Heartland

Copyright 2006 Robert Lindsay Nathan, Jr.

F
It’s a full blue moon in June
Am
And all the girls are in full bloom
Bb
And the farmer’s fields are
C F
Teaming with new life

F
And I’m happy as a butter bean
Am
With the promise of all that’s green
Bb
And the moonshine sharpens
C F
My senses, like a knife

Bb C
But the trains tear out through Terre Haute
F Dm
Like a cattle stampede through hell
Bb C
While their whistles echo in the Wabash Valley
F Dm
Like the ringing of a silver bell
Bb C
I’m wishing they would carry me home
F Dm
On the mist of a witch’s spell;
Bb C
Only those who have an empty heart
F Dm
Know the loneliness I’ve felt
Bb C
Like the cold steel of that railroad track
Bb C F
I’m bound by the things I build.

G
In the fall there comes a time
Bm
When the fruit of the pumpkin vine
C
Finally dies
D G
And withers away

G
I’d bet a dollar to a dime
Bm
That that next rail train is mine
C D
It’ll carry me back to the hills
G
Where I’ll stay

C D
But the trains tear out through Old Vincennes
G Em
Like a cattle stampede through hell
C D
While their whistles echo in the Wabash Valley
G Em
Like the ringing of a silver bell
C D
I’m wishing they would carry me home
G Em
On the mist of a witches spell;
C D
Only those who have an empty heart
G Em
Know the loneliness I’ve felt
C D
Like the cold steel of that railroad track
C D G
I’m bound by the strings I weld.
(8 bar break)

(Bridge:)
Am Bm
I’m Hangin’ in the Heartland
G Bm Em
Keeping the steel beast on the track
C D
Wonderin’ if to you
G
I’ll ever get back

A
As the winter mist rolls in
Dbm
I look back to where I’ve been
D E
And I wonder, just how long
A
This gig will last

A
I see the memories that lie
Dbm
In the days that have gone by
D E
And the scenery and stations
A
That I’ve passed

D E
But the trains tear out through Evansville
A F#m
Like a cattle stampede through hell
D E
While their whistles echo in the Wabash Valley
A F#m
Like the ringing of a silver bell
D E
I’m wishing they would carry me home
A F#m
On the mist of a witches spell;
D E
Only those who have an empty heart
A F#m
Know the loneliness I’ve felt
D E
Like the cold steel of that railroad track
D E A
I’m bound by the strings I weld.

D E
Like the cold steel of that railroad track
D E A
I’m bound by the things I build.

(Outro)

A/Dbm/D/E A/E/A