Intro: G Am7 C G 
 

        G 
He said I know this ain't the time or place  
    Am7 
But Lord I need to talk  
     C 
In a business suit in a corner booth  
     G 
In a crowded little restaurant  
G 
We all tried not to listen  
   Am7 
We all tried not to look  
      C 
But a whole room full of customers  
        D 
And the waitress and the cook  
    Em                   C                       G 
All stopped what we were doing when he bowed his head  
        Em               C             D 
In that silence we heard every word he said 

 
                  G                   C 
CHORUS: I've been trying to do things my way  
        D                   G 
        Down here on life's highway  
        C                G 
        Slippin' slidin' sideways  
                D 
        Between no way and nowhere  
                   G           C 
        If I could only gain a foothold  
        D                Em        D 
        Up there on your high road  
             C              G 
        Lord if you hear me help me  
                C            G 
        I'll do anything you tell me to  
        C               G             
        All I've got to offer you is this  
        D           (G)  
        Backslider's prayer 
 

INTRO 
 

         G 
Well the waitress made the first move  
         Am7  
When she filled his coffee cup  
         C 
She said you ain't alone here mister  
       G 
You're speaking for the rest of us  
G 
I heard some scattered amens  
      Am7 
And a couple of I've been there's  
     C 
Then things got back to normal  
    D  
The dishes and the silverware  
     Em              C  
Were clanging in the kitchen  
                G 
Like an angel's band  
     Em               C 
As I took my place in line   
             D 
To shake his hand 'cause 
 

CHORUS 
 

SOLO: G C D G C G D D 
 

           G           C  
If I could only gain a foothold  
D                Em        D   
Up there on your high road  
     C              G 
Lord if you hear me help me  
        C            G 
I'll do anything you tell me to  
C               G 
All I've got to offer you is this 
D   C        G 
Backslider's prayer 
 

INTRO