sai^Gd hey bub i^At's been a while ^F#Msince you've bee^B7n around

where the he^EMll have you been hid^Aing and ^Gwhy you look so ^Ddown Well the li^Gttle man just s^Aat there like ^Ghe'd never heard^A a sound^D

the wait^CMress she gave ou^Gt with a cough a^Bbnd acting not th^Fe least put off she spok^EMe once ag^Aain

She said I do^Dn't want to bo^Gther you cons^EMider it's understood I kn^Aow I'm not no be^EMauty queen but I sur^Ae ca^EMn listen goo^Dd.

And the ^Glittle man took his d^Arink in his hand and he rai^EMse it to his lip^Ds He to^Gok a couple o^Df sips and he ^EMtold the waitres^As his story^D.

I a^Dm the midnigh^AMt watchman down at Mi^Cller's t^Gool and dim^De I watc^Gh the metal rus^F#Mting, I wat^BMch the time go b^Cmaj7y

a we^Aek ago at the din^Ger I stoppe^F#Md to get a bite ^B7 and this^EM here lovely lad^Ay she sat two se^Gats^EM from my r^Dight

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

but she said p^DMlease leave the light on,^GM I don't mind the dark and as her c^Flothes all tumbled round her, ^AI 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)

Harry Chapin - A better place to be