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a better place to be (live) - harry chapin lyrics

[intro]
this is probably the favorite thing of mine, at least to me, that i’ve written. and um, it’s about a small town upstate new york, called watertown, new york. that’s more than it deserves. i spent a week there one afternoon. and um, i came away with this story which is a rather, well, strange tale of a, of a little midnight watchman, a rotund waitress, and a girl he picks up one night. and it’s called “a better place to be.”

[part i]

[verse 1]
it was an early morning barroom and the place just opened up
and the little man camе in so fast and started at his cups
and the broad who servеd the whisky
she was a big old friendly girl
who tried to fight her empty nights by smilin’ at the world
and she said, “hey bub, it’s, it’s been awhile since you been around
where the h*ll you been hidin’, and why you look so down?”
well the little man just sat there like he’d never heard a sound
[pre*chorus]
the waitress, she give out with a cough
and acting not the least put off
she spoke once again

[chorus]
she said, “i don’t wanna bother you
consider it’s understood
i know i’m not no beauty queen
but i sure can listen good”

[post*chorus]
and the little man took his drink in his hand
and he raised it to his lips
he took a couple of sips
and then he told the waitress this story

[part ii]

[verse 2]
i am the midnight watchman down at miller’s tool and die
and i watch the metal rustin’, 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
and lord, lord, lord (lord, lord, lord) she was all right
[verse 3]
you see, she was so d*mn beautiful
that she could warm a winter frost
but she looked long past lonely, and well nigh on to 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
and lord, lord, lord (lord, lord, lord) she was worth a try

[verse 4]
well i was tongued*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 sp*ce back in my head
it shamed me into silence as quietly she said

[chorus]
“if you want me to come with you
then that’s all right with me
’cause i know i’m goin’ nowhere
and anywhere’s a better place to be”

[post*chorus]
“anywhere’s a better place to be”

[verse 5]
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
[verse 6]
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 “shhh.. i know just how you feel”

[chorus]
“and if you want to come here with me
then that’s all right with me
’cause i’ve been oh, so lonely
lovin’ someone is a better way to be”

[post*chorus]
“anywhere’s a better place to be”

[verse 7]
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

[segue]
i came back with my paper bag
to find that she was gone
she’d left a six*word letter
saying, “it’s time that i moved on”

[part iii]

[verse 8]
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 godd*mned 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”

[pre*chorus]
and the little man
looked at the empty glass in his hand
and he smiled a crooked grin
he said, “i, i guess i’m outta gin
and i know we both have been so lonely”

[chorus]
“and if you want me to come with you
then that’s all right with me
’cause i know i’m goin’ nowhere
and anywhere’s a better place to be”

- harry chapin lyrics

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