Better Place To Be
THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE... (I HOPE...) THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE... (I HOPE...) THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE... (I HOPE...) THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE...
Harry Chapin
Originally found on album Sniper & Other Love Songs
Better Place To Be
and the place just opened up
and the little man come in so fast and
started at his cup
and the broad who served the whisky
she was a big old friendly girl
and she tried to fight her empty nights by
smilin' at the world
and she said
"hey Bub, It's been awhile
since you been around...
where the hell you been hidin'...
and why you look so down?"...
but the little man just sat there
like he'd never heard a sound...
the waitress she gave out with a cough
and acting not the least put off
she spoke once again
she said
"I don't want to bother you
consider it's understood
I know I'm not no beauty queen
but I sure can listen good"
and the little man...
took his drink in his hand
and he raised it to his lips...
he took a couple of sips...
and he told the waitress this story...
"I am the midnight watchman
down at Miller's Tool and Die
and I watch the metal rusting
and 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 she was alright...
oh she was so damned beautiful
that she'd warm a winter's frost
but she was long past lonely
and well nigh unto 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 she was worth a try...
tongued-tied like a school boy
I stammered out some words
but it did not really matter much
'cause I don't think she heard
she just looked clear on through me
to a space back in my head
and it shamed me into silence
as quietly she said...
'if you want me to come with you
then that's all right with me
cause I know I'm going nowhere
and anywhere's a better place to be...
anywhere's a better place to be'...
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
cuz I don't mind the dark'...
and as her clothes all tumbled 'round her
I could hear my heart...
the moonlight shown 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...
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...
anywhere's a better way to be'...
the morning come so swiftly
but I held her in my arms
but she slept like a baby
snug and safe from harm
I did not want to share her
with the world or break the mood
so before she woke I went out
and brought us both some food
I came back with my paper bag...
to find out she was gone...
she'd left a six word letter
saying...
'It's time that I moved on'"...
... ... ...
well the waitress took a 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 dog-gone 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 about loneliness
and livin' all alone"...
and the little man...
looked at the empty glass in his hand...
and he smiled a crooked grin...
he said,
"I guess I'm out of gin...
and know we both have been...
so lonely...
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"...
... anywhere's a better place to be ...
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