John Prine – He Was In Heaven Before He Died (Guitar)

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---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tabbed by: Dave S. Email: [email protected] Tuning: Standard Artist: John Prine Album: Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Year: 1993 [Intro] C [Verse 1]
C                    F
There's a rainbow of babies

       G             C
Draped over the graveyard

      F            C
Where all the dead sailors

               G
Wait for their brides

        C
And the cold bitter snow

    F              C
Has strangled each grassblade

          F               C
Where the salt from their tears

G                   C
Washed out with the tide
[Chorus]
      F             G
And I smiled on the Wabash

    G           C
The last time I passed it

      F          C
Yes I gave her a wink

                   G  
From the passenger side

       C
And my foot fell asleep

     F            C
As I swallowed my candy

        F         C
Knowing he was in heaven

G         C
Before he died
[Verse 2]
        C           F
Now the harbor's on fire

         G            C
With the dreams and desires

     F              C
Of a thousand young poets

                       G
Who failed 'cause they tried

      C
For a rhyme without reason

       F           C
Floats down to the bottom

          F          C
Where the scavengers eat 'em

    G                C
And wash in with the tide
[Chorus]
      F             G
And I smiled on the Wabash

    G           C
The last time I passed it

      F          C
Yes I gave her a wink

                   G  
From the passenger side

       C
And my foot fell asleep

     F            C
As I swallowed my candy

        F         C
Knowing he was in heaven

G         C
Before he died
[Verse 3]
    C            F
The sun can play tricks

          G           C
With your eyes on the highway

    F            C
The moon can lay sideways

                      G
Till the ocean stands still

      C
But a person can't tell

    F              C
His best friend he loves him

     F                C
Till time has stopped breathing

       G            C
You're alone on the hill
[Chorus]
      F             G
And I smiled on the Wabash

    G           C
The last time I passed it

      F          C
Yes I gave her a wink

                   G  
From the passenger side

       C
And my foot fell asleep

     F            C
As I swallowed my candy

        F         C
Knowing he was in heaven

G         C
Before he died