Standard (EADGBE)

It was an early morning barroom

 And the place had just opened up

 And a little man came in so fast

 And he started at his cups

 And the broad who served the whiskey

 She was a big old friendly girl

 Who tried to fight her empty nights

 By smiling at the world

 And she said "Hey, bub, it's been a while

Since you've been around

 Where the hell you been hiding

 And why you look so down

 Well, the little man sat there

 Like he'd never heard a sound

 The waitress she gave out with a cough

 And acting not the least put off she spoke once again

 She said "I don't want to bother you

 Consider it's understood

 I know I'm not no beauty queen

 But I sure can listen good

 And the little man

 Took his drink in his hand

 And he raised it to his lips

 He took a couple sips

 And then he told the waitress this story

 I am the midnight watchman down at Miller's Tool and Die

 And I watch the metal rusting, I watch the time go by

 A week ago at the diner I stopped to get a bite

 And this here lovely lady she sat two seats from my right

  [G/f#] /

And Lord, lord, lord, (Lord, Lord, Lord) she was alright

 You see she was so damn beautiful that she could warm a winters frost

 But she looked long past lonely and well nigh onto lost

 Now I'm not much of a mover or a pick'em up easy guy

 But I decided to glide on over and give her one good try

  [G/f#] /

And Lord, lord, lord, (Lord, Lord, Lord) she was worth a try

 Well I was tongue tied like a schoolboy, I stammered out some words

 It did not seem to matter much 'cause I don't think she heard

 She just looked clear on through me to a space back in my head

 It shamed me into silence as quietly she said

 If you want me to come with you

 Then that's all right with me

 'Cause I know I'm going no-where

 And anywhere's a better place to be

- - [G/f#] - - / -

Anywheres a better place to be

 Well, I drove her to my boarding house

 And I took her up to my room

 And I went to turn on the only light

To brighten up the gloom

 But she said, "Please leave the light off,

 Oh, I don't mind the dark"

 And as her clothes all tumbled 'round her

I could hear my heart

 The moonlight shone upon her as she lay back in my bed

 It was the kind of scene I only had imagined in my head

 I just could not believe it to think that she was real

 And as I tried to tell her, she said "Ssssh, I know just how you feel

 And if you want to come here with me

 Then that's all right with me

 Cause I've been so lonely

 Lovin' someone is a better way to be

- - [G/f#] - - / -

Anywhere's a better place to be

 Well the mornin' came so swiftly I held her in my arms

 And she slept like a baby, snug and safe from harm

 I did not want to share her or dare to break the mood

 So before she woke I went out to buy us both some food

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

 She'd left a six-word letter sayin' "It's time that I moved on"

 You know the waitress she took her bar rag and she wiped it across her eyes

 And as she spoke her voice came out as something like a sigh

 She said I wish that I was beautiful or that you were halfway blind

 And I wish I weren't so God-damned fat, I wish that you were mine

And I wish that you'd come with me when I leave for home

 For we both know all 'bout emptiness and livin' all alone

 And the little man looked at the empty glass in his hand and he smiled a crooked grin

 He said "I guess I'm out of gin and I know we both have been so lonely

 And if you want me to come with you then that's alright with me

 'Cause I know I'm going no-where and anywhere's a better place to be