Loudon Wainwright Iii - When You Leave

when you leave lw111

lw111 plays with capo on the 5th fret . there is a deal of hammering on during the chord
( not sure about the C after the F in the break ) . the D at the end of each couplet is D
then Dsus4

G Em
you left for camp , you left for school
Am/C D
left for the coast when that was cool then
G Em
you left women , one a wife
Am/C D
to save your skin you wrecked a life and
Am C
then there’s kids its not just one
G D
life that you wreck you’re on the run
Am C
you go to town to start anew
G D
those you left come after you

G Em
its what you think its how you feel
C D
though who can say if its all real
G Em
the darndest thing kids grow up
Am/C D
one day some strange adults show up
G Em
the ones you left are right in town
Am/C D
thats nice you say they’ll be around
Am C
perhaps they just a bit bereft but
G D
they’ll forgive the one who left
Am C
sad stories can have happy ends
G D
perhaps now you can just be friends
G Em
its what you want its how you feel
Am/C D
whats more you hope your theory’s real
( break )
F C
who would have thought or could believe
G D
things go so badly when you leave
F C
the skin you saved is growing slack and
G D
those you left don’t want you back

( instrumental )
G Em
your power’s gone it was pro tem
Am/C D
the wife you left meant more to them
G Em
its not just that they side with her
Am/C D
you left and who knew where you were
Am C
the reason that they came to town
G D
was just to make that place their own
Am C
you realised your greatest fear
G D
you are so close but hardly here
G Em
it’s what you think it’s how you feel
Am/C D
and what’s worse is you know its real