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The Mayor Of Candor LiedWords and Music by Harry Chapin(capo 5th fret)
Am - Am - Am - Am - Em - Am C G In the little town of Candor in the last year of my youth D F I learned the final lesson of the levels to the truth C G My father was a farmer, he'd go tillin' in the ground D F Em Am My mother was a neighbor, she'd go visiting around G But I didn't care Am For I had found the answer to a plowboys lonely prayer G Em Am She was the daughter of the Mayor C G The Mayor fought my courtship for he'd made other plans D F He saw her married to a better man than a boy with farmer's hands C G I said I hate your father, it's so hard not to strike him D F Em Am She said you know I love you because you're so much like him Am G And so I'd go sneaking in the evening Bm Em C Cmaj7 Em - A And there she'd stand a crying in the dawn as I was leaving Am The Mayor of Candor lied D When he offered me his only daughter Am The Mayor of Candor tried D To take her off across the water F D What a thing to do to a young man in love F Am And what a thing to do to your daughter Am - Em - Am C G One day with father on his tractor and mother off again D F I go to find the Mayor to work out what I can C G But he is not at his office, he is not at his home D F Em Am When I find him in the countryside he is not alone Am G He's holding a woman and imagine my surprise Bm Em C As she jumps back from his arms I look into my mother's eyes The Mayor of Candor Lied! Am - Em - Am A5 - B5 - C5 - D5 - E5 - G5 C G All my thoughts of outrage, embarrassment and pain D F Were washed away but what then went roaring through my brain C G The Mayor's at my mercy and I hear my own voice say D F Em Am Your run for re-election is one month away Am G And the world will never know of what I've seen here Sir Bm Em C Cmaj7 Em - A But I'll be with your daughter is my meaning clear Sir? Am The Mayor of Candor lied D When he offered me his only daughter Am The Mayor of Candor tried D To take her off across the water F D What a thing to do to a young man in love F Am And what a thing to do to your daughter C G My mother looks in horror at this compromise we made D F But the Mayor's rueful smile says this piper must be paid C G I had a month of joy in heaven from this deal I'd made in Hell D F Em Am What was to happen then my friend a prophet could not tell Am/G - Am/F - Em Am - Am/G - Am/F - Em Am - Am/G - Am/F - Em Am Am Em/G G The day after his re-election and the victory celebration Bm Em C Am The Mayor takes his family on a month long foreign vacation [slower] Am G Oh Coleen, you know how much I love you Bm Em C C - G/B There is no one I'd ever place above you Am G Oh Colleen, you don't even know me Bm Em C G/B To have you there's nothing that's below me Am (but time) C G But time always passes after all Bm Bm/A Em C And as the Summer follows Spring, so does the Winter follow Fall Am - Em - Am Am - Em - Am C G The day that they returned, I stand waiting in the road D F I watch the car drive up, I watch the passengers unload C G Of course she isn't there, of course I should have known D F Em Am The Mayor says that she has stayed, the decision is her own Am G He says she's finishing her schooling on that unseen foreign shore Bm Em C Cmaj7 And I'll tell you very frankly boy, you'll not see her any more Am The Mayor of Candor lied D When he offered me his only daughter Am The Mayor of Candor tried D To take her off across the water F D What a thing to do to a young man in love F Am And what a thing to do to your daughter Am - Em - Am A5 - B5 - C5 - D5 - E5 - G5 C G I spit out my hatred and my fury at his lies D F When he says you tried to blackmail me you're just as bad as I C G Go on and do your damndest, throw your mother to the streets D F Em Am You know it's been too many years I had to be discreet Am G And as he stands there saying we're just two of a kind D F Em Am It hits me like a thunderbolt exploding in my mind Am Am/G Am/F Am/E Am/D C As I look into his leering aged wrinkled mirror G of my own face | |||||||||||||||||||||
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