When You Leave Tabulatur von Loudon Wainwright Iii

G     Em
You left for camp, you left for school
Am                 D
Left for the coast when that was cool then
G               Em
You left women, one a wife
Am             D
To save your skin you wrecked a life and
Am   C
then there's kids its not just one
G                D
life that you wreck you're on the run
AmC
You go to town to start anew
G     D
those you left come after you

G                    Em
Its what you think its how you feel
C      D
though who can say if its all real
G                  Em
The darndest thing kids grow up
Am           D
One day some strange adults show up
G                     Em
The ones you left are right in town
Am        D
that's nice you say they'll be around
AmC
perhaps they just a bit bereft but
G        D
they'll forgive the one who left
Am     C
sad stories can have happy ends
G        D
perhaps now you can just be friends
G                     Em
Its what you want its how you feel
Am          D
whats more you hope your theory's real


F           C
Who would have thought or could believe
G         D
Things go so badly when you leave
F       C
the skin you saved is growing slack and
G              D
those you left don't want you back

G     Em
Your power's gone it was pro tem
Am         D
The wife you left meant more to them
G       Em
Its not just that they side with her
Am      D
you left and who knew where you were
AmC
The reason that they came to town
G      D
was just to make that place their own
Am   C
You realised your greatest fear
G             D
you are so close but hardly here
G                 Em
It's what you think   it's how you feel
Am D
and what's worse is you know its real