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