Harry Chapin

A Better Place To Be

Harry Chapin


Tom: G

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It was an early morn-in bar-room?  and the place just opened up 
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And a little man, come in so fast? and he started at his cups 
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And the broad who served the whiskey, She was a big old friendly girl 
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And she tried to fight her empty nights by?  smilin? at the world 
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And she said ?Hey Bub, it?s been awhile, since you?ve been around 
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Where the hell you been hidin??  and why you look so down?? 
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But the little man, just sat there like he?d never heard a sound 
 
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The waitress she give out a cough, and act-tin? not the least put off she spoke 
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once again? she said ?I don?t want to bother you?  consider it?s understood; 
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I know I?m not no beauty queen, but I s-u-r-e can listen good 
 
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And the little man took his drink in his hand and he raised it to his lips 
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He took a couple of sips, and then he t-o-l-d the waitress this story 
 
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I am the midnight watchman down at Miller?s Tool and Die 
 
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And I watch, the metal rustin? and I watch, the time go by 
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A week ago at the diner, I stopped to get a bite 
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And this here lovely lady, she sat two seats from my right 
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And Lord,  Lord,  Lord?                                                     she was all right 
 
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Ah she was so damn beautiful, that she?d warm a winter?s frost 
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But she was long past lonely, and well nigh on to lost 
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Now I?m not much of a mover or a pick-em-up easy guy 
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But I decided to glide on over, and give her one   good try 
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And Lord,  Lord,  Lord?                                                    she was worth the try 
 
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Tongue-tied like a schoolboy, I stammered out some words 
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But it did not really matter much, ?cause I don?t think she heard 
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She just looked clear on through me, to a space back in my head 
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And it shamed me into silence, as       quietly     she      said 
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?If you want me to come with you, then that?s all right with me 
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?Cause I know I?m goin? nowhere, and anywhere?s a    better    place   to    be? 
 
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                  Anywhere?s a better       place       to          be 
 
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I drove her up to my boardin? house, and I took her up to my room 
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And I went to turn on the only light? to brighten up the gloom 
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But she said, ?Please leave the light off?    oh?  I don?t mind the dark,? 
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And as her clothes all tumbled ?round her?    I could hear my heart 
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The moonlight shone up upon her, as she lay back in my bed 
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It was the kind of scene I only had imagined in my head 
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I just could not believe it, to think that she was real 
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And as I tried to tell her, she said, ?Sshh, I know     just   how    you   feel 
 
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And if you want to co me here with me, then that?s all right with me 
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?cause I?ve been oh, so lonely; lovin? someone is, a better    way     to     be 
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               Anywhere?s     a     better      place     to    be? 
 
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The mornin? come so swiftly, but I held her in my arms 
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But she slept like a baby?     snug and safe from harm 
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I did not want to share her, with the world or break the mood 
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So before she woke I went out? and brought us both some food 
 
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I came back with my paper bag?  to find that she was gone 
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She left a six word letter?  sayin? ?It?s time that I moved on? 
 
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The waitress took her bar-rag?  and she wiped it across her eyes 
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And as she spoke her voice came out?  as something like a sigh 
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She said that ?I wish that I was beautiful, or that you were half-way blind 
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And I wish?  I weren?t so don-gon fat, I wish that you were mine 
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And I wish?  that you?d come with me when I leave for home 
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For we both know all ?bout loneliness?  and livin? all alone? 
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And the little man? looked at the empty glass in his hand 
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and he smiled a crooked grin?  he said; ?I guess I?m out of gin, 
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And I know?  we both have been?  s-o  l-o-n-e-l-y 
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And if you want me?  to come with you, then that?s all right with me 
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?cause I know I?m goin? nowhere?   
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and anywhere?s?  a better?  place?  t-o  b-e? 
 
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