"AIMLESS LOVE"
John Prine
1. BE MY FRIEND TONIGHT
2. AIMLESS LOVE
3. ME, MYSELF AND I
4. THE OLDEST BABY IN THE WORLD
5. SLOW BOAT TO CHINA
6. THE BOTTOMLESS LAKE
7. MAUREEN, MAUREEN
8. SOMEWHERE SOMEONE'S FALLING IN LOVE
9. PEOPLE PUTTIN' PEOPLE DOWN
10. UNWED FATHERS
11. ONLY LOVE
Oh Boy Records, 1984
Be My Friend Tonight
(John Prine/Roger Cook/Shel Silverstein)
Intro:
[D]
[D]I threw a party. [G]Nobody came
[D]I bought all the tickets. [E7]They cancelled the g[A7]ame.
[D]I give you my picture. [G]It didn't fit your frame
[D] [A]Be my friend ton[D]ight
[G]Be my friend tonight. [D]Be my friend tonight.
[G]I'll sleep on the couch. [D]You can leave on that li[A7]ght.
[D]Well, I won't do nothing wrong [G]till you say it's right
[D]Come on Honey, [A]be my friend ton[D]ight
[D]Now you bring the glasses [G]and I'll bring the wine
[D]I'll rub your shoulders [E7]just like they were mi[A7]ne
[D]I won't make no passes [G]till it's passing time
[D]If your're only gonna [A]be my buddy ton[D]ight
[G]Be my friend tonight. [D]Be my friend tonight.
[G]I'll sleep on the couch. [D]You can leave on that li[A7]ght.
[D]Well, I won't do nothing wrong [G]till you say it's right
[D]Come on Darling, [A]be my friend ton[D]ight
Instrumental:
[D] [G]
[D] [E7] [A7]
[D] [G]
[D] [A] [D]
[D]Well, I'll mind my manners. [G]My P's and Q's
[D]I won't give you nothing [E7]that you can't u[A7]se
[D]I'll whip out that old guitar [G]and sing you the blues
[D] [A]Be my friend ton[D]ight
[G]Be my friend tonight. [D]Be my friend tonight.
[G]I'll sleep on the couch. [D]You can leave on that li[A7]ght.
[D]Well, I won't do nothing wrong [G]till you say it's right
[D]Come on Honey, [A]be my friend ton[D]ight
[G]Be my friend tonight. [D]Be my friend tonight.
[G]I'll sleep on the couch. [D]You can leave on that li[A7]ght.
[D]Well, I won't do nothing wrong [G]till you say it's right
[D]Come on Darling, [A]be my friend ton[D]ight
[G]Oh, [D]come on Honey, [A]be my friend to[D]night
[G]Please,[D] [A]be my friend to[D]night [G] [D]
Aimless Love
(John Prine)
Intro:
[A]
[A]He's just a small fry. A bit too g[D]un shy.
To have his [A]heart touched without a [E]glove
He looks at [A]strangers as potential da[D]ngers
Trying to S[A]teal his [E]aimless l[A]ove.
Love has [D]no mind. It can't spell un[A]kind.
It's never seen a heart shaped like a Valent[E]ine
For if love [A]knew him. It'd walk up [D]to him
And introd[A]uce him to an a[E]imless l[A]ove
[A]I been out walking. Kinda pillow ta[D]lking
To anyo[A]ne that has the time for [E]me
For there are s[A]ome folks they think that l[D]ove chokes.
It ties and [A]keeps them [E]from being f[A]ree
Love has [D]no mind. It can't spell un[A]kind
It's never seen a heart shaped like a Valent[E]ine
For if love [A]knew you. It'd walk up [D]to you
And introd[A]uce you to an a[E]imless l[A]ove
Instrumental:
[A] [D]
[A] [E]
Do you look at [A]strangers as potential d[D]angers
Trying to [A]steal your a[E]imless l[A]ove.
