That Was Your Mother

Paul Simon

[Intro]
| F | % | C | F | % | % |
 
[Verse 1]
             F
A long time ago, yeah before you was born, dude 
                 C                   F
When I was still single and life was great
            F
I held this job as a traveling salesman 
             C                    F
That kept me moving from state to state 
 
{ CHORUS }
          F
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette, State of Louisiana 
C                                F
Wondering where a city boy could go
   F
To get a little conversation, drink a little red wine 
C                                       F
Catch a little bit of those Cajun girls dancing to Zydeco 
 
[Solo]
| F | % | C | F |
| F | % | C | F |
| F | % | C | F |
 
[Verse 2]
             F
Along come a young girl, she's pretty as a prayerbook 
            C                  F
Sweet as an apple on Christmas Day
             F
I said, good gracious, can this be my luck 
             C                        F
If that's my prayerbook, Lord, let us pray 
 
{ CHORUS }
          F
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette, State of Louisiana 
C                                F
Wondering where a city boy could go
   F
To get a little conversation, drink a little red wine 
C                                          F
Dance to the music of Clifton Chenier, the King of the Bayou 
 
[Solo]
| F | % | C | F |
 
[Verse 3]
                    F
Well, that was your mother, and that was your father 
               C                        F
Before you was born dude, when life was great 
            F
You are the burden of my generation 
          C                         F
I sure do love you, let's get that straight 
 
{ CHORUS }
          F
Well, I'm standing on the corner of Lafayette, across the street from The Public 
C                             F
Heading down to the Lone Star Cafe
      F
Maybe get a little conversation, drink a little red wine 
C                                         F
Standing in the shadow of Clifton Chenier dancing the night away
 
[Break]
| N.C. | % | % | % |
 
[Outro]
| F | % | C | F | F
X