Harry Chapin – A Better Place To Be (Guitar)

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#----------------------------------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 [email protected] Thu May 8 14:11:02 1997 Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 14:32:35 -0300 From: Tim Wartman To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] 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 die

      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.

D                       Am                       C      G         D
You see she was so damn beautiful that she could warm a winter's frost

    G                   F#m       Bm             Cmaj7
but she look long past lonely and well nigh onto lost

    A                 G           F#m             B7
Now I'm not much of a mover or a pick em up easy guy

      Em                  A             G   Em7      D
but I decided to glide on over and give her one good try

    G     G   Em7   G    G   Em7     D  
and lord lord lord, she was worth a try

D                              Am           C          G       D
Well I was tongue tied like a schoolboy, I stammerred out some words

       G           F#m                Bm                Cmaj7
it did not seem to matter much, cause I don't think she heard

     A                    G               F#m              B7
She just looked clear on through me, to a space back in my head

    Em             A          G      Em7  D
It shamed me into silence as quietly she said
(chorus)
       D                G             Em                 Em
If you want me to come with you then that's alright with me

A             Em                    A           Em     A7sus4   D
cause I know I'm going nowhere and anywhere's a better place to be

A             Em    A7sus4   D
Anywhere's a better place to be

       D              Dmaj7                 D7                G
Well I drove her to my boarding house and I took her up to my room

      Em                  Em                             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, I don't mind the dark

            F                             Asus4           A
and as her clothes all tumbled round her, I could hear my heart.

    D               Am              C        G     D
The moonlight shone 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
I just could not believe it , to think that she was real

     Em           A                    G     Em7                D
and as I tried to tell her, she said, shhh I know just how you feel

           D                 G             Em
And if you want to come here with me Then that's all right with me

      A               Em         A            Em     A7sus4 D
Cause I've been so lonely Lovin' someone is a better way to be

A            Em     A7sus4   D
Anywhere's a better place to be

         D                Am          C        G      D
Well the morning came so swiftly as I held her in my arms

     G               F#m   Bm                Cmaj7
and She slept like a baby snug and safe from harm

  A                G           F#m               B7
I did not want to share her or dare to break the mood

    Em               A            G                Dm
so before she woke I went out to buy us both some food

   Dm                             Gm
I came back with my paper bag to find that she was gone

      F                                  Gm                D
she'd left a six word letter saying it's time that I moved on.

              D                    Dmaj7           D7                  G
You know the waitress she took her bar rag and she wiped it across her eyes

    Em                                                   A7
and as she spoke her voice came out as something like a sigh

           D                Dmaj7             D7              G
She said I wish that I was beautiful or that you were halfway blind

Em                                                      A7
I wish I weren't so goddamned fat, I wish that you were mine

A7         G                A      F#m              B7
and I wish that you'd come with me when I leave for home

       Em                   A             G      Em    D
for we both know all about emptiness and living all alone.

D        Em7                       F#m
And the little man looked at the empty glass in his hand

             Em7                                          D
and he smile a crooked grin He said, I, I guess I'm outta gin

           Em7          D       G   Em7    A
and I know we both have been so lonely.
(chorus)
           D              G                                 Em
And if you want me to come with you then that's alright with me

         A              Em           A           Em7     A7       D   D - G - D
'Cause I know I'm going no-where and anywhere's a better place to be