![chords joined by a hyphen (e.g., F - G) are one measure _total_.] - Carpenter Mary Chapin](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zTLXrJw_ggc/hqdefault.jpg)
chords joined by a hyphen (e.g., F - G) are one measure _total_.]
View chords used in this chart
C C F F G G C G C C F F G G C G
[intro]
C C F F
He was a long tall stranger from way down south where he'd left his life behind
Dm G C G
He had a big old Gibson and a pickup truck and Shenandoah eyes
C Em F F
And I remember him sitting in that local bar where I earned my pay each night
Dm G F - G C G
Singing my songs to empty chairs and going home half tight
C C F F
So the nights rolled by like headlights shining on a lonesome strip of tar
Dm G C G
I kept his words of kindness close to me like a pick on my guitar; And we
C Em F F
Talked about the singers and the songs we loved and the songs we'd most forgot
Dm G F - G C
In that run-down bar they'd make last call and I'd never want to stop
F G
'Cause I was living on nothing but a young girl's dreams
C - Em F
With my cowboy boots and my old six-string
Dm G C - Em F
Hitching my wagon to a star, dreaming of leaving those local bars
C Em/B Am - G F
When I'd get him up at closing time for a couple of songs and a chance to shine
Dm G F - G
Like the star that he longed to be, he looked a helluva lot like me
C C F F G G C G
(me) [instrumental]
He'd played a lot of places where the only wages were food and beer for free
No fancy licks, but he had him a gift for the kind of songs he'd sing
But you do what you can to be a satisfied man, just to have your peace of mind
So he gave it all up for a government job where the paychecks come on time
So now he comes to the bar to hear me play guitar and to share a drink or two
And we sit swapping tales of where we've been and what we'd rather do
There's a wealth of danger when you're talking to strangers, and I meet them
all the time
But my heart knew better than my head when I looked into those eyes
'Cause I was living on nothing but a young girl's dreams with my cowboy boots
and my old six-string
Hitching my wagon to a star, dreaming of leaving those local bars
When I'd get him up at closing time for a couple of songs and a chance to shine
Like the star that he longed to be, he looked a hell of a lot like me
C C F F G G C G C Em F F Dm G F-G C
[violin solo] [harmonica solo]
Well, maybe I'll quit when I got me a kid and a place to call my own
But tonight there ain't nobody there waiting up for me at home
It's a hell of a way to live from day to day not knowing where you're bound
But the look in his eyes made me realize I was glad for the life I'd found
'Cause I was living on nothing but a young girl's dreams with my cowboy boots
and my old six-string
Hitching my wagon to a star, dreaming of leaving those local bars
When I'd get him up at closing time for a couple of songs and a chance to shine
Dm G F - G Am
Like the star that he longed to be, he looked a hell of a lot like me
Dm G F - G
Like the star that he'd always be, he looked a hell of a lot like me
C C F F G G C C.
(me) [instrumental]
- Adam Schneider, schneider@pobox.com
How to play chords joined by a hyphen (e.g., F - G) are one measure _total_.]
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is C. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.