| Am | Am | G | G |
| Am | Am | G | G |
| Am | C | D | D |
[Verse 1]
GGCG
Everybody's laughin' at the Early Bird Café,
CCGG
I've been hidden there since yesterday and I believe I've lost my way.
CCCC
Charlotte's there in organdy and Billy's there in suede,
GGCG
there’s money in their pockets and all the dues are paid.
AmAmGG
There's wine on every table and food on every plate,
GGC (G)
well, I hope I get there pretty soon before it gets too late.
[Interlude]
| G | G | Am | Am |
[Verse 2]
GGCG
Someone asked me what time it was and I told him it was now,
CCGG
he asked me just what that might mean but time would not allow.
CCCC
So, I gave away my watch to a passing businessman,
GGCG
well, I hope he understands it now cause I've done the best I can.
AmAmGG
It was getting early, so I rushed away from there
GGCGG
with that ancient earth beneath my feet and new dust in my hair.
[Verse 3]
GGCG
Well, I ran on down the road a while to the other side of town,
CCGG
my clothes were gettin' wrinkled and my socks were fallin' down.
CCCC
But I could not stop to pull them up for fear that I'd be late,
GGCG
so, I kept on runnin' down the road until I saw the gate
AmAmGG
of the Early Bird Cafe, glowin' golden like the sun,
GGCGG
everybody kept on singing, saying: "Come on in, we've just begun!"
[Interlude]
| Am | Am | G | G |
| Am | Am | G | G |
| Am | C | D | D |
| Am | Am | G* | |
[Verse 4]
GGCG
So, I went right in and I set right down and I ordered up some wine,
CCGG
the talk was fast and clever and the women all were fine.
CCCC
Charlotte asked me where I'd been with her jade and ivory eyes,
GGCG
I told her I'd been hung up with some begger in disguise.
AmAmEmEm
Well, she laughed like temple bells, kissed me on the cheek and said:
G* C*
"You know it's hard to be alive sometimes but it's easy to be dead!"