capo 4

C
when i was a young man , i ran away from home
Dm ( Dm riff )
i went to join the circus
F G
went to see the cotton candy whirl
C C/B Am
and make me lots of money on my own
C C/B Am
for molly , oh my pretty molly
F/C C
but she’s waiting all alone
F/C C F G C Cmaj7
someday soon i will return to her

C
then i made the big time , bright lights show biz!
Dm ( Dm riff )
i’m really in the circus!
F G
there’s only one thing wrong;
C C/B Am
i haven’t saved a penny on my own
C C/B Am
for molly , oh my pretty molly
F/C C
but she’s writing every day
F/C C F G C Cmaj7
molly understands so it’s okay

( this section isn’t entirely accurate to john denver’s version but it sounds fine )
Cm
ride a windy box car
Em
see a thousand children young and old
Dm
oh that grease paint smile
Am
can hide your soul
Cm
here comes a carrousel

guess which town it is
Em
feel the thrill!
Dm
grease paint covers everything
F
but winter’s chill

C Dm F G C C/B Am C C/B Am F C F C Cmaj7

( slowly )

Dm ( Dm riff )
i’m reading molly’s letter
F
the ink is fading
G C
and the page is turning yellow
C/B Am C C/B Am
long ago i promised molly
F C
don’t you know i
F C F G C Cmaj7 C
i will close my eyes and go to her

Dm riff
E – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D – 0 – – 3 – – 2 – – 0 – – |
A – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
E – – – – – – – – – – – – – |

~ dan