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