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Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James Lyrics

You always said I wouldn’t stay
I guess you knew the way before it all began
I’ve always been a changing train
And when you think on this, you might forgive me then

Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James
And all the shiny suits, and all the shiny names
The things a country boy can’t place
Without that look of shame upon your city face

And you wanted more
Than just the smile I wore

You picked me up on my way down
That dusty one-horse town
I won’t forget the jail
The mayor’s wife and Cadillac
The sheriff on my back
‘Til you put up the bail

Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James
You’ve got a lot of grace, but you’re an empty place
The dawn falls hard upon my face
I’ll move as I began, through fields without a plan

Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James
That world of gray and gold that watched you growing old
The things I never saw, I see
And to think that I’m still free, and I’m not feeling cold
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Cover art for Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James lyrics by Joan of Arc

Good attempt! There are a lot of lyrics that are tough to catch in this one.

Here are more complete lyrics, based on the original Scott Walker version of the song:

You always said I wouldn’t stay I guess you knew the way before it all began I’ve always been a changing train And when you think on this, you might forgive me then

Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James And all the shiny suits, and all the shiny names The things a country boy can’t place Without that look of shame upon your city face

And you wanted more Than just the smile I wore

You picked me up on my way down That dusty one-horse town I won’t forget the jail The mayor’s wife and Cadillac The sheriff on my back ‘Til you put up the bail

Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James You’ve got a lot of grace, but you’re an empty place The dawn falls hard upon my face I’ll move as I began, through fields without a plan

Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James That world of gray and gold that watched you growing old The things I never saw, I see And to think that I’m still free, and I’m not feeling cold

Lyric Correction
Cover art for Thanks for Chicago, Mr. James lyrics by Joan of Arc

the second blank is "without a plan"

 
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