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It was an early morning bar room,
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And the place just opened up.
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And the little man come in so fast and
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Started at his cup.
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And the broad who served the whisky
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She was a big old friendly girl.
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And she tried to fight her empty nights
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By smilin' at the world.
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And she said "Hey Bub, It's been awhile
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Since you been around.
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Where the hell you been hidin' ?
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And why you look so down ?"
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But the little man just sat there like he'd never heard a sound.
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The waitress she gave out with a cough,
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And acting not the least put off,
|
She spoke once again.
|
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She said, "I don't want to bother you,
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Consider it's understood.
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I know I'm not no beauty queen,
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But I sure can listen good."
|
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And the little man took his drink in his hand
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And he raised it to his lips.
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He took a couple of sips.
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And he told the waitress this story.
|
|
"I am the midnight watchman down at Miller's Tool and Die.
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And I watch the metal rusting, and I watch the time go by.
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A week ago at the diner I stopped to get a bite.
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And this here lovely lady she sat two seats from my right.
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And Lord, Lord, Lord she was alright.
|
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"Oh she was so damned beautiful that she'd warm a winter's frost.
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But she was long past lonely, and well nigh unto lost.
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Now I'm not much of a mover, or a pick-em-up easy guy,
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But I decided to glide on over, and give her one good try.
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And Lord, Lord, Lord she was worth a try.
|
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"Tongued-tied like a school boy, I stammered out some words.
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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.
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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.
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Cause I know I'm going nowhere, and anywhere's a better place to be.
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Anywhere's a better place to be.'
|
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"I drove her to my boarding house, and I took her up to my room.
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And I went to turn on the only light to brighten up the gloom.
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But she said, 'Please leave the light off, Oh I don't mind the dark.'
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And as her clothes all tumbled 'round her, I could hear my heart.
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The moonlight shown upon her as she lay back in my bed.
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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.
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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.
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But she slept like a baby, snug and safe from harm.
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I did not want to share her with the world or break the mood,
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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.
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She'd left a six word letter saying 'It's time that I moved on.'"
|
|
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.
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And I wish I weren't so dog-gone fat, I wish that you were mine.
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And I wish that you'd come with me, when I leave for home.
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For we both know all about loneliness, and livin' all alone."
|
|
And the little man,
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Looked at the empty glass in his hand.
|
And he smiled a crooked grin,
|
He said, " I guess I'm out of gin.
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And know we both have been so lonely.
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And if you want me to come with you, then that's all right with me.
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'Cause I know I'm goin' nowhere and anywhere's a better place to be."
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-----------------
|
A Better Place To Be
|
| Harry Chapin |