Love has [D]no mind. It can't spell un[A]kind
It's never seen a heart shaped like a Valent[E]ine
For if love [A]knew you. It'd walk up [D]to you
And introd[A]uce you to an a[E]imless l[A]ove
And introd[A]uce you to an a[E]imless l[A]ove [E] [A]
Me, Myself And I
(John Prine/Dan Penn/Spooner Oldham)
Intro:
[C]
Well, ton[C]ight I'll throw a party
And I k[F]now who I'll in[C]vite
[C]There's a strange and lonely person
With w[D7]hom I'll spend this ni[G]ght [G7]
There'll [C]be no old sad memories
To h[F]aunt me till I d[C]ie
In that room there'll be a bottle
And [G]me, myself and [C]I
In that r[F]oom there'll be a bo[C]ttle
And [G]me, myself and [C]I
[C]I've been introduced to many
People [F]I don't unders[C]tand
I've been in the house of lonely.
I've shook a th[D7]ousand shaking ha[G]nds [G7]
But to[C]night I'll be with someone
Who will l[F]ook me in the e[C]ye
And in that room there'll be a bottle
And [G]me, myself and [C]I
In that r[F]oom there'll be a bo[C]ttle
And [G]me, myself and [C]I [C7]
At that pa[F]rty you'll see me when [C]I was just a child
In a room full of happy with a he[D7]art so meek and m[G]ild [G7]
And that ch[F]ild will meet a ghost that will ha[C]unt him oh so bad
>From a family of confusion pretending love they never h[G]ad. [G7]
So, ton[C]ight I'll throw that party
And I k[F]now just what I'll [C]do
Yes, I'll meet myself at midnight
And c[D7]ry the whole night t[G]hru [G7]
Yeah, I'll m[C]eet that ghost of sadness
And he'll l[F]ook me in the e[C]ye
And in that room there'll be that bottle
And [G]me, myself and [C]I
In that r[F]oom there'll be a bo[C]ttle
And [G]me, myself and [C]I [G] [C]
The Oldest Baby In The World
(John Prine/Don Fritts)
Intro:
[C]
[C]She's got the mind of a child
And a b[F]ody peaking over the h[C]ill
Well, she would if she could
And she s[D7]hould but nobody w[G]ill [G7]
With her n[F]ails painted red
And her hair so unnaturally cu[C]rled [C/B] [Am]
Well I th[F]ink that she may be
The o[G]ldest baby in the wo[C]rld
[C]She's tasted the night life
But it's l[F]eft her with nothing but hu[C]nger
And all the available men
Seem to t[D7]hink that they want something you[G]nger [G7]
But y[F]outh is a costume
And the beauty within lies unf[C]urled [C/B] [Am]
And I th[F]ink that she may be
The ol[G]dest baby in the w[C]orld [C7]
Fast h[F]orses win races
And royal flushes beat aces
And everyone's playing to k[C]eep
So let's t[D7]urn out the lights
And rock that old baby to sl[G]eep [C] [G]
She loves the so[C]und of the rain
But you k[F]now she's still afraid of the th[C]under
[C]She keeps a head full of hope
And a he[D7]art that's so full of wo[G]nder [G7]
She may l[F]ook like a woman
But she's still some daddy's little g[C]irl [C/B] [Am]
And I th[F]ink that she may be
The ol[G]dest baby in the wo[C]rld [C/B] [Am]
Yes, I t[F]hink that she may be
The ol[G]dest baby in the wo[C]rld [F] [C] [G] [C]
Slow Boat To China
(John Prine/Bobby Whitlock/Linda Whitlock)
Intro:
[E]
Let's take a [E]slow boat to China. Leave from South Carolina
Let's take our time and go the long way
On a junk boat to Thailand with your hand in mine hand
I sure hope we got something to say
Well, this old [A]boat's go no sail so won't you please hold our mail-
For a[E]while
Thanks a[A]nyway pal but the Suez Canal -
Ain't our s[B7]tyle
Let's take a s[E]low boat to China and maybe we'll find a
New way to play those same old games
The stars just might show us and the captain will know us
