Troy Cassar-daley

When A Small Town Dies

Troy Cassar-daley


Tom: D

D                               G
Dad worked at the abattoirs and mum looked after home
D                               A7
And our fibro house was on the five-mile zone
D                       G
A little town with its good and its bad
              D     A          D
but we gave thanks for what we had
D                                           G
In our changing world they shut the meat works down
D                                     A7
I watched the gates close on the dusty ground
D                                      G
Dad was strong and silent with a tear in his eye
             D           A           D
he said I hate to see a small town die

[Chorus]
        G         D         G              D
When a small town dies you lay its soul to rest
         G              D             A7
All the livin? lovin? workin? will be gone now I guess
          G                   D       G             Bm                G              A
Well it?d break my grandad?s heart if he were still alive to see this cherished old small
     D
town die

    D                 G                  D                            A7
For 3 generations our family?s been here through floods depressions laughter and tears
 D                        G                        D                  A         D
The pollies on the TV say everything is fine as we sit and watch out small town die

[Chorus]
Bm                                 G             D
Well I caught the Brisbane Limited when I turned 18
      Bm                     A7
cried all the way to Lismore missin? family
              D                        G
you know I?d give my right arm not to have to wave goodbye but I don?t
D             A          D
Want to see a small town die

[Outro]
              G           A          D
To see this cherished old small town die