Misc Traditional – After The Ball (Guitar)

G         C                                 D
After the ball is over, after the break of dawn,

                                                 G
After the dancers' leaving, after the stars are gone;

        C        G      E                       A
Many a heart is aching, if you could read them all;

D                         G        A  D     G
Many the hopes that have vanished after the ball.

G                                    D7
A little maiden climbed an old man's knee,

                               G
Begged for a story, "Do Uncle, please.

                        Dm      Em
Why are you single; why live alone?

C           G       A    D      G
Have you no babies; have you no home?"

Em        B          C            G
"I had a sweetheart years, years ago;

C            G         A             D
Where she is now, pet, you will soon know.

G                       B        Em
List to the story, I'll tell it all,

C              G          A D      G
I believed her faithless after the ball."

G         C                                 D
After the ball is over, after the break of dawn,

                                                 G
After the dancers' leaving, after the stars are gone;

        C        G      E                       A
Many a heart is aching, if you could read them all;

D                         G        A  D     G
Many the hopes that have vanished after the ball.

G                                            D7
Bright lights were flashing in the grand ballroom,

                                 G
Softly the music, playing sweet tunes.

                              Dm      Em
There came my sweetheart, my love, my own;

C            G       A    D      G
"I wish some water, leave me alone."

Em        B             C            G
When I returned, dear, there stood a man,

C            G         A          D
Kissing my sweetheart, as lovers can;

G                             B          Em
Down fell the glass, pet, broken, that's all;

C           G         A D      G
Just as my heart was after the ball

G         C                                 D
After the ball is over, after the break of dawn,

                                                 G
After the dancers' leaving, after the stars are gone;

        C        G      E                       A
Many a heart is aching, if you could read them all;

D                         G        A  D     G
Many the hopes that have vanished after the ball.

G                                          D7
Long years have passed, child, I've never wed;

                                     G
True to my lost love, though she is dead.

                            Dm      Em
She tried to tell me, tried to explain;

C            G       A    D         G
I would not listen, pleadings were vain.

Em        B       C             G
One day a letter came from that man

C           G        A          D
He was her brother, the letter ran.

G                         B       Em
That's why I'm lonely, no home at all;

C           G            A D      G
I broke her heart, pet, after the ball

G         C                                 D
After the ball is over, after the break of dawn,

                                                 G
After the dancers' leaving, after the stars are gone;

        C        G      E                       A
Many a heart is aching, if you could read them all;

D                         G        A  D     G
Many the hopes that have vanished after the ball.