The New York City winter comes in cold grey sheets of steel
The numbness in his hands and feet is all that he can feel
Alcohol and sterno turns a doorway to a bed
And the ghost of who he might have been lives on inside his head

In a canyon made of brownstone on a sidewalk icy black
He wanders nearly barefoot with his righteousness in tact
A man of many mansions in a cardboard box replete
He lies sleeping with an angel while his heart pretends to beat

Refrain:

All the wind blows down on Lonely Street like an ice pick through the air
Midst the Sunday times and coffee grinds and wino’s in Times Square
Five flights up on Easy Street you know she’s safe and warm
Way down low neath a foot of snow he’s riding out the storm

I offered him my winter coat politely he refused
Like an educated man he spoke with words I seldom use
He said I don’t need pity for these choices are my own
He bowed his head just slightly and quietly moved along

Refrain

Solo

Its not like he’s a victim of the homeless life he stalks
Nor helpless to get back across the fine line that he walks
Riding out the storm means yesterday’s already spent
Tomorrow don’t mean nothing it won’t even make a dent

(Thanks to DeWick@Web.de for tabs)

written by Rodney Crowell
Corrections welcome.

Capo I

INTRO:A A7 (8x)

My self importance is a God-forsaken bore
I aim for heaven but I wake up on the floor
I’d take up with rattlesnakes to get my point across
I’d argue with a parking brake to show ‘em who’s the boss
It’s my intention to inspire
Instead I’m preachin to the choir

I had some money but I blew it living high
My wine and women were the best that you could buy
I tried to prove myself a man of certain taste
But all I’ve got tho show you now is written on my face
I’m not someone you’d admire
But I’m still preachin to the choir

SOLO: D A (4x) E E7 D A

I’m born a lion but I don’t believe it fits
I’m no king of the jungle out here livin by my wits
This morning’s paper called for romance on a whim
I reckon I’d believe ‘em if they told me sink or swim
I’m under water not on fire
But I’m still preachin to the choir

Baytown Texas there’s a fisherman I knew
He said the bible and he spit tobacco too
He said that crap about the rod you spare to spoil the child
Is only propoganda meant to keep you in denial
Go on and follow your desire
But he was preachin’ to the choir

Time is of the essence when you’re hanging by a thread
And the answer to your questions won’t unravel in your head
When you’re staring at forever from the edge of life’s abyss
No one’s gonna tell you how it all came down to this
If you say different you’re a liar
I’m just preachin’ to the choir

When I’m standing at the St. Peter’s gate trying to slip in
I might as well plead guilty to the worst of who I’ve been
I used to like to think I had a special way with words
But right now I’m convinced I’ve more in common with the birds
I’m not ready to retire
I’ll keep on preachin to the choir

So when the situation’s dire
I keep on preachin to the choir

CHORDS:

A x0222x
A7 x02020
E 022100
E7 020100
D xx0232

Chorus:
Taking each new day to give what we need to do our part
To keep learning how to live with a lifelong broken heart

And we never will forget it’s a privilege to remember
The sound of days gone past will last
We can see you in the stars come some vivid night in November
With the last few leaves that fall recall

Chorus

Oh you beautiful one so clearly a gift
Life had designs of its own to set you adrift

So go lightly where you must travel soft upon new wings
You will never be alone go on
When we cannot understand when we cannot find new meaning
We’ll seek out the ones you loved and love

Chorus +:
Were just learning how to live with a lifelong broken heart

release date: Aug. 26, 2003

Rodney Crowell – Still learning how to fly

Intro – A – Asus – A – Asus

(verse 1)
The hour is early, the whole world is quiet,
A beautiful morning is about to ignite,
I’m ready for danger, I’m ready for a fight,
I”m ready for something to lift me up higher,

(chorus)
Life’s been good I guess,
My ragged ole heart’s been blessed,
With so much more than meets the eye,
I got a past I won’t soon forget,
You ain’t seen nothin yet,
I’m still learning how to fly,

(verse 2)
Yet your dreams die hard,
With these habits to break,
You can’t let down your gaurd,
When there’s so much at stake,

(verse 3)
I’m halfway to heaven,
Halfway to hell,
But I might throw a seven,
You never can tell,

(chorus)
Life’s been good it’s true,
When I’m feelin just like new,
The same old rules need not apply,
I’ve got a past full of sticks and stones,
And a good feelin in my bones,
I’m still learning how to fly,[D-D]

(bridge)
I wanna go faster[D-D],
I don’t wanna slow dow[A-A]n,
I don’t wanna get off of this merry-go-round[D-D],
I wanna be reckless[A-D],
I wanna be vain[A-A],
I wanna make love like a runnaway train[-],

Life’s been good I’ll say,
I’m ten thousand miles ahead,
The day I rest is the day I die,
I’ve got past like new broken wings,
But you ain’t seen anything,
I’m still learning how to fly,[-][-]
I’m still learning how to fly,

(outro – A – Asus – A – Asus – C#m – D – A)