The Party Chords by Phil Ochs

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [G#m] _ _
_ _ [C#] _ _ [F#] _ _ [D] _ _
_ _ [G#] _ _ _ [C#] _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [F#] The fire-breathing rebels _ [B] arrive at the [F#] party early.
_ Their khaki [B] coats are hung in the [C#] closet near the fur.
_ _ _ _ [B] Asking handouts [C#] from the lady, [F#] while they criticize [D#m] the lord.
_ [B] _ _
Boasting [C#] of the murder [F#] of the very hands [D#m] that pour.
[B] And the victims learn [C#] to giggle, _ [F#] for at least they are [D#m] not bored.
[G#m] And my shoulders had [C#] to shrug, [D#] as I crawl beneath [C#] the rug and retune [F#] my piano.
_ _ _ _ _ _ [G#] _ _
_ _ [C#] _ _ _ [F#] The hostess is enormous, _ [B] she fills the room [F#] with perfume.
She meets the guests [B] and smothers them [C#] with greetings.
_ _ _ _ [B] And she asks, how [C#] _ are [F#] you?
And she offers them [D#m] a drink.
_ [B] The countess of [C#] the social [D#] grace, who never [D#m] seems to blink.
_ [B] And she promises [C#] to talk to you, but with her promise [D#] not a thing.
_ [C] And [G#] my shoulders had to [C#] shrug, [G#] as I crawl beneath [C#] the rug and [F#] retune my piano.
[F#] The _ _ _ [C#] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ [F#] beauty _ of the hour _ [B] is blazing [F#] in the present.
She surrounds herself [B] with those who [C#] would surrender.
[F#] _ _ [C#] _ _ _ [B] _ _
Floating [C#] in her _ flattery, she's a trophy [D#m] prosperous.
_ _ _ [B] _ _
Protected [C#] by a pretty face, [F#] sometimes cursed, [D#m] sometimes blessed.
_ [G#m] And she's staring down [C#] their [D#] desire, while they're [A#m] staring down [D#m] her dress.
_ [G#m] And my shoulders had [C#] to shrug, [G#] as I [G#m] crawl beneath [C#] the rug and retune [F#] my piano.
_ _ _ _ _ [C#] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [F#] The eagles shine like light bulbs, [B] so bright you [F#] cannot see them.
_ Blind each other, blinder [G] than a _ [G] _
sandbox.
_ [D#] _ All the fury of an [C#] argument, _ [F#] holding [D#m] back their _ yawn.
_ _ Challenge [F] shakes the _ chandelier, selfish [D#m] swords are drawn.
[G#m] To the loser go [F] the hang-ups, to [A#m] the victor go [F#] the hangers-on.
[G#m] And my [C#] shoulders had to [F] shrug, as [D#m] I crawl [D#m] beneath the [C#] rug and retune [F#] my piano. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[G#m] _ _ [C#] _ _ _ [B] They [F#] travel to the table, _ [B] the hostess [F#] served for supper.
_ [C#] And they pass each other [B] down for [A#] salt and _ pepper.
[C#] _ _ _ [B] And the conversation [C#] _ _ sparkles, [F#] as their wits are dipped [D#m] in _ wine.
[B] _ _
Dinosaurs [C#] on a diet, [F#] on each other they [D#m] will dine.
[B] Then they pick their teeth [C#] and they squelch, melt, [F#] saying, darling you [D#] tasted divine.
[G#m] And my shoulders had to [B] shrug, [G#] as I crawl beneath [C#] the rug and [F#] retune my piano.
_ _ _ _ _ _ [G#m] _
_ _ _ [C#] _ _ _ _ [F#] _
_ _ _ Wallflower is waiting, _ _ _ _ she [B] _ hides behind [F#] composure.
_ [D#m] _ _ [F#] _
_ _ She'd love to dance and praise that [Cm] no one asked _ her.
_ _ _ [C#] _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [B] _ _
Then she steals a glance at lovers [D#] while her [F#] fingers tease [D#m] her hair.
_ [B] She _ marvels [C#] at the confidence [F#] of those who hide [G#] their fear.
[G#m] Then her eyes are closed as [C#] she rides away [F#] with the foreign _ _ [D#] legionnaire.
And [G#] my shoulders had [C#] to shrug, as [G#] I crawl beneath [C#] the rug and retune [F#] my piano. _ _ _ _
_ [B] _ _ _ [G#m] _ _ [C#] _ _
[C#] _ _ [A#] _ Romeo is reeling, [F#] _ counting notches on [D#] his thigh bone, _ searching for one hundred and [C#] eleven.
_ _ _ [B] _
And he's charming as a [G#] cherub as he [A#m] leads you to his [D#] well. _
Seducing queens and gypsy girls in the boudoir of his hell.
[B] Then he wraps himself with the tablecloth [F#] and pretends he is [D#m] a bear.
_ And my shoulders had to [A#m] shrug, as [B] I crawl beneath the [D#] rug and retune [F#] my piano. _ _
_ _ _ _ [C#] _ _ _ _
_ _ _ Ah, the party must be over, _ _ [B] even the losers [F#] are leaving.
_ But just one doubt [B] is nagging at my [G#m] caustic [C#] mind.
_ So [B] I snuck up close [C#] behind me and I [F#m] gave myself [D#m] a kiss.
And I [G#m] led myself to the [C#] mirror [D#] to expose [D#m] what I had missed.
There [G#m] I saw a laughing _ [C#] maniac who was [F#] writing _ songs like [D#m] this.
And [G#m] my shoulders had to [C#m] shrug, [C#] as [G#m] I crawl beneath [C#] the rug and retune my piano.
_ _ [G#] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ [C#] _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ [F#] _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ [N] _ _ _