| G | G | Am | Am |
| D | D | G C/G | G |
| G | G | Am | Am |
| D | G C | G D G |(G) |
[Verse 1]
G Am
Down to the Banana Republics, down to the tropical sun,
D G
go the expatriated Americans, hopin' to find some fun.
G Am
Some of them go for the sailing, called by the lure of the sea.
D G
Tryin' to find what is ailing, livin' in the land of the free.
G Am
Some of them are running from lovers, leaving no forward address.
D
Some of them are running tons of ganja,
G
some are running from the I.R.S.
[Chorus]
Dm
Late at night you will find them,
Am
in the cheap hotels and bars,
C G C G D G
Hustling the señoritas while they dance beneath the stars.
Dm Eb D
Spending those renegade pesos on a bottle of rum and a lime.
C G
Singin' give me some words I can dance to,
C G D G
or a melody that rhymes.
G
[Verse 2]
G Am
First you learn the native customs, soon a word of Spanish or two.
D G
You know that you cannot trust them, 'cause they know they can't trust you.
G Am
Expatriated Americans, feelin' so all alone,
D G
telling themselves the same lies that they told themselves back home.
[Instrumental]
| G | G | Am | Am |
| D | D | G | G |
| Dm | Dm | Am | Am |
| C | G C | G D G |(G) |
[Verse 3]
G Am
Down to the Banana Republics, things aren't as warm as they seem,
D G
none of the natives are buying any second-hand American dreams.
[Chorus]
Dm
Late at night you will find them,
Am
in the cheap hotels and bars,
C G C G D G
Hustling the señoritas while they dance beneath the stars.
Dm Eb D
Spending those renegade pesos on a bottle of rum and a lime.
C G
Singin' give me some words I can dance to,
C G D G
or a melody that rhymes.
[Verse 4]
G Am
Down to the Banana Republics, down to the tropical sun;
D G
go the expatriated Americans, hopin' to find some fun.
