American Without Tears

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Lyrics - Credits - Discography - Covers - Bootlegs - Chords

Lyrics

Outside in New Orleans the heat was almost frightening

But my hotel room as usual was freezing and unkind

On TV they prosecute anyone who's exciting

So I put on my overcoat and went down to find

In Revlon and Crimpelene they captured my heart

To the strain of a piano and a cocktail murderess

She was singing that "It's Too Late", I agreed with that part

For two English girls who had changed their address


[chorus:]

Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years

Now we don't speak any English, just American without tears

Just American without tears


One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend

They had known rogues and rascals and showbiz impresarios

While the boys were licking Hitler they had something to defend

From men armed with chewing gum and fine nylon hose

By a bicycle factory as they sounded the siren

And returned into the dancehall she knew he was the one

Though he wasn't tall or handsome she laughed when he told her

"I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham and this is Little John"


[chorus]


At a dock in Southampton full of tearful goodbyes

Newsreel commentators said "Cheerio, G.I. brides"

Soon they'll be finding the cold facts and lies

New words for suspenders and young girls' backsides

Now I'm in America and running from you

Like my grandfather before me walked the streets of New York

And I think of all the women I pretend mean more than you

When I open my mouth and I can't seem to talk


[chorus]


Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years

Now I don't speak any English just American without tears

Just American without tears

Just American without tears


Credits

The Little Hands Of Concrete - vocal, acoustic guitar
Jo-El Sonnier - French accordion
James Burton - electric guitar
Jerry Scheff - string bass
Ron Tutt - brushes & drums

Discography

Albums:

Singles:

Collections:

Soundtracks:

  • none

Various Artists collections:

  • none

Alternate Versions:

Covers

Recorded by:

  • none
  • This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

  • none
  • This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

  • This section is incomplete.

Chords

Bb Dm Bb F C F

G                           C                G
Outside in New Orleans the heat was almost frightening
        G                        A7          D
But my hotel room as usual was freezing and unkind
   G                    C            G
On TV they prosecute anyone who's exciting
      G                      D            G
So I put on my overcoat and went down to find
    G                          C           G
In Revlon and Crimpelene they captured my heart
          G                     A7            D
To the strain of a piano and a cocktail murderess
         G                                 C              G
She was singing that "It's Too late", I agreed with that part
     G                          D              G
For two english girls who had changed their adress

        C                           G
Oh, it seems we've been crying for years and for years
        Em
Now we don't speak any English
       C               G
Just American without tears
       C               G
Just American without tears

Accordian melody:
     G                 C                 G          D          G
e||---------------------------------------------------------------||
B||---------------------------------------------------------------||
G||---0-2-/4-4--4-5-4--2-0--2-0---0-2-0-/4-4--4-5-4-2-0-/4-2p0-0--||
D||-2-------------------------------------------------------------||
A||---------------------------------------------------------------||
E||---------------------------------------------------------------||

G                                   C               G
One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend
           G                            A7          D
They had known rogues and rascals and showbiz impresarios
           G                                 C              G
While the boys were licking Hitler they had something to defend
      G                              D          G
From men armed with chewing gum and fine nylon hose
     G                       C           G
By a bicycle factory as they sounded the siren
       G                              A7            D
And returned into the dancehall she knew he was the one
           G                           C               G
Though he wasn't tall or handsome she laughed when he told her
           G                        D              G
"I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham and this is Little John"

        C                           G
Oh, it seems we've been crying for years and for years
        Em
Now we don't speak any English
       C               G
Just American without tears
       C               G
Just American without tears

G C G D G

      A                           D           A
At a dock in Southampton full of tearful goodbyes
     A                            B7         E
Newsreel commentators said "Cheerio G.I. brides"
 A                           D              A
Soon they'll be finding the cold facts and lies
     A                              E          A
New words for suspenders and young girls' backsides
     A                  D            A
Now I'm in America and running from you
          A                                 B7           E
Like my grandfather before me walked the streets of New York
        A               A7         D                   A
And I think of all the women I pretend mean more than you
         A                  E             A
When I open my mouth and I can't seem to talk

        D                           A
Oh, it seems we've been crying for years and for years
        F#m
Now we don't speak any English
       D               A
Just American without tears
       D               A
Just American without tears

        D                           A
Oh, it seems we've been crying for years and for years
        F#m
Now we don't speak any English
       D               A
Just American without tears
       D               A
Just American without tears

Repeat accordian melody (one tone higher) and fade
A D A E A

Internal Links

External Links

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