Mark Erelli - Man from out of town

^CThe house burned down on a stormy night And they ^Gnever did find out why I just ^Fstood alone 'neath the silver maple Trying to ^Ckeep my cigarettes dry Waiting for the firemen, I ^Gcouldn't save a thing Deep in^Fside my home, above the roar of the flame I ^Cswore I heard the telephone ring

^CThe rain let up and we worked till dawn Just ^Gme and the firemen And when they ^Fcut the power and the lines went dead I ^Cnever got called again The ^Amhouse was gone by the ^Gbreak of dawn The ^Emair was cold and ^Fgrey I just ^Cset off down the ^Groad alone But it's ^Falways gone that ^Cway

So young, so ^Glong ago I ^Cthought I heard that ^Gtrain ^FCalling out my name At least it ^Csounded like my name ^CJust a boy with no direction I ^Gleft my home behind And the ^Fsky changed colour Once I ^Ccrossed that town line

^CMy good friends did the best they could To ^Ghold me down with them But I ^Ftook one look and I packed my bags And I ^Cslipped around the bend The ^Amlessons came from ^Gleft and right The ^Emfirst night out I ^Ffound The ^Claws were not meant ^Gto protect The ^Fman from out of ^Ctown ^{G F C}

^CThere was a cold street on the sea coast I ^Gonce tried to call home Where the ^Fchurch steeples rose up Above the ^Ctown like broken bones

One ^Gnight in the rectory hall He just ^Fshook his head and said "You never ^Cknow when Jesus calls" Then his ^Ameyes got wide and he ^Glooked around But he ^Emjust could not e^Fxplain It was like he ^Cheard the sound of ^GJesus' laugh The ^Fway I heard that ^Ctrain ^{G F C G C G F C}

^CNow the years and the faces blur Still I ^Gcan remember some There were ^Fwomen washing windows There were ^Csalesgirls chewing gum

^GKneeling in the pews There are ^Fthings in this life A man just ^Cdoes not get to choose

^CSo, finally I found a home In a ^Gtiny mountain town Just a ^Fsimple place to keep me dry When the ^Crain came pouring down A ^Amplace to sleep, the ^Grent was cheap Brick ^Emwalls and a new slate ^Froof Ah, the ^Clandlord said, "You'll ^Gbe safe here This ^Fhouse is fire^Cproof" ^{G F C G C G F C}