Elizabethtown
Matt Harlan
Album: Tips & Complements

Capo 1

C
I got a bad phone call from Elizabethtown. 
                               Am
Said my brother, he’s back in jail. 
      F 
& the kids are staying with the grandfolks now, 
                  G 
Cause there ain’t noone ‘round here, family or not 
                              F
Even thinking about going his bail. 
C
He’s been living down the wrong road now. 

Is what some people they’re saying. 
                     Am
Going on a couple of years. 
          F
But I was there when he nearly blew that boy away. 
          G
& I ain’t ever thought once in all my life 

I’d ever see so many tears. 

Chorus:
         F                  C
I said, “Justin, please you break my heart. 
             G                     C   
You’ve got a soul of gold, but you ain’t that smart 
       F                      G 
On the streets – & boy you’re needing to be. 
       F                        C 	  
If you wanna keep tumbling around, 
          F                        C
Keep your own two feet from flying off the ground, 
      F                                 G  
Wanna keep acting like you’re some damn Indiana kingpin… 
            F        
Just shadow boxing on the corner where you planted your seeds 
                                                  C 	  
Waiting for the snow to fall & cover your dreams, alright.” 

Break:  C G Dm F

        C 	 
I don’t think too much about Elizabethtown 
                                       Am 	    
But there’s some memories that I can’t shake. 
          F       
It’s like slideshows taped up behind my eyes – 
C  	  	  G 	 
I’ve got one for every time I tried to get away 
                          F
One for every time that I stayed. 
               C  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 
It’ll take you fifteen hours to get from there to here 
                              Am  	 
It takes me nine every time I leave. 
        F 
I ain’t ever been one for the long goodbyes. 
        G  	   
I ain’t ever had the stomach for the same old scene 

Never had the patience to pray. 


Chorus:
         F                  C
I said, “Justin, please you break my heart. 
             G                     C   
You’ve got a soul of gold, but you ain’t that smart 
       F                      G 
On the streets – & boy you’re needing to be. 
       F                        C 	  
If you wanna keep tumbling around, 
          F                        C
Keep your own two feet from flying off the ground, 
      F                                   G  
Wanna keep acting like you’re some damn Indiana kingpin… 
            F        
Just shadow boxing on the corner where you planted your seeds 
                                                        C 	  
Waiting for the wind to blow & scatter your dreams, alright.” 

Break:  C G F

C
I got a bad phone call from Elizabethtown. 
                               Am
Said my brother, he’s out on bail. 
      F 
& the kids are staying with the grandfolks now, 
                  G 
Cause there ain’t noone ‘round here, family or not 
                              F
Even picking up on one of his trails. 
                          C  	  
He’s been living down the long road now 

Is what some people they’re saying 
                    Am  	 
Heading down to the pier. 
         F 
Then his body washed up just the other day. 
    C          G
& I ain’t ever thought once in all my life 

I’d ever see so many tears. 

Chorus:
         F                  C
I said, “Justin, please you break my heart. 
             G                     C   
You’ve got a soul of gold, but you ain’t that smart 
       F                      G 
On the streets – & boy you’re needing to be. 
       F                        C 	  
If you wanna keep tumbling around, 
          F                        C
Keep your own two feet from flying off the ground, 
      F                                     G  
Wanna keep acting like you’re some damn Indiana kingpin… 
            F        
Just shadow boxing on the corner where you planted your seeds 
                                                  C 	  
Waiting for the wind to blow & scatter your dreams, alright.




from Tips & Compliments, released October 19, 2009