Tom: G
G
The house burned down on a stormy night
Bm
and they never did find out why.
C
I just stood alone beneath the silver maple
Am G
Trying to keep my cigarettes dry.
[Verse 2]
G
Waiting for the firemen,
Bm
I couldn't save a thing,
C
And deep inside my home above the roar of the flame
Am G
I swore I heard the telephone ring.
[Verse 3]
G
The rain let up and we worked till dawn,
Bm
just me and the firemen,
C
And when they cut the power and the lines went dead,
Am G
I never got called again.
[Chorus 1]
Em Bm
The house was gone by the break of dawn,
C
the air was cold and grey.
G Bm
I just set off down the road alone,
Am C G C/G G C/G G
but it's always gone that way.
[Verse 4]
G
So young, so long ago
Bm
I thought I heard that train,
C
Calling out my name,
Am G
At least it sounded like my name.
[Verse 5]
G
Just a boy with no direction,
Bm
I left my home behind,
C
And the sky changed color
Am G
once I crossed that town line.
[Verse 6]
G
My good friends did the best they could
Bm
to hold me down with them,
C
But I took one look, and I packed my bags
Am G
and I slipped around the bend.
[Chorus 2]
Em Bm
The lessons came from left and right,
C
the first night out I found,
G Bm
The laws were not meant to protect
Am C G G/C G G/C G
the man from out of town.
[Verse 7]
G
There was a cold street on the sea coast,
Bm
I once tried to call home.
C
Where the church steeples rose up
Am G
above the town like broken bones.
[Verse 8]
G
Drinking whiskey with the catholic priest
Bm
one night in the recotory hall,
C
He just shook his head and said
Am G
"You never know when Jesus calls."
[Chorus 3]
Em Bm
Then his eyes got wide and he looked around
C
but he just could not explain.
G Bm
It was like he heard the sound of Jesus laugh
Am C G C/G G C/G G
the way I heard that train.
[Verse 9]
G
Now the years and the faces blur,
Bm
still I can remember some.
C
There were women washing windows,
Am G
there were salesgirls chewing gum.
[Verse 10]
G
There were curses in the shapes of old men,
Bm
kneeling in the pews.
C
There are things in this life
Am G
a man just does not get to choose.
[Verse 11]
G
So, finally I found a home
Bm
in a tiny mountain town,
C
Just a simple place to keep me dry
Am G
when the rain came pouring down.
[Chorus 4]
Em Bm
A place to sleep, the rent was cheap,
C
brick walls and a new slate roof.
G Bm
The landlord said "You'll be safe here.
C Am G
This house is fireproof."