Shake our hands and call us by our first names
We'll s[A]end a postcard to Grandpa of a vase or rickshaw-
He don't c[E]are
We'll buy [A]Mom a kimono or maybe we'll just phone her -
When we're th[B7]ere
Instrumental:
[E]
We'll drink s[A]ake at night beneath the soft harbour lights-
On the b[E]ay
We'll b[A]uild house on the hill next to Shangri-Li Bill -
And we'll s[B7]tay
Let's take that s[E]low boat to China (Let's go)
Slow boat to China (Real Slow)
Slow boat to China (Let's go)
Slow boat to China (Real Slow)
Let's go Real Slow (Repeat and Fade)
The Bottomless Lake
(John Prine)
Intro (Capo on 3rd Fret):
[C] [G] [D] [G]
[C] [G] [D] [G]
[G]Here's the story of a man and his family
And a b[D]ig trip that they to[G]ok
Well, I heard all about in a restaurant
And I r[A]ead it in a history bo[D]ok
They r[C]ented a car at the E[G]rie Canal
But the car didn't have no br[C]ake
Said Ma to Pa "My G[G]od this car"
"Is gonna f[D]all into the Bottomless L[G]ake"
[C] [G] [D] [G]
[G]Well, Mama turned to Daddy with a pale face
Said "I've d[D]one something horribly wr[G]ong"
"Well, the waters still runnin' in the bathtub"
And I th[A]ink I left the kitchen light [D]on"
Then I he[C]ard a crash the c[G]ar when splash
And the compass rolled around and ar[C]ound
Oh, for Heaven's Sake! We f[G]ell in a lake
And I th[D]ink we're all gonna dr[G]own
Chorus:
We are fa[D]lling down
Down to the bottom of a h[G]ole in the ground
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
I'[C]m so scared I can ha[G]rdly breathe
I may n[D]ever see my sweatheart ag[G]ain
[C]Play once after first verse [G] [D] [G]
[C] [G] [D] [G]
[G]There was plenty of food in the backseat
And the wi[D]ndows were rolled up ti[G]ght
So we all nibbled on a chicken leg
Told st[A]ories 'way thru' the n[D]ight
We[C]ll, Pa told one that he t[G]old before
And the baby got a bellya[C]che
Said Ma to Pa "My G[G]od this car"
"Falling d[D]own a Bottomless L[G]ake"
Repeat Chorus:
[G]Poppa played the music on the radio
M[D]ama rocked the baby to sl[G]eep
He said he would've taken the other road
But he di[A]dn't think the lake was that d[D]eep
Well, if the f[C]erry been there at the [G]end of the pier
We'd be half way to Uncle Ja[C]ke's
Instead of looking at fish out the w[G]indow I wish
We'd hit the bo[D]ttom of the Bottomless L[G]ake
'Stead of lo[C]oking at fish out the wi[G]ndow I wish
We'd hit the b[D]ottom of the Bottomless L[G]ake
Repeat Chorus:
[G]So if you're ever goin' on a big trip
Ya be[D]tter be careful out th[G]ere
Start everything on you good foot
And [A]wear clean u[D]nderwear
T[C]ake along a Bible in the ba[G]ckseat
Read of David and Solo[C]mon
For if you make a mistake in the Bottomless L[G]ake
You may ne[D]ver see your sweetheart ag[G]ain
If you sh[C]ould make a mistake in the Bot[G]tomless Lake
You may ne[D]ver see your sweetheart a[G]gain
If you sh[C]ould make a mistake in the Bot[G]tomless Lake
You may n[D]ever see your sweetheart ag[G]ain
[C] [G] [D] [G]
[C] [G] [D] [G] [D] [G]
Maureen, Maureen
(John Prine)
Intro:
[G]
[G]Maureen, Maureen,
I shot a doctor last night on the airpl[C]ane [C/B] [Am]
Well, th[D]ey said he wouldn't hurt us
But he got me real nervous and m[G]ean
[G]He was fat and he stank
And God knows that he drank more than we [C]do [C/B] [Am]
So I s[D]hot him in the first class
Then I bailed out and ran home to y[G]ou
Chorus:
[G]But you don't be[C]lieve me
I could tell by your sm[G]ile
Honey, why don't you le[C]ave me
Get lost for a[D]while, M[D7]aureen.
