Verse
G Bm
She was well rehearsed, fair brown and blonde
Em C
She had friends who was busboys and friends in the Pentagon
G Bm/F# Em D C
Playin' a show in Miami in the theater of divine comedy.
[Verse 2]
G Bm
Talked in the shadows where they talked in the rain
Em C
I could tell she was still feelin' the pain
G Bm/F# Em D C
Pain of rejection, pain of infidelity.
[Verse 3]
G Bm
Was she a child or a woman? I can't say which
Em C
One to another she could easily switch.
G Bm/F# Em D C
Couples were dancin' an' i lost track of the hours.
[Verse 4]
G Bm
He was well prepared, i knew he was
Em C
Paying attention like a rattlesnake does
G Bm/F# Em D C
When he's hearin' footsteps tramplin' over his flowers.
[Chorus 1]
F G C F
And that Caribbean winds still blow from Nassau to Mexico
F G C
From the circle of ice to the furnace of desire.
F G C F
An' them distant ships of liberty on 'em iron waves so bold and free
F C G
Bringing everything that's near to me, nearer to the fire.
[Instrumental]
Em A
Em B7
Em A
B7 A
E
[Verse 5]
G Bm
She looked into my soul through the clothes that i wore
Em C
She said, "We got a mutual friend standin' at the door.
G Bm/F# Em D C
Yeah, you know he's got our best interest in mind.”
[Verse 6]
G Bm
He was well connected, but her heart was a snare
Em C
And she had left him to die in there
G Bm/F# Em D C
Here were payments due and he was a little behind.
[Verse 7]
G Bm
Well i slept in a hotel where flies buzz my head
Em C
Ceiling fan was broken, there was heat in my bed
G Bm/F# Em D C
Street band playin', "Nearer My God To Thee.”
[Verse 8]
G Bm
We met in secret where we drank from a spring
Em C
She said, "I know what you're thinkin', but there ain't a thing
G Bm/F# Em D C
We can do about it, so we might as well let it be.”
[Chorus 2]
F G C F
The Caribbean winds still blow from Nassau to Mexico
F G C
From the circle of ice to the furnace of desire.
F G C F
An' them distant ships of liberty on 'em iron waves so bold and free
F C G
Bringing everything that's near to me, nearer to the fire.
[Instrumental]
Em A
Em B7
Em A
B7 A
E
[Verse 9]
G Bm
Atlantic City, two years to the day
Em C
I hear a voice cryin', "Daddy” and i looked that way
G Bm/F# Em D C
But it's only the silence on the buttermilk hills that call.
[Verse 10]
G Bm
Every new messenger bringin' evil reports
Em C
'Bout riotin' armies and time that is short
G Bm/F# Em D C
An' earthquakes and train wrecks and hate words scribbled on walls.
[Verse 11]
G Bm
Would i have married her? I don't know i suppose
Em C
She had bells in her braids and they hung to her toes
G Bm/F# Em D C
But i heard my mirrored destiny said to be movin' on.
[Verse 12]
G Bm
And i felt it come over me, some kind of gloom
Em C
For the sake of "Come on with me girl, i got plenty of room.”
G Bm/F# Em D C
But i knew i'd be lyin' and besides she had already gone.
[Chorus 3]
F G C F
And that Caribbean winds still blow from Nassau to Mexico
F G C
Circle of ice to the furnace of desire.
F G C F
And them busy ships of liberty on 'em iron waves so bold and free
F C G
Bringing everything that's near to me, nearer to the fire.
[Instrumental]
Em A
Em B7
Em A
B7 A
E