Richard Thompson : I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight

C

F6

C

Dirty people, take what's mine

F

G

I can leave them all behind

C

G/b

Am

C/g

They can never cross that line

F

G

When I get to the border Sawbones standing at the door Waiting 'til I hit the floor He won't find me anymore When I get to the border

G

Monday morning, Monday morning

G

Closing in on me

G

D/f#

Em

I'm packing up and running away

C

D

To where nobody picks on me If you see a box of pine With a name that looks like mine Just say I drowned in a barrel of wine When I got to the border A one-way ticket's in my hand Heading for the chosen land My troubles will all turn to sand When I get to the border Salty girl with yellow hair Waiting in that rocking chair And if I'm weary I won't care When I get to the border Monday morning, Monday morning Closing in on me I'm packing up and running away To where nobody picks on me Dusty road will smell so sweet Paved with gold beneath my feet And I'll be dancing down the street When I get to the border When I get to the border

|

F

|

Am

|

G

| ... I was under the Calvary Cross The pale-face lady she said to me I've watched you with my one green eye And I'll hurt you till you need me You scuff your heels and you spit on your shoes You do nothing with reason One day you catch a train Never leaves the station

C

Everything you do

F(viii)

Everything you do

C

G

You do for me Now you can make believe on your tin whistle You can be my broom boy Scrub me till I shine in the dark I'll be your light till doomsday Black cat cross your path Why don't you follow My claw's in you and my light's in you This is your first day of sorrow Everything you do Everything you do You do for me

C

F

This cruel country has driven me down

G

C

F

G

Teased me and lied, teased me and lied

C

F

I've only sad stories to tell to this town

G

C

My dreams have withered and died

F

C

Dm

Once I was bending the tops of the trees

C

Dm

Am

G

Kind words in my ear, kind faces to see Then I struck up with a boy from the West Played run and hide, played run and hide Count one to ten and he's gone with the rest My dreams have withered and died Silver moon sail up and silver moon shine On the waters so wide, waters so wide Steal from the bed of some good friend of mine My dreams have withered and died If I was a butterfly lived for a day Then I could be free just blowing away This cruel country has driven me down Teased me and lied, teased me and lied I've only sad stories to tell to this town My dreams have withered and died

C

Bb

F/a

G

C

I'm so tired of working everyday

G

C

Now the weekend's come, I'm gonna throw my troubles away

C

Bb

F/a

G

C

If you've got the cab fare, mister, you'll do alright

C

G/b

F/a

G

C

I want to see the bright lights tonight

F

Meet me at the station, don't be late

G

F

G

I need to spend some money and I just can't wait

F

C/e

Dm

C

Take me to the dance and hold me tight

C

G/b

F/a

G

C

I want to see the bright lights tonight There's crazy people running all over town There's a silver band just marching up and down And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight I want to see the bright lights tonight Meet me at the station don't be late I need to spend some money and I just can't wait Take me to the dance and hold me tight I want to see the bright lights tonight A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for I'm gonna dream till Monday comes in sight I want to see the bright lights tonight Meet me at the station don't be late I need to spend some money and I just can't wait Take me to the dance and hold me tight I want to see the bright lights tonight

F

C/e

Dm

C

Take me to the dance and hold me tight

C

G/b

F/a

G

C

I want to see the bright lights tonight

C

F

C

Tuning: DADGBE (Drop D)

D

See the boys out walking

A

D

Oh, the boys they look so fine

G

D

Dressed up in green velvet

G

A

Their silver buckles shine

D

A/c#

G/b

Soon they'll be bleary-eyed

A

G

Under a keg of wine

G

Bm

A

A7sus4

Down where the drunkards roll Down where the drunkards roll See that lover standing Staring at the ground He's looking for the real thing Lies were all he found You can get the real thing It will only cost a pound Down where the drunkards roll Down where the drunkards roll There goes a troubled woman She dreams a troubled dream She lives out on the highway She keeps her money clean Soon she'll be returning To the place where she's the queen Down where the drunkards roll Down where the drunkards roll Now you can be a gambler Who never drew a hand And you can be a sailor Who never left dry land You can be Lord Jesus All the world will understand Down where the drunkards roll Down where the drunkards roll

Richard Thompson : I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
1974

When I Get To The Border

The Calvary Cross

Withered And Died

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight