Verse
C Fmaj7
I keep a letter in my drawer
C F
Postmark from several years before
Am Dm
A headstone etched there on the page – a name a place a dying day
Em F
But god, I’m never sure
Verse 2
C Fmaj7
I guess three years ago last week
C Fmaj7
A ghost-girl drifted down to me
Am Dm
And left the outline of a timid face then slipped away without a trace
Em F
Through space between the graves
Chorus 1
C Dm
And then I fell down on my knees
Am F
I placed a kiss on stony cheeks
C Dm
I feel that grit between my teeth
Am F
Why won’t she stay, love never stayed with me
(brief interlude resolves to C)
Verse 3
C Fmaj7
Something like eighteen months ago
C Fmaj7
I chased a rumor chased a hope
Am Dm Em
That at St. Peter’s church the clock strikes twelve and ghost girls tend to show themselves but this one
F
Would not come
Chorus 2
C Dm
And then I fell down on my knees
Am F
I placed a kiss on stony cheeks
C Dm
I feel that grit between my teeth
Am F
Why won’t she stay, love never stayed with me
Interlude
Am Fmaj7 Am Fmaj7 x2 eventual resolve to C
Verse 4
C Fmaj7
The years get longer counting days
C Fmaj7
I’ve got some private holidays
Am Dm
But when I burned my words by candle-light I saw her standing there behind
Em F
“Go on,” she said, “I’ll wait.”
Chorus 3
C Dm
And then I fell down at her feet
Am F
I laid a kiss on bloodless cheeks
C F
Escaping steam between my teeth
Am F
Why won’t she stay, love never stayed with me