The Balladeer

[Verse 1] G The balladeer waits in the wings, Em Tugging on her dress, tuning her strings. Am All her whiskey faded cigarette blown dreams, G She brings herself to her own knees, D with every line so delicate. [Verse 2] G She sings every song that she knows. Em The way that she hears 'em, sad and slow. Am They're never gonna play her on the radio. G So she hangs in the darkest bars D with downtrodden bleeding hearts. [Verse 3] G A guitar man there who knew all the chords. Bm Said he needed her to help him find the words. Am The balladeer never loved anybody more. G It was magic but she worried, D what if she ran out of the pain... [Verse 4] G She carried round with her, so proud. Bm She wore it like a queen wears a crown. Am She didn't know who she'd be if she put it down. G So he brought her to the river D where she could wash the trouble... [Verse 5] Dm From her heart and let it shine like gold. Bb Felt like angels pouring mercy on her soul. Am And the weight of the world, she let it go. G And she sang for the first time D with her head held high and so much pride. [Verse 6] G It opened up new notes in her throat. Em There was joy in every new song she wrote. Am They got a bus and traveled coast to coast. G Drinking with their friends and strangers D and business people called to say. [Verse 7] G That she was finally headed for the stars, Em Or at least the top of the charts. Am They changed her clothes and bought fancy cars. G Till the guitar man caught the eye D G of a pretty background singer with the bluuuuuuessss... Em Am G D G Em Am G D Oh, oh, oh... [Verse 8] G The guitar man cried 'cause he done her wrong. Em The background singer took the next flight home. Am And the balladeer wrote herself a song, G D About brokenhearted dreamers who are searching G for something they'll never fiiiiiiinnnnd........ Am G D G Em Am G D G mmm, mmm...