(C)Drinking (G)with some (Amin)friends with whom I (F)like to spend my (C)time.
When (G)in comes John and he's (Dmin7)bleeding, from his (F)mouth and from his chin,
I said (C)"My friend John, Come (G)here and tell me what kind of (F)trouble have you been (C)in.
You see Friday
evening finds me coming down to meet you here,
I've got nothing more on my mind than a long cool glass
of beer.
When these four guys that jumped me, and they did this to
my face.
And one of them shouted something about my colour and my
race.
Oh (Amin)no, I don't want to
be(F)lieve it, but there's this (Amin)ringing
that's in my (F)ears,
And if it (C)wasn't for the pain to (G)remind
me again, I swear I'd (F)have to break down in (C)tears.
And (Amin)Claudia's from Harlem, she warned it (Emin)wouldn't
do no good.
(Amin)Sitting with your safe friends when you (Emin)talk
of brotherhood.
You (Amin)"back-bar-revolutioneries" only (Emin)talk
about what to do.
You end up (F)too drunk on your (Dmin7)theories, to (G)ever
see then through.
Oh no, I cannot believe it. has it really got this late,
I can't put the clock back, a few cool beers, and say
it's all been a big mistake.
Claudia's from Harlem, she's an artist
and she works,
She's reflected all your sympathy, how can you ask for
hers.
Too late for you to say now, you know just how she feels.
While you fumble with your modelling clay, Claudia builds
in steel.
And Friday evening finds me stacked up
drunk against the wall,
Will you hold on John, for I'm feeling bad and if you
slip we'll both fall.
For John is as white as I am, and we both love everyone.
I thought everybody must've known that by now, but they
have all gone home.
Oh no, I cannot believe it. has it really got this late,
I can't put the clock back, a few cool beers, and say
it's all been a big mistake.
Oh no, I don't want to believe it, but until the ringing
is in their ears,
They're gonna swear to God they never thought those
things could happen here.
© Ralph McTell, All Rights Reserved