Ma[G]ureen, Maureen,
There's a hole in between where we come f[C]rom [C/B] [Am]
And the [D]things that I'm thinking
Ain't necessary the things that I [G]say
[G]I may have lied to myself
But I tried to tell God how I love y[C]ou [C/B] [Am]
But even [D]He don't answer
His phone anymore when I p[G]ray
Repeat Chorus:
Instrumental:
[G] [C] [C/B] [Am]
[D] [G] [G7]
Repeat Chorus:
[G]Maureen, Maureen,
[G]I shot a doctor last night on the airpl[C]ane [C/B] [Am]
Well, th[D]ey said he wouldn't hurt us
But he got me real nervous and m[G]ean
Real ne[C]rvous and m[G]ean
Somewhere Someone's Falling In Love
(John Prine/Don Fritts)
Intro:
[F] [Bb] [F] [Bb]
[F] [A7] [Bb] [G7]
[F] [C7] [F]
[F]Well, I got time on my hands and I got y[Bb]ou on my mind
And the m[F]oon and the stars up ab[Bb]ove
There's a w[F]arm summer br[A7]eeze
Blowing d[Bb]own through the tr[G7]ees
And so[F]mewhere someone's fa[C7]lling in l[F]ove
[F]Well, if this world where we live is the o[Bb]nly one we have
Then th[F]ere's only one thing I'm thinking [Bb]of
Let's [F]go for that r[A7]ide - keep our e[Bb]yes open wi[G7]de
Cause so[F]mewhere someone's fa[C7]lling in l[F]ove
Chorus:
Y[Bb]ou may be looking for som[F]eone
S[Bb]omeone may be looking for y[F]ou
S[Bb]omeday you'll awaken and o[F]pen your eyes
And l[G7]ove will be looking at y[C]ou
So don't get d[F]own on yourself. No and don't l[Bb]ose your faith
Beli[F]eve these words that I'm singing [Bb]of
For as s[F]ure as the d[A7]ay t[Bb]hat you were b[G7]orn
So[F]mewhere someone's f[C7]alling in l[F]ove
Instrumental:
[F] [Bb] [F] [Bb]
[F] [A7] [Bb] [G7]
[F] [C7] [F]
Repeat Chorus:
So don't get d[F]own on yourself. No and don't l[Bb]ose your faith
Beli[F]eve these words that I'm singing [Bb]of
For as s[F]ure as the d[A7]ay t[Bb]hat you were b[G7]orn
So[F]mewhere someone's f[C7]alling in l[F]ove
Yeah, for as s[F]ure as the d[A7]ay t[Bb]hat you were b[G7]orn
So[F]mewhere someone's f[C7]alling
So[F]mewhere someone's f[C7]alling
So[F]mewhere someone's f[C7]alling in l[F]ove
People Puttin' People Down
(John Prine)
Intro:
[B] [E] [B] [F#]
P[B]eople who are sad - sometimes they w[E]ear a frown
And p[B]eople who are kings - sometimes they w[E]ear a crown
But all the pe[B]ople who don't fit
Get the o[F#]nly fun they get
>From people puttin' people d[B]own
[E]People puttin' people d[B]own
P[B]eople without love - sometimes build a f[E]ence around
The g[B]arden up above - that makes the whole wo[E]rld go 'round
But all the p[B]eople who don't fit
Get the o[F#]nly fun they get
>From people puttin' people d[B]own
[E]People puttin' people d[B]own [B7]
[E]So c[B]old, some[F#]times it g[E]ets [F#]so c[B]old
Y[B]ou may love your wife - you may lose your fa[E]mily
