G
[Verse 1]
G
It was the Senior High School yearbook
C
The class of '63
G
I'll never forget the way you gave
C
Your book and pen to me
Am F
It was all talked out and settled
G C
You knew I'd understand
Am
A girl with dreams as big as yours
D
Just had to make some plans
[Verse 2]
G
So I turned to your best picture:
C
"Most likely to succeed"
G
The only one in the whole damn book
C
That didn't show you with me
Am F
And it said that you liked inner strength
G C
So I tried to be true to form
Am
And I hid my teenage broken heart
D
Instead I signed this poem:
[Chorus 1]
G
"I hope you always drive a Cadillac
C
I hope you always drink champagne
G
I hope you always shine with the sunshine
C
I hope you never have to face the rain
Am F
Unless the clouds are lined with silver
G Am
May every heart you meet be gold
F G C
And may you find the world as kind as you've been told"
[Instrumental 1]
C Am G
[Verse 3]
G
All the news of you that got back home
C
Was no surprise to me
G
You came, you saw, you conquered
C
At every turn there were victories
Am F
And the men came and the men went
G C
And some of them might have stayed
Am
But their dreams weren't silk or linen
D
And their invitations weren't engraved
[Verse 4]
G
At the ten-year class reunion
C
They read your personal note
G
And enlarged your cover photograph
C
In your full-length sable coat
Am F
But the words underneath the picture
G C
Were what mattered most to me
Am
There was something in between the lines
D
That no one else could see
[Chorus 2]
G
It said, "I always drive a Cadillac
C
I always drink champagne
G
And if you make time while the sun shines
C
You can buy your way out of the rain
Am F
I travel fast because I go alone
G Am
Everybody gets bought and sold
F G C
And I wondered if you'd really become that cold"
[Instrumental 1]
C Am G
[Instrumental 2]
F D# F G
[Verse 5]
G
That was the last word anyone heard from you
C
Until I got your card today
G
A single line and signature
C
That said "I'm coming home to stay"
Am F
I wonder what life has done to you
G C
I wonder why you thought of me
Am
But if you stop by to say hello
D
I wonder what you'll think if you see
[Chorus 3]
G
An old ragged high school yearbook
C
That falls open to just one page
G
With a picture of a young girl's face
C
Full of beauty, dreams and rage
Am F
But the words underneath the picture
G Am
Is the verse that's still so true
Am
It's the one I swore no one would read
D
Unless I showed it to you
[Chorus 4]
G
To me, you always drive a Cadillac
C
Your laughter is my champagne
G
And you'll carry my heart wherever you go
C
Even if I never see you again
Am F
But if you bring it back home to me
G Am
Maybe then it'll mean you know
F G C
That the strongest love's the love that lets you go
[Instrumental]
C Am G
[Chorus 4]
G
To me, you always drive a Cadillac
C
Your laughter is my champagne
G
And you'll carry my heart wherever you go
C
Even if I never see you again
Am F
But if you bring it back home to me
G Am
Maybe then it'll mean you know
F G C
That the strongest love's the love that lets you go
[Outro]
C Am G
I hope you always drive a Cadillac
C Am G
I hope you always drive a Cadillac
