Holiday Chords by James Mcmurtry

[Gm] _ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _
_ [Gm] _ _ _ _ _ [C] _ _
_ [G] The in-laws are waiting [C] the games have begun
[G] The cell phone [D] keeps [G] ringing [C] just don't answer it, hon
[G] The whole thing's arranged just [C] to aggravate dad and [Gm] it's amateur day
on [C] the old super slab
[G] The kids are strapped down [C] like a half load of [G] pipe all safe in their car seats
[C] They fuss and they gripe.
Well, [G] you can't hardly blame them
[C] It must be a bitch
[G] _ Counting the crosses off [C] down in the ditch
[G] This one's got flowers.
[C] This one's got a wreath
[G] This one's got a name painted [C] down
Underneath [G] was the road all iced up [C] where they going too fast
[G] Here's five in a circle [C] left from the last [G] holiday _ _ _
[C] _ _ _ _ [G] Holiday _ _
_ [C] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _
_ [Em] _ _ _ _ [G] _ _ _
_ [C] _ _ _ [G] There's a three trailer rig just [C] throwing up spray [G] not legal to run
[C] on this kind of day
[G] but goddamn the smokies [C] and the four-wheelers to [G] stay off of my
Bumpers [C] are the same goes for you [G] cuz they'll be none for him.
[C] He that wants it the most
[G] As he hauls it on out [C] to the Oregon Coast
[G] No turkey, no gravy [C] no Zinfandel wine
[G] Stay off to the right and we'll [C] get along fine.
[G] He's missing the football
He's [C] missing the fun
[G] He won't see his grandkids cuz [C] he's off on a run [G] and some hats on the radio
[C] Singing his song, but it [G] don't make a damn
He's [C] in for a long [G] holiday _
_ _ _ [C] _ _ _ [G] _ _
_ [D] _ _ [C] _ _ [G] Holiday _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ [C] _ _ _ [Em] Now [G] granny she's yelling [C] she's ready to eat _
[G] She's having conniptions cuz [C] they won't take their seats
But [G] she's got them all gathered [C] now under one roof [G] with a camcorder loaded
[C] She's gonna get proof.
[G] Do you have to wear that?
[C] Well, I just don't see why [G] please pass the potatoes
_ [C] Eat shit and die.
[G] Did you hear about Ellen?
[C] She's leaving, you know
[G]
How about those Packers?
[C] Think it'll snow [G] and the minute it's over.
[C] They'll scatter like [G] quail
Off down the freeway in [C] the teeth of a gale
[G] _
_ Silent shattered [C] and numb to [Em] the core [G] they count themselves lucky
They got through one more holiday
_ _ _ [C] _ [Em] _ _ [G]
holiday
_ _ _ [C] _ _ [G] The _ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ [G] _
_ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ _
[G] highway
Patron [C] stands in the [Em] rain.
[G] He just lets it run down
To [C] soften the stain [G] of the blood on his pant leg from [C] working that wreck
[G] He won't [D] forget [G] it [C] in time for the next [G] holiday
_ _ _ [Em] _ _ _ _
[G] _ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ _
[G] Departing [Gm] Chicago [C] at
_ 952 [G] and clean desert camo all [C] baggy and loose
[Gm] sits an Iowa [C] guardsman alone at the gate [G] and this place sure looked different in [C] 1968
When he [G] traveled with mom [C] first time on a plane [G] to visit [D] some kin
[Gm] He's [C] forgotten their names, [G] but he remembers the soldiers
[C] Still in their teens [Gm] in their spit-polished shoes [C] and those pressed army greens
[G] With the creases [D] so [Gm] sharp [C] and their faces so smooth, [Gm] but their eyes look so heavy
[C] He wondered how they could move and [Gm] now he's got that same look [C] like his insides are black
[G] He's in his mid-40s [C] and he has to go [G] back and he can't even smoke [C] while he waits for his plane
[Gm] The uniforms different but [C] the mission remains
[Gm] To do like they tell you [C] don't make a fuss
[G] Why is not an issue?
So [C] don't think too much just do [G] what you have to
_ [C] Shut up and [G] drive if you fall apart later.
[C] Well, at least you're alive
[G] You can get you some help
[C] You can deal with it then
[G] And life will get better [C] till it happens again
_ [Gm] _
_ _ _ _ [C] _ _ _ _
_ _ [Em] [G] Cuz there's something inside [C] us
It won't let us be [G] it stalks through our days till [C] it's too dark to see
And [G] it's damn near as deadly as [C] Texans on ice [G] Lord.
Don't they beat all?
[C] Y'all have a nice [G] holiday _ _ _ _
[Em] _ _ _ [G] Holiday _ _ _
[C] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ _ _
[C] _ _ _ [G] _ _ _ [D] _ _
[C] _ [Gm] _ _ _ _ _ _ _