You m[B]ay lose you mind - just to keep your sa[E]nity
But the pe[B]ople who don't fit
Get the o[F#]nly fun they get
>From people puttin' people d[B]own
[E]People puttin' people d[B]own
Pe[B]ople that are glad - sometimes they w[E]ear a smile
And pe[B]ople without dreams they walk the ex[E]tra mile
But all the p[B]eople who don't fit
Get the o[F#]nly fun they get
>From people puttin' people d[B]own
[E]People puttin' people d[B]own
F[E]rom people puttin' people d[B]own
[E]People puttin' people d[B]own [B7]
[E]So c[B]old, some[F#]times it g[E]ets [F#]so c[B]old
Unwed Fathers
(John Prine/Bobby Braddock)
Intro:
[G] [C] [G]
In an App[G]alachian, [C]Greyhound sta[G]tion [C]
She sits there wa[G]iting, [D]in a family w[G]ay
'Goodbye br[G]other, [C]Tell Mom I love h[G]er' [C]
'Tell all the ot[G]hers, [D]I'll write som[G]eday'
Chorus:
[G]From an teenage lo[C]ver, to an unwed mo[G]ther
Kept undercover, like some bad dr[D]eam [D7]
While unwed fa[G]thers, [C]they can't be bot[G]hered [C]
They run like w[G]ater, [D]through a mountain st[G]ream
[G]In a cold and grey town, [C]a nurse say's 'L[G]ay down' [C]
'This ain't no pla[G]yground, [D]and this ain't h[G]ome'
[G]Someone's children, [C]out having chi[G]ldren [C]
In a grey stone bu[G]ilding, [D]all al[G]one
Repeat Chorus:
Instrumental:
[G] [C] [G] [C]
[G] [D] [G]
[G]On somewhere else bound, [C]Smokey Mountain Grey[G]hound [C]
'She bows her h[G]ead down, [D]hummin' lul[G]labys
'[G]Your daddy never, [C]meant to hurt you e[G]ver' [C]
'He just don't li[G]ve here, [D]but you've got his e[G]yes'
Repeat Chorus:
Ending:
[G]Well, they run like wa[D]ter, through a mountain str[G]eam
Only Love
(John Prine/Roger Cook/Sandy Mason)
Intro:
[C]
[C]You may live alone and close your e[F]yes -
Some folks [C]do
You may dream a dream that's twice your s[F]ize -
All night thr[C]ough
W[G]hen the morning comes who's to t[F]ell your dr[Bb]eams [C]to -
[F]On-[Bb]ly y[C]ou
Chorus:
O[C]nly love, love only , only lo[F]ve - will [C]do
O[C]nly love, love only , only l[F]ove - comes t[C]rue
N[G]othing else, you see - there nothing e[F]lse
[F]On-[Bb]ly lo[C]ve, [F]on-[Bb]ly l[C]ove
I[C] have know a love within my hea[F]rt -
One or t[C]wo
Where one love would end and one would sta[F]rt -
I never k[C]new
If[G] love should come your way you'll learn to s[F]ay -
[F]I l[Bb]ove y[C]ou [F]I l[Bb]ove y[C]ou
Repeat Chorus:
Instrumental and Ending:
[C] [F] [C]
[C] [F] [C]
[G] [F] [Bb] [C]
[F] [Bb] [C]
O[C]nly love, love only , only l[F]ove - will [C]do
O[C]nly love, love only , only l[F]ove - comes t[C]rue
N[G]othing else, you see - there nothing e[F]lse
[F]On-[Bb]ly l[C]ove, [F]on-[Bb]ly l[C]ove [F] [Bb] [C]
